SUN Leaders Program | for Partners

SUN Leaders Program enables young leaders of social initiatives in Ukraine to focus on growing their projects, to rebuild and transform Ukraine.

It is a 6-months fellowship program that offers: regular mentoring sessions, online meetups and offline events with knowledgeable speakers, and a monthly stipend to cover personal or project expenses.

❓ Why is the Program needed?

• 🌍 See the big picture: War in Ukraine has been going on since February 2022. While the immediate response is now mostly covered, we need to step in and focus on longer-term goals and impact that is neglected “because of war;” this includes the work on specific issues resolving which enables democracy in the country.
• 📉 Projects are underfunded, especially those on the early stages of their existence. Some initiatives provide ton of support to their community, but don't yet qualify for big-donor grants.
• 🧠 Leaders need guidance, mentoring and learning opportunities. Some leaders started volunteering without any expertise or knowledge, just because it had to be done. Other activists have been in the field for some time, but had to change their focus due to new realities of war. Many of them burn out due to overworking themselves and being underfunded.

We want to bridge these gaps by supporting leaders and projects that create immediate results, but also have long-term impact for rebuilding and developing Ukraine.

📊 About the Program

SUN Leaders Program is a 6-months Fellowship Program for young leaders of social projects in Ukraine. 

🎯 What we aim to achieve

• 50 young leaders are supported, developing their skills of leadership.
• Their 50 projects became sustainable, scaled and multiplied their impact.

🔙 Previous Programs

☀️ Cherkasy region Program 2024

Right now 18 young leaders of social initiatives of Cherkasy region are going through the Program. They are committed and work on changing their community, region, and country for the better. Their projects are in the field of education, psychological health, ecology, journalism, youth activation.

SUN Leaders Program x Cherkasy is funded by the European Endowment for Democracy.

🔆 Pilot Program 2020

Our partners Leaders Fund have piloted the Program in 2020. Some of previous fellows:

• Olga Ilyukhina, with the project "Healthy food for kids". SDG target 3.4. Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and improve mental health
• Olena Shulha, with the project "Engineering Week". SDG target 4.3: Equal access to affordable technical, professional and higher education

During the Program, the leaders scaled their project nationwide, won grants to fund their activities, hired new team members, launched a social enterprise, partnered with the government and businesses.

📍 History and next milestones

🤝 Interested in supporting?

We invite you to support the Stipend Fund of €150,000 for the upcoming 50 leaders. You can contribute a part of the sum.

From our side, we offer promotion of your organization, networking opportunities, participation in leaders selection, and more.

We can also think of a collaboration model that will be absolutely unique — together.

Reach us at [email protected].