Poll: 90% of Ukrainian teenagers want to contribute to country's reconstruction
The charitable foundation "Dobrodiy Club" presented the results of the all-Ukrainian sociological survey "Teenagers and their life during the war: attitudes, values, future," carried out with the support of the humanitarian organization Plan International. The Kantar company surveyed teenagers aged 13-19 from all over Ukraine*.
The results of the study show that today the youth are most worried about whether they have enough support, how they see their realization, and where they plan their future.
Thus, 87% of teenagers note that the most significant changes in their lives happened during the full-scale war, 83% want to learn how to support themselves in difficult times, and 90% want to be useful during the reconstruction of Ukraine.
"This study is a chance to see from the inside what the youth's request is to the rest of Ukrainian society today, what challenges teenagers face, and what changes the war has brought to their lives and views. We see that teenagers, currently staying in Ukraine, do so quite consciously. They live this difficult experience on par with adults and are ready to take responsibility for their future. This inspires hope," Maria Artemenko, the founder and head of the " Dobrodiy Club," says.
Even though the war is a key cause of concern for teenagers, 93% of them believe in themselves and their own strength and believe that they are making efforts for self-realization. Almost 70% know what they want to become in the future, although they do not currently see the possibility of planning for a long period. At the same time, young people want to feel more supported in their endeavors: 59% of teenagers would like their parents, friends, or teachers to support them more.
"Today, adults need to listen to teenagers because we look at life differently. As we always learn from adults so that they can learn from our generation," Kyrylo Peredriy, a 12-year-old journalist from Pokrovsk, says.
During the full-scale war, 43% of those surveyed already participated in volunteering: collecting funds for Ukraine's armed forces, weaving camouflage nets, packing aid, or cooking and distributing food. In addition, young people believe that during the country's reconstruction, they can become useful by developing the economy and infrastructure, mainly through volunteering.
"Currently, international discussions devoted to the restoration of Ukraine do not consider the youth's opinion and do not even consider their needs. However, to build priorities during the country's restoration, listening to young people and learning a lot from them is necessary. After all, their voice is no less important in forming modern and future Ukraine," – the head of the Plan International mission in Ukraine, Mia Haglund Heelas, states.
The research will be useful for everyone who works with teenagers, teaches and educates them, and implements projects and services for young people because the results reveal the opinion of a generation that will determine the future of Ukraine in the next few decades.
About research
A comprehensive all-Ukrainian sociological survey, "Teenagers and their life during the war: attitudes, values, future," was conducted by the Kantar company in the following stages: qualitative (four online focus groups lasting 90 minutes each with teenagers aged 13-19. Geography: Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro), quantitative (survey of youth 13-19 years old, 600 people. Method: F2F, questionnaire — duration 20 minutes. Geography: cities of Ukraine, 50000+).
About "Dobrodiy Club"
An all-Ukrainian charitable organization that has helped children since 2016. During the war, the "Dobrodiy Club" works in two directions: urgent assistance to families with children who are on the verge of survival; supporting childhood — improving the emotional state and mental health of children and adolescents through creative activities.
About Plan International
Founded in 1937, Plan International is an independent humanitarian organization promoting children's rights, including girls' equality, and operates in over 75 countries. The organization strives for a just world, working together with children, youth, its supporters, and partners.
