From former pub to hub of change: How youth in one small Ukrainian community are transforming their village

What's the problem?

Small villages in Ukraine often lack spaces where young people can gather, brainstorm, and make their ideas a reality. Without opportunities, the Ukrainian youth are left without avenues for self-expression, and communities miss out on their energy and creativity.

What's the solution?

Drabivtsi, a lovely village in central Ukraine, demonstrates that things can be different. Here, young people decided not to wait for change but to create it themselves.

Their story began in 2016 with the newly formed youth council. As English teacher and council leader Oleksandr Barannyk recalls, young people decided to unite to bring change to their community. And they did! Since its founding, the youth council has changed the village significantly. With their involvement, a gym was opened, a youth park was created, a free WiFi zone was set up, and the local bus stop was renovated. The council members also started attending training sessions, workshops, and conferences, sharing their experiences and gaining new ideas.

After several years, the young people realized they needed their own "corner for creativity and ideas" — a place to meet, plan, and innovate. The idea gained the support of local authorities. The village council allocated part of the funding to renovate a former pub space, chosen as the center's location, while sponsors covered the rest. The youth took charge of furnishing the space. 

This is how the abandoned building was transformed into Atmosfera, a space for self-expression and development where everyone feels supported and heard.

How does it work?

Founded in 2019, Atmosfera set its priorities early: providing informal education and leisure and supporting youth initiatives.

The years 2020–2021 were particularly dynamic. Atmosfera became more than a place for young people to spend their free time — it evolved into a cultural and educational center, the only one of its kind in the community.

According to Oleksandr Barannyk, these years were the busiest for the center. It hosted movie nights, art workshops, project management training sessions, sports and cultural events, literary readings, remembrance evenings, and volunteer initiatives. The center organized masterclasses, board game sessions, and new idea discussions, bringing many of them to life. Before the full-scale war, they completed several large projects.

"Youth started to believe in themselves and their abilities," says Barannyk. "We received our first grants. Our work was covered in news stories, we were invited to radio programs, and articles were written about us. People recognized us, admired us."

Everything changed on February 24, 2022 — Russia invaded Ukraine for the second time. From the war's first days, Atmosfera became a volunteer center because young people were eager to help and contribute to Ukraine's victory. Throughout the war, the residents of Drabivtsi, a village of around 700–800 people, collected humanitarian aid for the military and those affected by hostilities. They wove camouflage nets and prepared treats for Ukrainian soldiers. The building also became a Point of Invincibility, a center where people in need could get warm and be supported amid massive Russian attacks and blackouts.

Barannyk reflects, "In 2023, our center saw a significant activity decline. The local administrative office took over the premises, and young people felt less comfortable there. So we shifted to off-site and online events."

Atmosfera's focus pivoted to national and patriotic education for the younger generation. Meanwhile, the youth continued volunteering and drawing inspiration from visiting similar spaces across Ukraine.

In late 2023 and early 2024, young Drabivtsi residents participated in the UPSHIFT educational project. Two school teams won grants to realize their ideas, breathing new life into the youth center.

"Drabivtsi is a small but close-knit village. The war affected us, like most small Ukrainian communities. But what matters is that we didn't just survive the crisis — we found new ways to bring people together," says Maryna Okhrimenko, a participant and leader of one of the new projects, Room of Emotions. "With the youth, we started projects to boost morale and support the community during these tough times."

The Room of Emotions is a unique space for local teenagers to cope with emotional challenges and feel safe.

"We understood how important it is to have a space for emotional relief, especially in stressful times. The Room of Emotions is a specially equipped area where anyone can 'transform' their feelings through creativity, communication, or simple relaxation," Okhrimenko explains.

Thanks to this project, villagers now have a cozy place to read books, play board games with friends, or watch movies together.

"The project has definitely helped a lot of people, especially young people dealing with the stress of the situation in the country and their personal struggles," says the activist.

Maryna has been part of Atmosfera since it first began. She's currently a university student in Cherkasy, but that hasn't stopped her from staying involved in every opportunity and initiative to improve life in her community.

Another recent project in Drabivtsi was led by Serhii Sharapa, who's also been with Atmosfera since day one. Serhii has dedicated his life to sports — his passion and profession. For the past five years, he's been working as a physical education teacher at the local school and as a sports instructor for the village. So, it's no surprise his project focused on sports. Together with his ProActive team, Serhii organized a Family Sports Festival in the village.

"We noticed that kids and teenagers are much more likely to play sports than adults," says Serhii Sharapa. "The idea behind the project was to create opportunities for everyone to get involved — not just young people, but adults too. We wanted families to unite and stay active because parents can inspire their kids by setting an example."

Once the team secured funding through the UPSHIFT program, they purchased sports equipment and began working on the festival.

The festival offered a variety of activities, including a volleyball tournament, Nordic walking, fitness classes, trampoline workouts, a table tennis competition, and a chess tournament.

"People really enjoyed trying something new. The most popular activities were trampoline fitness, resistance band workouts, and Nordic walking — things that aren't very common in our area," says the sports project leader.

Serhii adds that the festival turned into more than just a sports event — it became a way to bring the community closer together. One highlight was a competition in which the youngest and oldest participants were nearly 70 years apart in age.

Does this really work?

At first, Atmosfera faced some skepticism from older generations. A youth council and a youth space were entirely new concepts for the village, and many people didn't see the point. But over time, the team proved the value of their work, and the community started to trust and support them.

"Good deeds speak for themselves. People began asking how they could help — whether it was by fixing up the park in the village center or building a bus stop. Eventually, they just started getting involved on their own," Serhii says.

Now, Atmosfera isn't just a youth space — it's a place where people of all ages can find support and inspiration. The center offers everything from meetings with psychologists and art therapy sessions to discussions on social issues, training workshops, cultural events, and active leisure activities.

"We want to keep developing Atmosfera as an innovative hub for youth development centered on informal education," says Maryna Okhrimenko. "Our dream is to involve even more people in meaningful initiatives and volunteering. It's so important to remain a space where anyone can not only transform their own life but also drive positive changes in the community. I'm constantly inspired by the amazing people who come here for support and leave with fresh energy and new ideas."

Oleksandr Barannyk adds: "What motivates me most is watching young people grow into thoughtful, empowered individuals who will rebuild this country. I have a daughter, and seeing her excited about the events we organize here always makes me happy."

Even more helpful solutions!

Looking ahead, Atmosfera plans to launch initiatives focused on sustainability, like environmental projects, waste management solutions, and conserving natural resources. They also want to build connections with youth centers in other communities.

They're already making progress. In 2024, Oleksandr Barannyk established connections with other youth spaces in the Cherkasy region. This collaboration led to the creation of the Cherkasy branch of the Association of Ukrainian Youth Centers, with the Drabivtsi team as co-founders.

Oleksandr explains: "We all believe that working alone isn't the way forward anymore. Now, we plan projects together, strengthen each other, and offer support when needed."