How Kropyvnytskyi’s youth center empowers young people through creativity and community

What is the problem?

Kropyvnytskyi is home to many active and creative young people. Due to the war, an additional 27,000 children and teenagers have relocated here from other regions of Ukraine. While the city has some places where young people can connect, share ideas, make friends, and develop, with the arrival of warm weather, there was a lack of a creative and comfortable outdoor space.

What is the solution?

If the community doesn't have an outdoor youth space, you need to create one yourself! This is exactly what the young people from the "Comma" youth center in Kropyvnytskyi decided to do. As a result, a new spot appeared in the city this summer—an open-air cinema that will operate until the cold weather arrives and reopen when it warms up again.

How does it work?

Let's start with what "Comma" youth center actually is. Opened in spring 2023 as part of a partnership between UNICEF and the NGO SCC Zadzerkallya, with support from the Spanish government, the center is based at the Regional Center for Children's and Youth Creativity in Kropyvnytskyi.

According to Kyrylo Melnyk, head of the youth center, the main goal of creating this space was to bring young people together in a place where they could bring their ideas to life. "Not just wandering the streets, but spending time in a meaningful way," Melnyk adds.

The youth center offers a gaming zone with consoles, comfortable furniture for studying and board games, and is equipped with modern technology. There's also a small stage for stand-up nights and concerts.

The space is open free of charge to anyone who wants to learn, develop, and of course, hang out with their peers. The center targets youth aged 14 to 35, who have not only become regular visitors but also active participants in the center's activities.

Why is it called "Comma"? It's actually an abbreviation from Ukrainian name, explains Melnyk—the Kropyvnytskyi Regional Youth Association. But there's more: the comma is the most commonly used punctuation mark in the Ukrainian language, adds Melnyk with a smile, saying, "We love everything popular." The young people who shape the center's vibrant atmosphere often call themselves the "insect family," comparing their hard work to that of bees as they strive to ensure that the youth of Kropyvnytskyi have fun and enriching experiences.

The center hosts a variety of activities, from financial literacy training and robotics workshops to business seminars, meetings with psychologists, and classical music evenings. One of the center's signature events has become its "literary evenings," where participants share their favorite poetry, prose, or even their own works.

Movie nights were also popular at "Comma," but as summer approached, the desire to take things outdoors grew.

"This summer, we realized the indoor space wasn't quite what we wanted anymore. We wanted something summery, something with a breeze, something cozy. That's how the idea for 'Comma Under the Sun' was born. We started brainstorming where and how to make it happen," shared Melnyk and 16-year-old Alla Blashchenko, Comma's administrator.

At the Regional Center for Children's and Youth Creativity, where "Comma" is based, there was a large courtyard—abandoned and filled with debris. The "insects" saw potential in it. After discussing with the director of the center, they received permission to transform a part of the yard into a space for young people to gather, watch movies, socialize, and relax.

Their idea was supported by the NGO "Sustainable Development Agency 'Khmarochos'" through the "Hub of Sustainability of Youth Centers and Spaces of Kropyvnychchyna" project, backed by the "Trymai" Program. Once the approval was secured, the team got to work. First, they cleaned up the yard, and after assessing the project's scale, they began brainstorming and designing the concept for the future summer cinema space.

"We gathered, planned, sketched, and even downloaded pictures from the internet. Last year, our team went on an educational tour to several Ukrainian cities (Lviv, Vinnytsia), where we visited some great youth centers. That really helped us understand what would work best," recalls Blashchenko.

The original vision for the summer cinema was simple—Friday evenings, fresh air in the backyard of the youth center, with bean bags, blankets, and watching a favorite movie together. But as discussions progressed, it became clear that there was a need for more than just a cinema. They needed a space where projects, parties, performances, and art labs could be held. So, additional elements were added to the plan—tables, benches, tents, lights—and then the real work began.

To create the space, many pallets were purchased, as Melnyk explains, because they're the "coolest" and simplest material available to everyone. The youth built all the furniture themselves. Thanks to announcements on social media, many young people—school students, university students—joined in to help create the space with their own hands. 

"We've already learned that the best spaces are the ones young people create themselves, not ones made for them by the government or others. Why? Because something built by your own hands is valued much more. For about a month, we gathered on weekends to paint, cut, sand, and get everything more or less in order. I say more or less because there's still more to be done and many things we'd like to add to make this a fully realized and really cool space," says Melnyk.

"I clearly remember the atmosphere—everyone came together when the site was being cleaned and set up. Most of the young people who helped back then still come to 'Comma' almost every day, whether to discuss plans, play PlayStation, or just hang out," says Blashchenko.

When everything was set for the opening, the NGO "Sustainable Development Agency 'Khmarochos'" suggested launching the summer space with an open-air festival called "Security Ambassadors."

Did they really succeed?

More than a hundred people attended the official opening of "Comma Under the Sun" on August 9. It wasn't just young people—there were visitors of all ages, from children to grandparents who brought their grandkids.

The summer space opened with a festival full of interactive activities. There was a cybersecurity workshop, police training where teenagers could try on "drunk goggles" (glasses that simulate the difference between sober and impaired perception), various workshops and creative master classes, and, of course, an atmospheric evening movie screening.

"Everyone enjoyed it very much; there was something for everyone, and everyone was very satisfied," shares Melnyk.

"Comma Under the Sun" is not just a place for entertainment; it also serves a charitable purpose. On September 7, the center hosted a unique event—a 2000s-themed party where the youth of Kropyvnytskyi gathered to donate stationery for the benefit of internally displaced children.

"As September has arrived and children are back in school, we need to support those students who may not be able to buy their supplies," explains Melnyk. He adds that the stationery collected during the campaign will be enough to support at least 20 schoolchildren.

Even more useful solutions!

This is just the beginning, according to the youth center. Despite the warm weather coming to an end, the "insect family" still has many plans and ideas for "Comma Under the Sun."

"Winter isn't arriving just yet, and autumn is still quite warm, so we'll definitely keep working here for another month," Melnyk is confident. "After that, we'll preserve everything for a few months, so that next season we can reopen and bring joy to the residents of Kropyvnytskyi."

The head of the youth center emphasizes that "Comma" is open to any proposals from young people. As for what transformations the 2025 season will bring, that remains to be seen. However, there are plans to complete the construction of the stage, install large wooden games, and organize a graffiti festival where young people can paint the walls surrounding the summer cinema as they wish.

"Our mission is to support the full development of youth because the future belongs to them. We are actively building, restoring, and participating in all projects that will make Ukraine a better place," says Melnyk.

For 11th-grader Alla Blashchenko, the administrator of "Comma," the youth center holds special significance. "It's very important to me because, first of all, I'm young too, and I do this for myself," she admits. "I understand the needs of young people—communication, activity, and the desire to be effective and useful. The youth center meets these needs in Kropyvnytskyi. We're free of charge, equipped with resources, and host events that interest young people. Personally, I want to keep moving forward, especially after school, to continue my education in pedagogy so I can connect my life with Comma and further develop our youth center. I want it to be even better than those in Lviv. Of course, our resources are quite different, but we will try our best!"