Youth workers, NGO representatives, and local volunteers came together in Chernihiv for a SYWOR multiplier event focused on supporting internally displaced young people. The meeting offered participants the chance to explore the SYWOR handbook with its practical tools, key practices, and recommendations for working with IDPs, discuss challenges in engaging displaced youth and strategies to overcome them, work on real-life case studies and share experiences through professional networking and collaboration.
The event opened with informal icebreakers that created a welcoming and safe atmosphere. Participants connected quickly, shared their experiences, and got ready to take part in discussions and activities. This environment made complex topics — such as trauma, resilience, and displacement — more approachable.
A core focus of the meeting was the diverse circumstances of youth displacement. Participants explored how IDP youth are far from a homogeneous group. Factors such as the stage of displacement, reasons for leaving home, legal status, living conditions, age, gender, disability, socio-economic background, and experiences of trauma all influence how young people respond to new environments. Recognising these differences allows youth workers to understand behaviour in context.
The discussion also highlighted the local context of Chernihiv. Through the Chernihiv Resource Map, participants identified available services, gaps, and opportunities for collaboration. Linking theory to local realities helped demonstrate how SYWOR tools can be applied immediately in everyday youth work.
The event also emphasised the principles of trauma-informed youth work. This approach helps youth workers create safe and supportive spaces, build trust, respect cultural differences, encourage cooperation and transparency, and focus on young people’s strengths.
Participants explored how these principles translate into action. A trauma-informed approach is not therapy, but a framework for organising spaces and activities. Key practices include building on youth strengths, understanding how trauma affects behaviour and learning, respecting personal boundaries and young people’s needs. This approach helps youth workers act confidently without feeling pressured to “fix” trauma.
A key part of the meeting focused on safe spaces as ongoing processes, not just physical places. By using clear principles and working consistently together, youth workers can build trust, comfort, and a sense of belonging. This foundation helps young people gradually gain confidence, form social connections, and move toward leadership.
The SYWOR project aims to strengthen youth workers through practical tools, knowledge exchange, and inclusive, trauma-aware methodologies. Participants left the event with new approaches, insights, and confidence to support displaced young people in ways that promote safety, belonging, and empowerment.
About the Project
The course was part of the SYWOR project, implemented by Young Agents of Change in collaboration with:
- Georgian Youth Development Association – GYDA (Georgia)
- European Integration Group (Turkey)
- MilleniuM Training and Development Institute (Moldova)
- Fundacja Nowy Staw (Poland)
The project is funded by the European Union and aims to strengthen youth workers and organizations involved in supporting displaced young people through capacity building and cross-border collaboration.
