From 17 to 21 June 2026, the international youth event Democracy Camp 2026 took place in Vallendar, Germany, bringing together young activists, representatives of civil society organisations, and youth leaders from across Europe. Ukraine was represented by a delegation supported by the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU).
The Ukrainian delegation consisted of:
- Vira Blyzniuk
- Mariia Bovsunovska
- Yelyzaveta Lohvyn
- Alina-Mariia Tymochko
- Iryna Zablotovska
- Diana Ovsyanetska
Over five intensive and inspiring days, the participants took part in workshops, discussions, training sessions, international exchanges, and practical activities focused on democracy, civic participation, inclusion, sustainability, and youth engagement.
The Journey to Germany
The journey began on 15–16 June, depending on each participant’s city of departure. The delegation travelled by train from Kyiv, Irpin, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi to a common meeting point in Lviv. Before continuing their international journey, the participants had a few hours to get to know one another while exploring the city together. They visited Ivan Franko Park, walked through Lviv’s historic centre, and stopped at the square in front of the famous Opera House.
Later that afternoon, the group boarded an international coach travelling from Lviv to Koblenz. After spending approximately three hours crossing the Ukrainian–Polish border, they continued their journey through Poland and Germany.
On 17 June, the delegation arrived in Koblenz and then travelled to Vallendar, a picturesque town on the banks of the Rhine River, where Democracy Camp 2026 was held.
Day One: Building a Community
The opening day focused on getting to know one another and introducing participants to the goals and values of Democracy Camp.
Following the welcome session, the organisers presented the programme and introduced the Youth Participation Handbook 2026, a guide dedicated to strengthening youth participation in democratic processes.
Special attention was given to creating an open and inclusive atmosphere. Through interactive icebreakers and community-building activities, participants had the opportunity to learn more about each other, discover shared interests, and begin forming international teams.
The evening concluded with EuroTrivia, an engaging team competition covering democracy, the European Union, civic participation, and contemporary social issues. After the official programme, participants continued informal conversations while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the Rhine Valley.
Day Two: Youth Participation and Inclusion
The second day focused on youth participation and inclusion.
During the World Café session, participants explored how young people engage in decision-making processes in their respective countries. They exchanged successful practices, discussed the barriers that prevent young people from becoming more actively involved in public life, and reflected on possible solutions.
Another highlight of the day was the Workshop on Intersectionality. Through an interactive exercise, participants experienced how easily people form assumptions about others based solely on appearance. The workshop encouraged critical reflection on stereotypes, diversity, and the importance of creating inclusive communities.
Later, participants attended Direct Democracy 101, where they learned about mechanisms of direct democracy in both Germany and Ukraine. The session sparked lively discussions comparing different forms of civic participation, from local initiatives to national decision-making mechanisms.
The following workshop introduced participants to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). Beyond learning how the initiative functions, participants worked in teams to design their own ideas, considering potential themes, implementation strategies, and partnerships.
The day concluded with a reflection session followed by a sports evening, where participants from different countries connected through football and volleyball. Afterwards, many explored Vallendar together, visiting the town’s historic centre and a scenic observation tower overlooking the Rhine.
Day Three: Visiting Bonn and the United Nations Campus
On 19 June, participants travelled to Bonn, one of Europe’s key centres for sustainable development and international climate policy.
The day began with a visit to SoLaWi Bonn/Rhein-Sieg e.V., an organisation operating under the principles of community-supported agriculture. During an engaging discussion, participants explored topics such as trust-based food systems, food security, access to healthy food, support for local producers, and sustainable consumption.
The delegation then visited the United Nations Campus in Bonn, where participants learned about the work of UN agencies dedicated to climate action, sustainable development, and environmental governance.
One of the highlights of the visit was the Climate Tower, home to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The visit offered valuable insight into the global dimension of climate challenges and demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in addressing them.
In the evening, participants watched the documentary “People. Power. Planet.”, which explores civic activism and the impact that ordinary citizens can have in driving social change.
Day Four: Learning from Democratic Practices
The fourth day focused on exploring successful democratic practices from different countries.
Working in international teams, participants analysed real-life examples of civic participation and assessed their effectiveness. Topics included citizens’ assemblies, participatory decision-making, local petitions, and other democratic tools that enable citizens to influence public policy.
The group also reflected on the role of young people in democratic societies and jointly developed recommendations for strengthening youth participation at both the local and international levels.
Later in the day, participants joined a series of thematic workshops. One of the most engaging sessions was The Misinformation Dating Game, an interactive simulation designed to improve media literacy and raise awareness of disinformation. Through practical exercises, participants learned how to identify manipulation, verify information, and think critically about digital content.
The day concluded with one of the most anticipated traditions of Democracy Camp — Cultural Night.
Ukraine at Cultural Night
During Cultural Night, each national delegation introduced the traditions, culture, and unique identity of their country.
The Ukrainian delegation proudly showcased traditional embroidered shirts (vyshyvankas), explaining their cultural significance and symbolism. Participants also treated everyone to traditional Ukrainian sweets and invited fellow campers to learn the Ukrainian folk dance Kanada.
The Ukrainian presentation attracted considerable interest and provided an excellent opportunity to share Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, and the everyday lives of young people living in Ukraine today.
The Final Day: Reflection and Looking Ahead
The final day of Democracy Camp 2026 was dedicated to reflecting on the experience and discussing future initiatives.
During the Ideas and Reflection Brunch, participants explored the current state of democracy, imagined possible future scenarios, and developed ideas for local projects that they hope to implement within their own communities over the coming year.
Participants also contributed to the final version of the Youth Participation Handbook, incorporating the ideas, recommendations, and experiences gathered throughout the camp.
Following the closing reflection session, Democracy Camp 2026 officially concluded with a farewell lunch before participants began their journeys home.
Reflections from the Ukrainian Delegation
For the members of the Ukrainian delegation, Democracy Camp 2026 was much more than an educational programme. It became a space for learning, intercultural dialogue, meaningful friendships, and personal growth.
Over five unforgettable days, each participant gained new perspectives on democracy, civic participation, and youth engagement while building lasting connections with peers from across Europe. The experience inspired every member of the delegation in a unique way and provided valuable motivation for their future civic and professional activities.
Vira Blyzniuk
“As this was my first experience with Democracy Camp, the five days passed incredibly quickly. Every day was filled with intensive learning, inspiring discussions with participants from different countries, teamwork in both small and large groups, and, of course, a wonderful visit to Bonn.
We laughed, sometimes even cried—but only tears of happiness—danced, shared delicious food, learned from one another, listened, reflected, and simply enjoyed being together as one large community of young people united by the common goal of making the world a better place.
One of the most valuable aspects of the Camp was learning about civic initiatives and democratic practices implemented by young people in countries such as Germany, Romania, Belgium, Bulgaria, and many others. I sincerely hope that one day I will be able to apply this knowledge and these ideas in Ukraine.
It was an unforgettable experience. I am deeply grateful to the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine for giving me the opportunity not only to participate but also to serve as the head of the Ukrainian delegation and represent my country internationally.”
Mariia Bovsunovska
“The Democracy Camp programme was intensive, but in my opinion it covered a wide range of important topics through practical examples rather than abstract discussions. This approach encouraged meaningful conversations and allowed participants to work on their own civic initiative ideas while receiving valuable feedback from workshop facilitators.
The practical nature of the programme demonstrated that creating change and implementing your own ideas is genuinely possible.
At the same time, the schedule was so full that there was sometimes not enough time to explore certain topics in greater depth with our constantly changing teams. Silence certainly wasn’t part of the experience—every free moment turned into an opportunity for conversation and exchange.
Another highlight was meeting people from very different cultural backgrounds. Although some of the democratic approaches discussed may not yet be fully applicable in Ukraine, I believe that initiatives like Democracy Camp can contribute to strengthening civic participation and democratic decision-making in the future.”
Yelyzaveta Lohvyn
“Joining Democracy Camp was quite a spontaneous decision, but one that I have never regretted. For the first time, I had the opportunity to interact with so many young people from different countries and learn about their experiences in promoting democratic practices in their own societies.
Every workshop and interactive activity gave us the chance to discuss important topics with new groups of people, making every session unique.
I was particularly interested in learning about civic participation tools that are widely used in Germany. While some of these approaches may take time to become common in Ukraine, I truly hope we will eventually be able to implement similar mechanisms ourselves.
Thanks to the outstanding work of the Democracy Camp organisers and the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine, we gained invaluable experience and learned so much. I am sincerely grateful for their dedication and would be delighted to meet everyone from the Camp again in the future.”
Alina-Mariia Tymochko
“Democracy Camp was an incredible experience for me. One of the most meaningful aspects was the opportunity to represent Ukraine on an international level.
I met many wonderful people and truly enjoyed spending time with participants from different countries. The workshops and lectures were both engaging and highly informative.
Cultural Night was especially memorable—we proudly presented our traditional clothing and Ukrainian sweets while also immersing ourselves in the cultures of other countries.
Visiting the United Nations Campus in Bonn opened my eyes to new opportunities and perspectives. This Camp became much more than an educational trip; it was an experience that I will always remember.
I am sincerely grateful to the organisers and to every member of our delegation for making these days so special.”
Iryna Zablotovska
“Participating in Democracy Camp 2026 was an incredibly valuable experience that combined learning, international cooperation, and inspiration.
Throughout the programme, I deepened my understanding of democracy, youth participation, inclusion, and combating disinformation, while working together with young people from different countries and exchanging ideas and experiences.
My most memorable moments were visiting the United Nations Campus in Bonn, taking part in the interactive workshops, and celebrating Cultural Night, which reminded me how important it is to preserve our own culture while remaining open to others.
Democracy Camp taught me to look at societal challenges from a broader perspective, collaborate in international teams, and appreciate the diversity of opinions.
I am sincerely thankful to the organisers of Democracy Camp 2026 and the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine for giving me this opportunity. It is an experience that will stay with me for a long time and continue to inspire my future civic engagement.”
Diana Ovsyanetska
“I am truly grateful to the organisers for giving me the opportunity to participate in this exchange and for creating such a meaningful, engaging, and inspiring programme.
Throughout the Camp, I learned more about democracy, discussed important issues, shared my own ideas, and listened to the perspectives of participants from different countries.
One of the most valuable aspects for me was meeting young people from different cultures, exchanging experiences, and building new international friendships.
Democracy Camp broadened my horizons, provided new knowledge, and inspired me through the ideas and experiences of others. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who made this unforgettable experience possible.”
Participants noted that Democracy Camp 2026 served as a unique platform for exchanging experiences among young people from across Europe. The programme not only provided a deeper understanding of democratic processes and civic participation but also demonstrated that, despite differences in cultures, languages, and social contexts, young people across Europe face many of the same challenges and share a common commitment to addressing them together.
The knowledge they gained, the international connections they established, and the inspiration they received will serve as a strong foundation for future civic initiatives, educational projects, and active youth engagement in the development of their local communities.
New Knowledge, New Connections, New Opportunities
Participation in Democracy Camp 2026 provided the Ukrainian delegation with a valuable opportunity to engage in international cooperation, intercultural dialogue, and the exchange of democratic practices with young people from across Europe.
Throughout the five-day programme, the participants expanded their knowledge of democracy, civic engagement, youth participation, and active citizenship. They also established meaningful international connections, exchanged experiences with peers from different countries, and proudly represented Ukraine on the international stage.
The knowledge, ideas, and partnerships developed during the Camp will serve as an important foundation for the participants’ future civic initiatives, educational projects, and continued contribution to the development of their local communities.
The National Ecological Centre of Ukraine sincerely thanks Democracy International for its longstanding partnership, trust, and continued support in creating opportunities for Ukrainian youth to participate in international educational programmes and democratic exchanges.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the organisers of Democracy Camp 2026 and all project partners for their excellent organisation, their support of the Ukrainian delegation, and for creating an inspiring environment for learning, dialogue, and international cooperation.
We believe that the experience gained during Democracy Camp 2026 will continue to inspire the participants to become even more active members of their communities, strengthen democratic values, and contribute to building a more inclusive, resilient, and democratic future.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.