August 17–19 The training of trainers organized within Voices Unheard project brought together 10 representatives of civil society organizations, educators, experts, and community managers at the Voice of Romni premises in Uzhhorod

The key objective was to provide participants with new skills and insights to support them in creating spaces where children and young people can be active participants in democratic processes, in which they are able to express their opinions, influence decisions, and feel safe.

During the training participants discussed the role of facilitators in connecting young people with  organizations and institutions that can involve them in decision-making. They also discussed how to help young people unlock their potential and create the conditions for safe, meaningful, and effective participation in important processes.

A separate focus was placed on how to help young people express their needs, ideas, positions, and opinions, and on how to ensure that representatives of organizations and institutions not only hear young people’s voices, but also take them into account when making decisions.

Roma mentor Oktaviia Adam shared:

“It was very interesting to go through this training. I was especially interested in the group work. This training will help me engage Roma children more and interact with them.”

Tetiana Stepanenko, a lecturer at Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University, noted that she was particularly interested in the topic of communication and interaction with young people:

“This isn’t just a theoretical course — it’s also about reinforcing practical trainer qualities and developing facilitation skills, which matters to me for my further practical work in teaching.”

Bringing participants together in groups was particularly important, as their diverse areas of work and levels of experience created an opportunity to exchange approaches, share successful practices, and learn from one another.

“It’s very valuable that the trainers listen to our experience, because when working with people, we still encounter very different situations. I also really enjoy the explanations — how these approaches are applied, how they’re integrated into the training material,” said Maryna Stashyna-Neimet, leading specialist at the Center for Innovation and Development of Uzhhorod National University and Barrier-Free Ambassador for the Zakarpattia region.

A separate, important part of the training was devoted to Safeguarding — a system that helps prevent risks, protect children, and respond correctly when a challenging situation arises. Participants discussed risk assessment, policies and procedures, reporting, professional boundaries, privacy, physical contact, power dynamics, and emotional safety when working with children.

Trainer Mariia Mendzhul emphasized:

“Participants have the opportunity to practice their skills while also preparing to work with different audiences — specifically children, teenagers, and adults, given that we have representatives of different nationalities: Roma and non-Roma, people with different experiences related to the war, and a traumatic background.“

Project manager Zinaida Prokopenko emphasized that the team had succeeded in creating a space and sharing an important tool with the training’s participants:

“This is an investment in the knowledge of people who will go on to work directly with children, so that every child can feel that they are safe and that they are respected.”

This training proved that, together, we can build a safe future for young people, include them in decision-making processes, and help them come into their own. It is  precisely out of such processes that an environment gradually takes shape — one where it’s safe to be heard and to act.

The training took place within the framework of the project “Voices Unheard – Children of the Roma Community Paving the Way: Active Participation for a Better Future.” The project is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by OlamAid together with the Center for Youth Integration, KEAN, Nova Generacija, and Voice of Romni. The project’s goal is to expand opportunities for children of the Roma community, particularly girls, by strengthening their participation in democratic processes and civic life.

@voice.of.romni 📣 Посилення безпечної та інклюзивної участі: в Ужгороді відбувся триденний тренінг у межах проєкту Voices Unheard. ➡️ Це навчання довело: разом можна будувати безпечне майбутнє для молоді, включати її до процесів прийняття рішень і допомагати проявлятися. Саме з таких процесів поступово формується середовище, у якому безпечно бути почутим і діяти. 🔻 Тренінг відбувся в межах проєкту “Непочуті голоси – діти ромської громади прокладають шлях: активна участь заради кращого майбутнього”. Проєкт співфінансується Європейським Союзом та реалізується організацією OlamAid разом із Center for Youth Integration, KEAN, Nova Generacija та Voice of Romni. Метою проєкту є розширення можливостей дітей ромської громади, зокрема дівчат, шляхом посилення їхньої участі в демократичних процесах і громадському житті. #Тренінг #навчання #інклюзивнаучасть ♬ Corporate Ambient Positive – KarmaMusicUa