We continue summing up what the democratic forces have done for Belarusians since 2020. Today, we focus on the key achievements in working with young people and for their benefit. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Youth Policy and Students, Marharyta Vorykhava, shares what has been done.
Since 2023, we have begun to systematically develop youth policy as part of the democratic representation. For the first time, the voice of Belarusian youth was heard on behalf of the democratic forces in the bodies of the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the United Nations. For the first time, there was a political mandate to truly influence the situation of young people in the country and in exile. And for the first time, we did this together with our youth.
All this work became possible thanks to the trust of young people and cooperation with dozens of NGOs and initiatives. We listened. We united. We acted. And here are the results worth remembering.
Protection of Youth Rights
We have prepared and submitted more than 40 analytical materials and appeals to international bodies, including the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the UN, and EU member states. We have collected and documented over 200 individual cases of young people subjected to persecution. Our proposals have been included in 12 EU policies and in youth policy standards, from participation in decision-making to healthcare protection and the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Simplified Admission Procedures
In partnership with young students, the Coordination Council’s, the United Transitional Cabinet, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, we have achieved legislative changes. Problem analysis has led to meetings with the ministries of education and youth affairs. This is the result of joint work, where students, CC experts, political representatives, and analysts acted as one team.
Access to Knowledge and Opportunities
We have developed and published dozens of guides and instructions on legal stay, admission, scholarships, employment, and support institutions. Over 1,000 young people have taken advantage of educational opportunities, received consultations, and applied for EU scholarships. More than 3,000 students have received scholarships at European universities. We have supported youth in difficult situations and helped where information or legal certainty was lacking.
This is Youth Platform
We have brought all resources together in one place – on thisisyouth.info, where young people can get a guide, ask a question, and find like-minded peers. In six months of work, the website has gained or processed:
- 48,000 unique views;
- 250,000 total views;
- over 100 pages of content;
- more than 200 individual requests.
The platform has become part of a reliable support infrastructure.
Support for Youth in Exile
We have systematized answers to the most common questions young people face in exile:
- how to study;
- how to find a job;
- how to obtain legal documents;
- how to move forward.
We have provided information, consultations, templates, and contacts with experts and organizations, all of them based on and relevant to the real experience of young Belarusians.
Strengthening Youth Organizations
We have provided consultations, mentoring support, and connections to international partners. We have lobbied for the recognition of the youth sector as a priority in donor programs.
Partnerships with International Organizations
We have established cooperation with national youth councils of the EU member states, the European Commission, and others. We have participated in creating joint documents, proposals, focus groups, and consultations on Belarus’ youth policy. We have conveyed the requests of Belarusian NGOs to working groups at the EU and Council of Europe levels. We have promoted youth participation on all these platforms.
Participation and Self-Organization
We have supported the establishment of youth thematic groups and councils. We have organized youth rights forums where young people did not just “attend” but set the agenda. This was the first step toward the practical inclusion of the young generation in democratic politics – not symbolically, but genuinely.
Looking to the Future
We are not stopping. We continue to build:
- a community;
- a system of participation;
- a support infrastructure;
- and an agenda where youth are not “beneficiaries” but full-fledged actors of democracy.
We continue working every day so that the youth of Belarus are not left alone, ensuring democracy starts with those who will shape and live in it tomorrow, not imposed from the top.
