Recently, at Northern GOK, an insight session took place for youth unions from Integrated GOK and Metinvest Business Service. This was the first meeting held with such an expanded group of participants. The active youth exchanged experiences and revised priorities for the future work of the youth hubs.
Northern GOK served as the venue for this meeting. Guests visited the enterprise's museum, toured the production facilities, and went to the observation site at the Pershotravnevyi open-pit mine. The insight session was held in the quest room at Northern GOK.
The main focus of the meeting was the impact of the war on the activities of youth hubs: participants discussed how to create a safe, accessible space under current conditions, and also considered which initiatives should be added to the youth unions' work.
It is worth noting that since the beginning of the full-scale war, the youth unions of Metinvest enterprises in Kryvyi Rih have focused on volunteering, organising and operating humanitarian hubs, supporting internally displaced persons, the front, and Armed Forces of Ukraine. They have also continued implementing socially beneficial projects, such as supporting children with special needs in their partner childcare institutions. Today, the question was raised of what else is important to do and which directions of joint activity will be significant for the youth, the enterprises, and the community.
"Changes are always a response to the needs of the time. Since the outbreak of the full-scale war, young people have faced new challenges. Many young people have moved abroad, while those who have remained here have had to adapt by acquiring new skills, changing their mindset, and habits," said Olena LYSAN, Head of the Social Affairs Department at Metinvest Business Service. "Constant hostile attacks and security requirements have limited opportunities for holding large joint events, weakening youth cohesion, reducing contacts, and contributing to burnout and deteriorating mental health. Based on the issues identified by the youth, we jointly developed a number of initiatives around key areas of activity and emphasised the need to increase a number of offline events. Also, we defined the support young people need so that the unions can combine their efforts and become even stronger. After all, it is the youth who are always behind the most outstanding projects and achievements, and they are the main drivers of change and creators of the future."
The core part of the event was brainstorming: the youth proposed a range of activities across key areas such as sport and health, professional and personal development, social and civic engagement, volunteering, culture, and leisure. Participants discussed what a youth space should look like, taking into account an inclusive approach and demands of the time – personalisation of needs, an individual approach, a focus on personal and professional growth, and the development of skills and talents. They stressed the need for gradual integration of young war veterans into the youth unions (with their consent), as they return from the frontline. Also, it was decided to make thematic and methodological meetings for the participants of youth unions at the enterprises in Kryvyi Rih.
"Our circle is expanding, and this is very encouraging because it motivates to accomplish more useful things and enriches our experience. Each union has its own traditions and strengths, so it is a good idea to unite not only GOKs, but also the service enterprise of the company. This will allow us to diversify our activities and add more relevant meetings. Working together is always more interesting: everyone is united by their work in the company, but each person has their own talents, interests, preferences, and experience, so together we can achieve truly strong results," shared Bohdan KHLIBYSHYN, foreman of the rolling stock service at the Railway Department and leader of the youth organisation at Northern GOK.
In total, 20 representatives from Metinvest enterprises in Kryvyi Rih took part in the meeting.
