Tools and prospects of youth participation in civil society development

Abstract

Based on the analysis of Ukraine’s current experience, particularly under martial law, the study substantiates the transformation of youth from passive objects of state guardianship into active subjects of socio-political change and national resilience. The article examines the current regulatory and legal framework of Ukraine, including the Law of Ukraine «On the Basic Principles of Youth Policy» and the State Target Social Program «Youth of Ukraine: Generation of Resilience – 2030». It evaluates the effectiveness of core institutional forms of youth engagement: youth councils acting as legitimate consultative bodies, networks of youth centers and spaces, and modern e-democracy tools. Special attention is given to the unprecedented scaling of the volunteer movement. Volunteering has emerged as a primary channel for civic mobilization, decentralized crisis management (humanitarian logistics, IDP support, cybersecurity), and the generation of essential soft skills among a new generation of crisis-resistant leaders. The study identifies key barriers hindering the development of the youth sector: massive external and internal migration of human capital, psycho-emotional burnout of activists, and the risks of tokenistic youth engagement. A set of strategic recommendations is proposed: shifting the focus of grant support toward small and deoccupied communities through mobile and modular youth spaces, implementing digital tools to engage youth abroad, providing systemic mental health support, and simplifying access to micro-grants for youth organizations.