Soft skills development in youth space
Ko_Laba youth spaces were created by NGO "GO GLOBAL" with UNICEF support. The main project focus is ESTEAM (6 main activity areas: Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).
Since September 2024, over 1,000 young people have visited the spaces in Kharkiv and Chuhuiv. An innovative hub is forming within each community, enabling communities to develop and gain additional directions for youth potential development and realization. For this, we seek additional funding sources and project support.
Ko_laba activity was supported by the Educational Initiatives Fund, which provided computer equipment to help teenagers learn more effectively and turn their ideas into reality
Social media page link:
https://www.instagram.com/ko_laba_space?igsh=MXNuYmUydm9zbzdnaw==
Two youth spaces with ESTEAM direction Ko_laba are currently active in Kharkiv region, where young people can use digital prototyping equipment, watch films, lectures, use the library and game collection. The main emphasis is on hard skills development. The project idea was to strengthen these spaces' resources by adding a creative component with soft skills emphasis, namely: conducting creative workshops (modern dance, handicrafts, theater, public speaking, etc.) and youth debates, team project presentations.
Currently in Kharkiv region, education is conducted online, leading to educational losses, decreased attention, memory, social skills. Thus, the project's main goal is youth socialization under martial law, supporting their emotional-psychological health, developing creative abilities, competitiveness in creative competitions and festivals among peers from safer communities.
To implement the project in two spaces located in Kharkiv and Chuhuiv, we plan to engage trainers for creative workshops, debates, etc. Additionally, for proper project implementation, we plan to purchase art materials.
We believe successful project implementation will include:
- youth interest in creative workshops (participation and youth proposing ideas and themes for future events);
- active participation in debates, discussions and initiative in determining relevant topics;
- interest in free creativity hub (individual and group projects, initiating long-term artistic processes, generating own ideas for space design);
- increased unique Ko_laba visitors due to expanded activity themes in the space.
During project implementation, we plan to engage 8 professional trainers for workshops and debates and reach ~300 visitors in two spaces over 3 months.
