Starting in December 2025, Ukraine will launch new youth spaces called "12–21", established with the support of Olena Zelenska's Foundation. These spaces will be available free of charge for everyone aged 12 to 21. This was announced by the First Lady, Olena Zelenska, on Facebook.
According to Zelenska, the focus of all Foundation projects has been and will continue to be the well-being of children and youth.
"With each new project, we increasingly realize that young people require a special approach. They need services tailored to their age and real needs, and they seek places where they feel heard and accepted," she noted.
Zelenska also emphasized that supporting youth is not just a matter of care but is essential for the country’s recovery, as it is young people who will shape Ukraine's future.
According to UNICEF, 73% of young people aged 14–34 need psychosocial support, and 61% of parents notice signs of stress and sleep issues in their children. Research from the "Future Index" shows that only 30% of Ukrainian teenagers can confidently state what they want to be at 30 years old.
The Foundation conducted in-depth interviews where youth shared their experiences: many have left their homes, separated from families, and feel constant stress and uncertainty about the future.
To explore effective support formats, Foundation representatives visited the Headspace facility in Denmark to see how such initiatives provide a sense of stability, safety, and belief in oneself.
"All of this laid the groundwork for creating the new project – youth spaces '12–21'. These will be accessible hubs for youth, combining trust-based communication, leisure, peer interaction, and professional psychosocial support – a key direction in the Foundation's work," Zelenska stated.
She mentioned that the first youth spaces will start operating in December. They will be free and open to all individuals aged 12 to 21.
"We cannot change the experiences that teenagers and youth have already gone through. However, we can create the conditions for a better future, where there is space for support and acceptance," the First Lady emphasized.