ESC: Catch your star

Kharkiv non-governmental association for active youth “Stella” is a youth non-profit organization of young people, students, volunteers and alumni of international exchange programs working and living in Ukraine. It provides mobility opportunities for Ukrainian youth and thus fosters their personal development through active engagement and volunteering projects. Kharkiv NGO "Stella" sees its main mission in the building of more tolerant, understanding and accepting society in Ukraine. The main aim of "Stella" is to promote youth development, active citizenship and lifestyle in Ukraine and to foster active participation of its citizens in civil society. The main objectives of our organization are: - promoting the role of young people in civil society; - spreading the ideas of volunteering, tolerance, cultural diversity, anti-discrimination, anti-racism, social inclusion, human rights, gender equality, equal conditions for people with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, sustainable development and healthy lifestyle; - promoting non-formal education in Ukraine; - cooperating with different Ukrainian and international NGOs and organizing mutual events together; - cooperating with local authorities and governmental institutions such as schools, universities and department of youth and sports in Kharkiv; - consulting young people about different educational, cultural, sports and volunteering opportunities abroad; - improving communication skills between Ukranian youth and youth from other countries; - creating a network of volunteers in the city of Kharkiv. The main activities of our NGO are: - visiting and assisiting during local events in order to make presentation about international volunteering opportunities and personal development; - organizing and supporting festivals, exhibitions, fairs, concerts and conferences; - organizing international seminars, training courses and youth exchanges in Ukraine using non-formal methods of education; - participating in Erasmus+ projects as partners and sending Ukrainian participants abroad to participate in international activities; - implementing local activities together with volunteers. Our target groups are: - young people aged 16 – 30 with or without any professional skills, qualifications or prior job experience from all over Ukraine; - vulnerable and young people with social disabilities and fewer opportunities; - organizations working with children and young people with special needs; - schoolchildren, students, youth workers and alumni of international programs. Our organization is quite active within the Erasmus+ programme, providing opportunities for youngsters and youth leaders to improve their competencies abroad, as well as giving the local community a chance to learn from them and exchange experience with other Europeans.