Ahead of World Mental Health Day, the team from the Danish organization Headspace Denmark conducted a three-day training program for volunteers at the “12–21” youth spaces established by the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
The Foundation’s partnership with Headspace Denmark began during the development of the “12–21” network. It was the Danish model of psychosocial support for young people that the Foundation’s team adapted to meet the needs of Ukrainian youth. At its core is an accessible space where teens can find support, be heard, and connect with others without fear of judgment.
From the opening of the first center in December 2025 to the launch of the fifth in Odesa in August 2026, the “12–21” network developed its own experience in supporting young people.
Over three days, Headspace Denmark specialists led practical workshops for volunteers from Bila Tserkva, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernihiv. Participants worked on their skills in active listening, building trust, and recognizing situations in which a teen needs help from a professional psychologist.
At the same time, the Danish team learned about group-work methods developed at the “12–21” youth centers. In Bila Tserkva, for example, the partners took part in forum theater – an interactive format in which teens act out challenging real-life situations, discuss them, and work together to find possible solutions.
Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, joined the volunteers and Danish partners in Bila Tserkva. During the meeting, the volunteers shared their own ideas for developing the network, including hosting youth self-governance days, organizing exchanges between cities, and partnering with European youth centers.
“When my team and I created the ‘12–21’ project, it was important to us that teens themselves have a say in what these spaces would look like, shape their atmosphere, and propose their own initiatives. Today, we see how eager they are to develop the volunteer community. Our shared task with our partners is to support these ideas and help young people bring them to life,” Olena Zelenska said.
The “12–21” network brings together five youth centers in Bila Tserkva, Chernihiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kryvyi Rih, and Odesa. More than 2,300 teens visit these centers, and 44 trained volunteers help foster an environment of trust and support every week.
The next “12–21” youth center is planned to open in Kropyvnytskyi.