First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and American philanthropist Howard Buffett visited the new 12–21 youth space in Odesa. This is the fifth space in the 12–21 network and the fourth created in cooperation between the Olena Zelenska Foundation and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
Olena Zelenska and Howard Buffett learned about the work of the Odesa center and spoke with the team about how it helps teenagers open up, make friends, and receive professional support. In particular, they visited the shelter, which allows psychologists to continue their work, as well as training sessions and team meetings, even during prolonged air-raid alerts.
In eight months of operation, the network has brought together more than 1,800 visitors. The team has held more than 900 group activities and nearly 800 individual consultations and supportive conversations.
“When we launched this project, we assumed that leisure activities would be the entry point for building trust, and that later teenagers would feel ready to seek psychological consultations. But reality has shown that today’s Ukrainian youth are consciously coming specifically for psychosocial support, professional advice from mentors, and genuine dialogue. This is inspiring because it shows that the stigma surrounding mental health is being overcome. Our shared task with our partners is to be there for them and provide this source of support in time,” Olena Zelenska said.
During the meeting, the 12–21 team presented the network’s development strategy, which now includes a new focus area – fostering a culture of volunteering.
A new location in Kropyvnytskyi is scheduled to open by the end of the year, with preparatory work currently underway. Next year, the Foundation plans to continue expanding the network, including in Kyiv.