This weekend, 12 teenagers participating in our “On the Threshold of Independent Living” Program continued strengthening their project-based thinking skills.
The boys and girls finalized the projects they began at the start of February. They:
• calculated project budgets
• identified risks and developed mitigation strategies
• planned how their projects would sustain themselves over the next two years
• analyzed resources and defined team responsibilities
Trainer Oleksandr Kykta, together with Yelyzaveta, encouraged the teens not to fear numbers, responsibility, or strategic thinking. Because a project is not just a dream on paper — it is a plan, decisions, and consequences.
A particularly valuable experience took place at Open Space Ternopil. Participants explored equipment purchased through project funding, learned about the space’s activities, and were able to “touch” and experience how initiatives function in real life.
Most importantly, this weekend was about practicing independence:
• The teens created their own menu
• Purchased groceries
• Managed a weekend budget
• Cooked their own meals
• Learned to navigate the city of Ternopil independently
These are not just training sessions. This is real-life experience.
We sincerely thank: Restaurant “Churchill” for providing a warm lunch for the children; Ken Surridge for pocket money for the teens; Tiffany and Nazar for financial support that allowed the teens to purchase groceries independently; and Volodia Yavorskyy for assisting the youth with cooking and laundry.
Independence is not built through lectures. It is built through action, responsibility, and the support of caring adults.
And we see it clearly — they can do it. And they will succeed.
You can support practical courses like this for our teens and youth by making a donation to the foundation: https://www.liqpay.ua/uk/checkout/i46500097627
Thank you for your partnership and for standing with us.
We also extend our gratitude to Ternopil Children’s Home and Berezhany Lyceum of the Ternopil Regional Council for effective cooperation in the best interests of children.
