All three organisations will provide their programme, scale and nationwide network to facilitate communication and fundamentally mitigate the impact of war on young people, including helping with their long-term integration into schools, communities and society. The project received the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science in April.
I stand by you
"DofE buddy programme" for the integration of young people from Ukraine
The effects of the Russian invasion on children and young people in Ukraine are catastrophic. According to the United Nations, more than 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including over 1.5 million children and young people who are displaced, lost and vulnerable. While many partner organisations are providing immediate humanitarian assistance - and this includes many DofE participants and volunteers - the DofE programme itself focuses on longer-term assistance with impacts on individuals and whole families, and on their mental health and wellbeing.
The main ambition of the DofE project "I stand by you" is that every young Ukrainian man or woman will be supported by a young person from the Czech Republic, Slovakia or Romania during their stay in these countries.
The project will consist of long-term cooperation between specific Czech and Ukrainian students. The young person will become a guide and patron of one or two Ukrainian peers and thus fulfil the volunteering part of the DofE programme. Together they will implement activities within the DofE programme and set goals in movement, skills and volunteering. Finally, they will go on an adventure expedition together in the Czech countryside, where they will learn teamwork and make friends.
"The DofE programme activates children and young people through meaningful activities and gives them a sense of belonging, physical and mental wellbeing, strengthens their determination and independence. We believe that this model can help with the quick and effective adaptation of children and young people from Ukraine, both here and in other countries such as Slovakia and Romania, and later in Germany, where our organisation has a large presence." says Tomáš Vokáč, Executive Director of DofE ČR
Involving young people in the DofE has also been shown to help in difficult times. For example, during the Covid pandemic and during the lockdown, up to 70% DofE participants reported that DofE helped them to set their daily routines well and 80% maintained their motivation and desire to work hard despite very adverse conditions. They said they even played sports or helped as volunteers more than before the pandemic.
The DofE programme now operates in more than 300 schools in the Czech Republic, with another 600 in Slovakia and Romania. It works with nearly 3,000 teachers and youth workers and has more than 10,000 participants aged 14-24 each year. This network of schools, teachers, volunteers and young people is already working to support children and young people from Ukraine, facilitate communication and fundamentally mitigate the impact of the war on them, including helping with their long-term integration into schools, communities and society.
Exact description of the project "I stand by you" can be found in this document.
Every young Ukrainian man or woman must be supported to continue their studies and prepare for work and future life, whether back in Ukraine or in other countries. Our goal is to mobilize sufficient resources so that no one is left standing on the sidelines!
Support the project "I stand by you" in our appeal on darujme.cz.
HOW WE ALREADY HELP
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48% young people involved in the DofE are already actively volunteering
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91% would like to actively help in the future
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38% has a primary interest in becoming a long-term buddy for a Ukrainian friend
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During one collection at the Gymnasium in Nymburk, DofE participants raised over 92,000 CZK
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many participants are changing their volunteering activities to help Ukraine
