This event, hosted by the “Friends of Don Bosco Malta” organization from March 5 to 8, 2026, at the Paradise Bay Resort in Cirkewwa (Mellieha region, Malta) and co-funded by the European Union, served as the logical conclusion of a large-scale initiative, bringing together 52 participants (including 25 representatives from partner countries: Ukraine, Serbia, Luxembourg, Poland, and Hungary, alongside 27 participants from the host country, Malta): creative youth, artists, civic activists, youth workers, and decision-makers responsible for policy-making. The main goal of the conference was to establish an open space for dialogue on engaging youth in social transformation through artistic tools.
The program was diverse and practically oriented, featuring panel discussions, creative workshops, presentations, and themed exhibitions. A key element of the conference was the presentation of ideas and practical recommendations developed by youth leaders throughout the project.
Maryna Makukha shared her reflections on participating in the final meeting: “It was an incredibly vivid, dynamic, and inspiring experience. What impressed me the most was that the organisers managed to break down communication barriers: we were all in the same space, speaking directly with each other without formal constraints.
The most valuable moment for me was the direct dialogue with decision-makers. We had the opportunity to explain directly what is important to today’s youth and saw a genuine willingness to listen. The event also helped me make many useful connections with colleagues from different countries. Despite our different backgrounds, we easily found common ground through art and a shared desire for positive change. This trip once again proved that creativity is an effective tool for addressing serious social challenges, and the voice of youth holds real weight”.
Previously, Maryna Makukha participated in Erasmus+ youth exchanges “ARTiculate to Create: Art for Change”, “YouthARTiculate: Voices for Social Change”, “STARTArt – Stimulating Talent in Arts through Resources and Training for Art entrepreneurship”, “Art Myths Culture”, the first and second parts of “The Power of Young Artists”, “Into the wild”, took part in the 8th International Conference ICAMES 2024, and as part of a delegation from the Polytechnic, represented the university at a large-scale event hosted by a Latvian partner university.
The participation of Poltava Polytechnic representatives in events of this level highlights the importance of integrating Ukrainian students into European democratic processes and developing advocacy skills. The experience gained helps shape an active civic stance and allows for the implementation of new approaches in local initiatives.
As a reminder, students of Poltava Polytechnic can study abroad through Erasmus+ credit academic mobility grant programs for a semester or a full academic year at leading partner universities.
For more detailed information on current academic mobility programs abroad, please get in touch with the International Relations Office (office 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua).
