When the full-scale war started, Anastasiia Bezsonova's life was turned upside down. Due to shelling, she was forced to leave her native city of Mykolaiv and move to the Bolhrad community in Odesa Oblast. Here, she found not only a new home but also an opportunity for her own self-realization.

In Mykolaiv, Anastasiia worked as a fitness trainer and then spent several years on maternity leave to take care of her young son. In her new place, she started working as a cultural organizer at the Bolhrad Center for Culture and Leisure. This marked a big change in her professional life - now Anastasiia is the head of the youth council and helps teenagers to realize their potential.

Anastasiia became the first head of the youth council, established in March 2024 with the support of the USAID HOVERLA Activity. This was the first step towards systematic youth work development in the community.

As Bolhrad Mayor Serhiy Dymytriev notes:

"Until recently, there were almost no youth policies in Bolhrad, but thanks to the USAID HOVERLA Activity, the situation has changed significantly. We are only at the beginning of this journey, but this assistance allows us to develop further."

In her work, Anastasiia primarily seeks to establish trusting relationships with teenagers. She explains:

"It is the first time in the Bolhrad that a close connection with young people has been established. My main task is to be a friend to these children. I always try to communicate with them, support them, listen to them, and give them advice."

Within six months of joining, Anastasiia and her team have participated in a number of programs. Among them is the project "Active Youth - Strong Community," implemented by the Center for Political Studies with the support of the USAID HOVERLA Activity. As part of this initiative, two representatives from Bolhrad joined the Youth Council Jamboree summer camp in the Carpathians, where they worked out strategies for developing youth councils together with other young Ukrainians.

Through the youth council, teenagers interact with local authorities, talk about their needs, and jointly seek solutions. In particular, the city council helped young people open a space where they could spend their leisure time, communicate, organize training, and hold youth council meetings.

"We are a kind of bridge to the local authorities, enabling young people to be involved in changes in the community and express their opinions. Many people think that ordinary people cannot get into the city council, but this is not true. Everything is possible if you have the will," Anastasiia asserts.

Most teenagers in Bolhrad leave for other cities after grades 9-11 because there are no colleges and universities in the community where they can continue their education. The goal of the youth council is to help young people discover their talents while they stay in the community.

"I hope to see our children thrive and for us to help fulfill their dreams. Perhaps, after completing their education, they will return in a few years, bringing fresh leadership and new ideas," says Anastasiia.