On 7 October, Lviv hosted the Forum “Ambassadors of Integrity: Education and Partnership for Community Development”, organised by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention in partnership with the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE Project and the All-Ukrainian Association of Local Governments “Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities”.

The Forum brought together representatives of state and local authorities, educators, young people, experts, the civil society sector, and the business community. They discussed practical approaches to good governance, youth participation in decision-making, and the development of partnerships between communities, educational institutions, and the business sector.

‘It is very important for us to involve young people in decision-making in communities. This is about good governance, and good governance is about integrity. Therefore, through the “School of Active Democracy”, “Learning to Live in a Community” course, and the “Community Budget for Children’s Dreams” initiative, we create opportunities for young people not only to express their views, but also to propose their own projects and bring about change in their communities. But integrity cannot be limited to the school environment: when they step outside its doors, children must see that the principles of honesty, responsibility, transparency, and participation apply just as much in the community and in society as a whole,’ noted Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager.

The Forum was held in several formats, including thematic discussions, presentations of success stories and a World Café-style workshop for youth teams.

Key topics of the Forum:

• “Good governance: how transparency, accountability, and responsibility in decision-making influence the quality of education”
• “Participation without pretence: how young people influence decisions”
• “Partnership that is trusted: community – education – business”
• “New leadership: integrity, professionalism, influence”
• “Integrity in action: from principle to decision”

The key speakers at the Forum were:

• Viktor Pavlushchyk, Head of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention;
• Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, Deputy Head of NGO DOCCU;
• Yaroslav Hasiak, Member of the Lviv Regional Council and Chief of Affairs of the Regional Council;
• Taras Dobrivskyi, Executive Director of the All-Ukrainian Association of Local Governments “Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities”;
• Aliona Khylko, Deputy Head of the Department of Educational Work and Training Programmes at the National Agency on Corruption Prevention;
• Nadiia Balabust, DECIDE National Expert, Coordinator of Component on the Development of the Career Guidance System;
• Kateryna Nemyrovska, DECIDE National Expert, Head of DECIDE Expert Group on the Development of Career Guidance Hubs;
• Serhii Kizima, Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Chernivtsi Military State Administration.

After the panel discussions, the participants went on to work in teams in a World Café format, where they explored proposals covering five thematic areas:

• transparent decision-making and responsible community governance;
• a culture of integrity and accountability – from education to the community;
• professional opportunities for young people and local economic development;
• young people and local residents as participants in community decision-making;
• partnerships for development: the community, education, business, and young people.

The joint work of the teams resulted in proposals on transparent governance, youth engagement, the development of careers guidance, and cooperation between communities and the business sector.