The Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors Programme has held its first study visit to Ukraine, to the city of Lviv. Keep on reading for the key moments and insights from the trip.
From 13-16 October 2025, just after the Rebuild Ukraine Lab in Brașov, Romania, young leaders from across Europe travelled to Lviv, Ukraine, for a Study Trip, an intensive four-day programme designed to deepen cooperation between Ukrainian institutions and European youth, explore post-war recovery, and build the skills and networks needed for long-term reconstruction.
This marked the first time the programme included a field-based study trip, bringing participants directly to Ukraine to experience recovery efforts firsthand.
Organised under the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors initiative of the European Youth Parliament (EYP), and taking place in Lviv – the city chosen as the European Youth Capital 2025, the trip focused on the themes of:
The trip went beyond observation, giving Ambassadors a unique opportunity to witness what “rebuilding” truly means for people in Ukraine and to link that experience to future policy and advocacy work.
The Study Trip began with a guided city tour that placed Lviv’s past and present next to each other. Walking through this European city, the Ambassadors met local people, listened to stories, and shared reflections on recovery.
The question of identity continued at the Jam Factory Cultural Centre, a cultural and social space that brings together art, public dialogue and community outreach. There, Ambassadors reflected on cultural memory, identity, and how creative spaces help rebuild not just infrastructure, but also social trust and collective confidence.
The group also took part in a moment of remembrance, laying flowers in honour of Ukrainian heroes and acknowledging the human cost behind every discussion about recovery and reconstruction.
Recovery and development were at the core of the programme. At the UNBROKEN Rehabilitation Centre, the Ambassadors learned about the centre’s mission, long-term plans, and the advanced methods and equipment used to support both physical and psychological rehabilitation. The centre has already provided treatment and recovery support to vast numbers of people affected by the war, showing how medical innovation and dignity-based care are being put to use in Ukraine.
Another central theme of the Study Trip was youth leadership. At the Ukrainian Leadership Academy, participants discussed what it means to form value-driven leadership in crisis: responsibility, service, integrity, initiative. They saw how young Ukrainians are educated not only academically, but also as active citizens who are expected to contribute to their communities from day one.
The group then met with representatives of the European Youth Capital Office in Lviv. The discussion focused on how youth participation is being built directly into the city’s development and decision-making. Young people are creating initiatives and events, strengthening local democracy, and shaping a truly European future, even during wartime.
Another focus of the programme was long-term reconstruction and Europe’s role in that process. In a meeting with the Lviv Bureau of European Integration, the Ambassadors explored Ukraine’s path toward EU accession at the local level: cooperation with European partners, alignment with EU standards, and the role of youth organisations in keeping the process people-focused and transparent. Participants discussed how young Europeans can actively support that process through sustained partnerships.
The delegation also visited the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) to talk about outreach, social engagement and social entrepreneurship. The discussions focused on three priorities: educating a new generation ready to rebuild the country; connecting academic knowledge with real-world impact; and building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that can operate and still innovate under pressure.
Participants left Lviv with a clearer understanding of what meaningful solidarity looks like: listening directly to local actors, elevating youth leadership, and treating reconstruction as a long-term commitment.
One message repeated throughout the trip: young people are already at the forefront of Ukraine’s recovery. From rehabilitation and social reintegration, to civic leadership, to entrepreneurship and European integration, youth-driven structures are actively shaping what Ukraine will look like after the war.
The next step is to turn what was learned in Lviv into long-term cooperation, advocacy, and tangible support across Europe.
Article by: Anastasiia Strukova (UA), Editress of the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors Study Trip to Lviv
We sincerely thank EYP Ukraine for organising the Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors Study Trip, thereby pioneering a new format within the EYP network.
The Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors Programme 2025 is implemented with financial support from the Central European Initiative Cooperation Fund, the E.ON Foundation, the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, and the U.S. Mission to the EU.
