Liudmyla Serohina ’18 (Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Ukraine/Poulsbo, WA), FLEX City Representative of Volodymyr-Volynskyi, wanted to build a “a safe place for young people to grow and watch it bloom.” With that idea in the front of her mind, she created the youth club MOLODI in her hometown when she returned home from FLEX. She wanted to “…create a creative space for teenagers, where diverse ideas and thoughts could be shared, where people could freely express themselves, learn and work on improving the community,” and that is exactly what she created.
Since the opening of MOLODI at the end of 2018, over 50 young people have met for 16 activities with the club at the NGO Creative Studios. Liudmyla serves at the head organizer, but at the club is run by the participant-volunteers, who are required to take a turn in leading and planning meetings with Liudmyla’s help. Meeting itineraries vary from diverse lectures and discussions to game nights and themed evenings. This variety means there are always newcomers joining, since everyone can find something that interests them.
“As for me, the best thing about MOLODI is that we formed a local team of young leaders that one day will be ready to change the world,” explains Liudmyla.
Written by Lyudmyla Seryohina ’18
