Every year, thousands of teenagers without parental care begin an independent life without a loved one nearby — someone who could support, set an example, teach them how to cope with everyday challenges, or simply be there for them at important moments. In order to draw attention to the importance of such support, a communication campaign “Mentoring — Your Experience in Action” was launched in Ukraine. Its goal is to make mentoring a recognizable, understandable, and attractive way of effectively supporting teenagers without parental care.

The communication campaign "Mentoring - Your Experience in Action" began with the premiere of a video based on real stories of mentoring interaction. A mentor for teenagers from a boarding school participated in the filming, and the plot recreates simple life situations between a mentor and a mentee (a teenager who has a mentor): shopping in a supermarket, cooking, studying together, talking, and socializing.

It is through such seemingly ordinary things that teenagers without parental care gain valuable experience for independent living.

"Being a mentor means being someone who is there at important moments, being someone who helps you confidently walk through life, supports you in difficult situations, inspires you to make bold decisions, and shows you that even small steps lead to great victories. This support can change a child's future, give them faith in their own strength, and make them feel that there is someone nearby who cares," says Denys Ulyutin, Minister of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine .

Famous Ukrainians have also joined the popularization of mentoring. Among them are Olympic champion Anna Rizatdinova, chef and restaurateur Olga Martynovska, entrepreneur Olena Hashynska, Vice President of SoftServe in Ukraine Anastasia Frolova, and influencer Danylo Haydamakha.

Throughout the campaign, they will share their own stories of support as teenagers — about people who became mentors for them. Through these personal stories, they call on Ukrainians to become such “cool adults” for teenagers.

Mentoring is when an adult regularly supports a child, teenager or young person who is growing up without parental care. It is not about a professional or parental role, but about a trusting human relationship in which the adult shares his or her experience, supports, helps to navigate life situations and gradually discovers his or her own potential. Such support helps teenagers feel important, grow in confidence and make their own decisions.

In December 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine "On Mentoring", which at the state level recognizes mentoring as an effective tool for supporting children and youth.

Any adult citizen of Ukraine aged 21 or over can become a mentor. Learn more about mentoring at dity.gov.ua , as well as on the social media pages of DIyMO and its partners.

The communication campaign "Mentoring - your experience in action" is implemented by the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Education and Child Care, the Office for Children and Youth "DIyMO" under the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, the Public Organization "Ukrainian Network for the Rights of the Child" within the framework of the project "Support for Children and Youth with Experience of Staying in Alternative Forms of Care" together with UNICEF with financial support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) through the state development bank KfW, the European Union and the Government of Sweden.

The content of the campaign does not necessarily reflect the views of the German government, the EU, Sweden and/or UNICEF.