More than 500 communities have joined the national youth career guidance pilot.

Career guidance should become part of strategic planning for community development. This was stated by the Minister for Communities, Territories and IDPs Vitalii Bezghin at the National Career Guidance Forum “The Future We Choose”.

Today, the national pilot supported by DECIDE already brings together more than 500 communities and around 3000 employers. A further 94% of communities say they are ready to participate actively in career guidance work.

According to Vitalii Bezghin, the next step is to link career guidance with community development strategies. This includes forecasting demand for specialists, cooperating with local businesses, and creating opportunities for internships and young people’s first jobs.

“A community’s future depends to a large extent on whether young people see their future there. A community must therefore plan not only what it will build in five years, but also who will work in its schools, hospitals, municipal enterprises and local businesses in five years. Career guidance helps us start answering this question today,” said Vitalii Bezghin.

The minister also drew attention to the different conditions in which Ukrainian communities live today.

“In relatively safe communities, we can talk about internships and first jobs. In frontline communities, safety comes first. The state must take this difference into account, because a child’s place of residence should not determine their opportunities,” Vitalii Bezghin emphasised.

The minister also thanked Swiss partners for supporting the development of Ukraine’s career guidance system.

The DECIDE project is implemented by the NGO DOCCU and Zurich University of Teacher Education - International with support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine / Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.