More Than Just Words: Stories from the «Your Voice – Your Power» Project Presented in Bila Tserkva

When stories go beyond the confines of screens and paper, they begin to transform communities. On March 1, Bila Tserkva hosted the closing event of the «Your Voice – Your Power» project, which brought together authors, young people, and partners to share heartfelt stories and shared experiences.

The event aimed to publicly showcase the results of months of work: from online workshops and mentoring support to the creation of real-life narratives that challenge stereotypes. The in-person presentation demonstrated the transparency and effectiveness of the beYOUnd initiative by creating a safe space for open dialogue.

How it went: an exhibition, personal stories, and networking

Together with the Up to Date team, we created an atmosphere where each participant’s personal experience became visible and meaningful. The event program was rich and interactive:

Story Exhibition: Participants saw their texts displayed as an illustrated exhibition for the first time.
Public readings: authors presented their own stories live for the first time, sharing their pain, hope, and strength.
The project’s journey: Yevheniia, a representative of the NGO beYOUnd, spoke about transforming an idea into real impact—from the first online meeting to the final online booklet.
Workshop «Safe Self-Expression: How to Talk About Difficult Topics»: a practical session that helped participants find tools for honest communication within their communities.

Participants’ voices: safety and sincerity

For us at beYOUnd, «being there for each other» isn’t just a phrase — it’s about creating an atmosphere where the fear of judgment disappears. Feedback from event attendees confirms that we’ve succeeded in creating exactly that kind of space:

«Communication—there was no fear of sharing personal stories. New connections—overall, very interesting! You guys are awesome; thank you for the opportunity to speak my mind without fear of being judged for my thoughts!» — Anna.

«A warm and safe atmosphere, an incredibly beautiful space, and great event organization» — Iryna.

«Awesome atmosphere, really cool illustrations for the stories! Thank you to the organizers for their warmth» — Anastasia.

Impact and Sustainability: What’s Next?

We believe that when there is only one voice, it may go unheard. But when there are many voices, they bring about change. The project has demonstrated the importance of empowering young people through storytelling and advocating for their rights.

View the online brochure

We’ve also put together a video report in which the organizers, mentors, and authors share their feelings about what it’s like to see their stories shared publicly.

We sincerely thank our partners: NGO Up to Date, NGO Ave Team, NGO TENET, as well as our incredible mentors Roksolana and Oleksandra. We’ve walked this path together, because beYOUnd is where it all starts with you.

The «Your Voice — Your Power» initiative is part of the Let’s NGO project, which is being implemented by NGO «Ukrainian Professional Development» with support from the National Endowment for Democracy.