Simulation Game about the Social Cohesion of Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine poses significant challenges to the social cohesion of Ukrainian society. With approximately 20 million people of Ukrainian origin living abroad  and around 32 million residing within the country (according to the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine), strengthening interpersonal ties requires a strategic, cross-sectoral approach. In collaboration with our long-term partner, the Ukrainian youth NGO “STAN,” we developed a simulation game designed to empower young people to critically assess the state of social cohesion and identify effective entry points for engagement.

Project Goals

Set in a local community context, the simulation game focuses on key questions:

1. How can young Ukrainians inside the country and in the diaspora build stronger connections? What measures are necessary to maintain the bonds between local communities in Ukraine and their citizens abroad? How can youth abroad contribute more actively to defence and recovery efforts, considering that return largely depends on security guarantees?
2. In what ways can young people reinforce collaboration between the public and private sectors at the local level?
3. How can Ukrainian youth build resilience against disinformation campaigns aimed at exacerbating conflicts and social divisions?

Target Group(s)

Youth workers, civil society leaders, media professionals, students, and pub-lic officials from Ukraine, all of whom play roles in developing and imple-menting youth policy in Ukraine.

Planned Outcomes/Achievements 

By engaging with these critical questions through the simulation game, young Ukrainians gain practical insights and develop strategies to foster unity, strengthen cross-sector cooperation, and counter divisive narratives. This inno-vative approach supports the empowerment of youth as key actors in sustaining social cohesion during and beyond the ongoing crisis.