Spirit of America Hosts Inspiring Discussion with Young Ukrainians Rebuilding Their Communities Through UActive Program
Event featured remarks from Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States
Spirit of America hosted an event at the Ukraine House in Washington, DC on April 1, 2025, featuring Ukrainian youth who are rebuilding their communities through the UActive program.)
WASHINGTON, DC – On April 1, Spirit of America, a US-based nonprofit, hosted a powerful event at the Ukraine House in Washington, DC featuring four inspiring Ukrainian teenagers who are turning loss into leadership by rebuilding their war-torn communities through the UActive program.
The UActive program, created by Spirit of America in 2022 in collaboration with the Ukrainian nonprofit savED, develops the leadership potential, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of Ukrainian students.
“People often underestimate the power of small actions,” noted Jim Hake, Founder and CEO of Spirit of America, at the event. “What truly makes a difference are committed individuals taking action, like the UActive students we are celebrating tonight.”
Through UActive, high school students in formerly occupied territories are taught valuable skills of entrepreneurship, budgeting, and project management fundamentals. These students are then tasked with developing projects that will improve their schools and neighborhoods. Their ideas are awarded micro-grants of $5,000 to fund the implementation of these initiatives. As a result, vital community spaces such as youth hubs, sports fields, and cultural venues are being restored.
“UActive equips students with the knowledge and skills to rebuild their communities.” said Anna Novosad, savEd Co-Founder and former Minister of Education and Sciences of Ukraine. “The restoration of life is especially evident through UActive and these inspiring students.”
During the event, Olesia Rusanova, one of the four UActive students, shared, “The youth in Ukraine want to bring prosperity to the country. We are motivated, and the UActive program helps unleash the full potential of Ukrainian youth.”
To learn more about Olesia’s story, including her efforts through UActive to build a cultural hub that unites her community, visit: spiritofamerica.org/hear-olesias-story
Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, delivered a powerful address emphasizing the critical role of Ukraine’s youth in driving change: “Our young generation will be the ones who lead us into the future. Please never stop dreaming and working to make those dreams a reality.”
Russia’s war against Ukraine has targeted the country’s future, with one in seven schools destroyed or damaged by Russia. Only 52% of Ukrainian schoolchildren are optimistic about Ukraine’s future, according to a savED survey.
To address Russia’s devastation, Spirit of America is empowering Ukrainian students through the UActive program. Since its inception in 2022, over 700 teenage participants have completed the program. This year, the program expanded to include two new regions – Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv. By 2026, UActive aims to graduate over 1,100 graduates.
To learn more about the UActive program and discover the powerful stories of UActive students, visit: spiritofamerica.org/uactive
About Spirit of America
For over two decades, Spirit of America has united citizens with our troops and diplomats in common cause: to defend freedom, strengthen the frontlines of democracy, and help people secure a free and better life.
Spirit of America has provided aid to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia aggression since 2014. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Spirit of America has delivered over $60 million in lifesaving, nonlethal assistance to Ukrainian men and women on the front lines.
No endorsement of Spirit of America by the US Department of Defense, Department of State, or US personnel is intended or implied.
