Duzhe is a non-governmental organisation that grew out of Horytsvit, our project of creative camps for teenagers, set up in response to russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In a time of uncertainty and loss, we began building a space for recovery, creativity and support for teenagers.
Three years of working with teenagers have shown us how much a safe and supportive environment matters: a space where you can feel you belong, be heard, and find your voice and the strength to act together with others.
Today, Duzhe is an organisation that sets out to create opportunities for the educational, creative and psycho-emotional development of young people, and a space of support on the path to self-discovery.
We don’t just run projects – we build a community. An environment of trust, freedom and support where you can explore, make mistakes, grow and never be left on your own.
We believe that the experience of kind interaction and a sense of belonging kindle confidence and responsibility in young people, and give them the strength and inspiration to shape both their own future and the future of society.
Our values are the foundation of everything we do. They shape the environment of our community and guide our decisions and the way we relate to one another. In this way, our values become not a declaration but a living practice that shapes how we grow as a community.
We recognise the unconditional worth of every person. That means paying attention to personal boundaries, to the language we use and to the unique experience of every member of our community. We want everyone in this space to be able to feel their own dignity and inner strength.
We know that everything we do has consequences. That is why we act honestly, attentively and consistently. For us, responsibility also means being ready to admit mistakes, put them right and consider how our decisions affect others.
We listen and we notice. What matters to us is treating others with attention, kindness and warmth. Empathy helps us build a space of support, with room for trust, care and truly safe connection.
We believe that beauty grows out of a deep experience of the world – in creativity, sincerity and the living harmony between people and the world. It fills us, gives us a sense of being part of life, and gives us strength.
We stand beside one another as equals – in support, in collaboration and in shared action. For us, solidarity is the strength of a community that helps us overcome challenges and open up new possibilities.
We see in every person an inner potential for change and growth. Education, creativity and relationships become the space where self-understanding deepens and one’s own path in the world takes shape.
We build relationships on the conviction that faith in people lies at the heart of every interaction. Trust grows gradually – through shared experience in which we see each other’s honesty, sincerity and reliability.
We uphold the unconditional right of every person to shape their own life. Freedom is the ability to make one’s own choices in a space of respect for oneself and others. Every choice has consequences, and we recognise responsibility for them as part of freedom.