Reclaiming Our Voice presents the experiences, challenges, and aspirations of 288 young people displaced from Ukraine and living in Poland, Hungary, and Czechia. Co-created with Ukrainian youth, the research highlights how war and displacement are shaping their transition to adulthood, affecting education, employment, housing, wellbeing, and social inclusion.
Despite showing remarkable resilience, young people face significant barriers, including uncertainty about their future legal status, language challenges, housing difficulties, discrimination, and precarious work conditions. Mental health support remains difficult to access, while hobbies, peer connections, and youth-led spaces play a vital role in fostering wellbeing, belonging, and hope.
The report calls for youth-centred policies that provide legal certainty, improve access to education and employment, strengthen health and wellbeing services, and ensure that displaced Ukrainian youth are meaningfully involved in decisions that affect their lives. By listening to their voices and supporting their aspirations, European policymakers and service providers can help young people build stable, independent, and fulfilling futures.
