The award ceremony for the essay competition “My Vision of a European Ukraine” was held
14/05/2025
- The main prize went to Margarita Shcherbatyuk from the Cherkasy Euroclub “You and Me”
- Second place went to Sofia Derevyanko, a graduate of EU Study Days in Ukraine
- The third prize went to Andriy Mezhakov, a student of the Chernihiv Regional Scientific Lyceum, where the Euroclub “Nazustrich” operates
Katarina Mathernova:
“Tuesday evening during our celebration of Europe Day something extraordinary happened. I had the pleasure – together with Olga Stefanishyna and Sevgil Hayretdın Qızı Musaieva – to honour three young voices that, for me, carry the future of Ukraine and the soul of Europe. We had an award ceremony of the Essay Competition “My Vision of a European Ukraine” – a project close to my heart, now in its second year. After last year’s moving reflections on the Revolution of Dignity, this year we asked young Ukrainians a question both simple and profound: What does a European Ukraine look like through your eyes? Their answers shook us with their depth. A young girl from Izmail, Sofia, told us: “I don’t want my country to survive. I want it to live.” She dreams not of sirens, but of school bells. Of classrooms full of light, not shelters. She helps children with special needs because, in her words, “inclusion should not just be a word from a report.”
A boy from Chernihiv, Andriy, wrote of studying law to fight injustice – not someday, but now. He wrote of varenyky dumplings – as a symbol of home and peace. Of dignity. Of rebuilding not only cities, but trust.
And finally, the winner of the contest, 16-year-old Marharyta from Cherkasy – whose father and brother are fighting at the frontline – reminded us that Europe is not just a place. “It’s freedom. Dignity. Solidarity. It is a daily choice to believe, learn, help, and remain human even when the war seems endless.”
As they stood on stage last night, I saw more than finalists. I saw courage wrapped in youth. Courage and awareness well beyond their age. And hope stitched into every sentence they wrote.
Their essays will be published by @ukrpravda – but their message deserves to echo far beyond. It is a reminder to us, in Brussels, Berlin or Paris: Ukraine is not only defending Europe – right now it is defining it!
To the ten shortlisted authors and finalists who travelled to Kyiv to be with us: thank you for giving us your dreams, even in the darkest of times.
To the jury, including @olga.kravets.796, @sevgil.musaieva, and Ambassador of Lithuania Inga Stanytė-Toločkienė — thank you for lending your wisdom!
Ukraine is Europe. And this generation is already building it — with pens, with purpose, and with wings!“
