The GoGlobal educational foundation’s «Victory Generation» community unites young people who, despite war, stress, and danger, are actively working on socially important projects in Ukraine.

These are high school students who strive to be useful to their country and deeply feel responsible for its development. Adults support them along the way. One form of such support is the Ko_Laba youth spaces, launched by GoGlobal in 14 cities across Ukraine.

This story focuses on the Ko_Laba youth space in frontline Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, and the vital role it plays in the socialization of local youth.

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The First Days of the War: To Leave or Stay?

On February 24, 2022, at 5 a.m., shelling began in Chuhuiv. Viktoriia Miroshnykova, director of the Chuhuiv Center for Children's Creativity and mother of two sons aged 13 and 17, faced a difficult decision. Given the risks, she could have evacuated from the frontline city — but she chose to stay and support her community.

From Basement to Structured Leisure

Some families in the city had their homes destroyed in the early days of the war and were relocated to the basements of apartment buildings. By the third week of war, Viktoriia realized something had to be done for the children staying there. Together with colleagues who also remained in the city, she began visiting these children and organizing leisure activities.

«We quickly reopened the Center for Creativity, grabbed paper, paints, and headed to the kids. We painted, danced, and did various movement games with them,» Viktoriia recalls.

In December 2022, with the support of Chuhuiv’s city council, Viktoriia and her team organized a New Year’s celebration for children — right in the basement. Gradually, the children began to adapt. Movie nights, games, and a festive atmosphere followed. But Viktoriia knew older teens needed something more.

The Path to Ko_Laba: From Idea to Reality

The idea of creating a space for teenagers came through collaboration with the student parliament — a body uniting high schoolers from across the community. These teens acted as mentors for younger children but also needed a space for their own development.

This inspired the project idea «Territory» — a space for teenage communication. However, the community lacked funding to implement it and failed to secure grant support.

That’s when Viktoriia learned about the «Victory Generation» project from GoGlobal, which proposed not just a youth center but an ESTEAM space — combining Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

In May 2024, with basic equipment like a 3D printer and laser cutter, the space opened its doors. By October, the Ko_Laba ESTEAM space in Chuhuiv had moved into a new location — in the basement of a residential building — and was fully equipped.

The First Space Residents Appear

One day, a teenager came to Ko_Laba asking to use the 3D printer to make a casing for a part. That was 16-year-old Roman Zhalkovskyi, who dreamed of becoming an engineer.

«He said he’d figure out the printer himself. The next day he came, spent the whole day there, and by the end showed us the finished part,» Viktoriia recalls.

A few weeks later, Roman returned with another request to use the printer. Viktoriia invited him to a GoGlobal camp in Kyiv, where tech-interested teens gathered. After returning, Roman became one of Ko_Laba’s three regular residents.

The Smart Lighting Project

In fall 2024, the final round of the national Steam House competition took place, organized by the Educational Initiatives Foundation. Teams from Ko_Laba youth spaces participated. Roman gathered three friends, forming the team «4Real,» and with their «SMART Street Lighting Control System» project, they won in the «Effective Tech Solution» category — one of four winning teams.

The idea came from Roman’s personal experience.

«He lived on the outskirts of the community, where there was no street lighting. The city center already had lights, but his street remained in darkness,» explains Viktoriia.

The team spent two weeks on the project, cutting components from plywood using the laser cutter. Their biggest challenge was sourcing materials. They scoured the city for plywood of the right thickness, while adults acted as coordinators.

«We just asked, ‘Guys, what do you need?’ And they did the rest — researched, made calls, learned everything themselves,» says Viktoriia.

Ko_Laba Today: A Tech Hive and Social Hub

Today, Ko_Laba in Chuhuiv is a true «technological hive.»

«In every corner something is happening — someone is printing on a 3D printer, another is playing in VR, and others are chatting over a cup of tea,» Viktoriia describes daily life in the space.

One of the most popular events is the monthly disco for 9th–11th graders, which draws up to 150 teens. After the event, local authorities provide buses to take participants home to different neighborhoods.

Viktoriia emphasizes that Ko_Laba’s core mission is youth socialization.

«Imagine: three years of quarantine, then war. When we ask kids to stand in a circle during games, many don’t even know how. The main goal now is helping teenagers socialize. They need to interact and listen to each other,» she explains.

Today, Ko_Laba teens take part in competitions, win awards, rehearse during air raids, and even stage plays.

«There isn’t a single day when the space is empty. Someone always drops by to say hi, chat, or meet up,» Viktoriia adds.

A Space of Hope

The story of Ko_Laba in Chuhuiv is proof that even during war, it’s possible to create a space for growth and a sense of normalcy. Viktoriia Miroshnykova has shown that with an understanding of youth needs, government support, and dedication, you can transform a basement into a place where future engineers are born.

Today, Roman and his team continue developing tech solutions for their community, and Ko_Laba remains a space where teenagers from a frontline city can dream, learn, and build their futures — even when the future seems uncertain.

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