Youth Day in Ukraine: Why It Moved to 12 August and How to Celebrate

Youth Day celebrates energy, learning, first wins and big plans. Ukraine long marked it at the end of June, but since 2021 it has fallen on 12 August, together with the rest of the world. Here is why the date changed and some ideas for spending the day.

Bright flowers for young people: flowers for a friend and potted plants.

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Why the date changed

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 12 August International Youth Day in 1999. In 2021 Ukraine moved its own holiday to this date to celebrate alongside other countries. Each year the UN picks a theme, from education and jobs to young people’s role in decision-making.

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How to celebrate

• Volunteering. Help an animal shelter, plant trees or join a city initiative.
• Open lectures and workshops. Many organisations hold free events for young people in August.
• A festival or concert. A summer evening outdoors with friends.
• A new skill. Sign up for the course you have long dreamed of.
• Support. Congratulate younger colleagues, students or children, and give them some attention.

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Flowers for young people

Bright, informal bouquets suit young people: sunflowers, gerberas, spray roses and alstroemerias. A student or first-year will appreciate a hardy potted plant for their dorm room.

For more ideas, see International Friendship Day and celebrating for no reason.

FAQ

When is Youth Day in Ukraine?

Since 2021, on 12 August, International Youth Day.

What is a good gift for a student?

Something practical and alive: an easy-care plant, a bright bouquet or an experience.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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