Year of Support and Recovery: The Anniversary of a Space

In December 2023, the Dobrodiy Club opened the doors of the Place of Power to restore what teenagers might have felt was lost forever: faith in themselves, warmth of support, and peace of mind. Today we’re celebrating a whole year of active work! During this time, over 15,000 teenagers have found psychological support here, opportunities for creative self-expression, personal development, and quality leisure. Thousands of stories have been shared here—about pain, loss, courage, and new beginnings. We created, laughed sincerely, cried, and shared things that can’t always be said aloud. It’s time to remember the best moments of this unforgettable year together!

Opening and First Steps

December was marked by the nervous anticipation of our first visitors. The space was immediately filled with warmth, creativity, honest conversations, and the ringing laughter of teenagers. January brought us 545 new friends, and each day offered something special: from workshops that filled the hall with visitors to heartfelt movie nights and discussion clubs with psychologists. February shone brightly with celebrity guests – KILIMMEN, Yevhen Klopotenko, and Edgar from Dobryva shared their success stories, and at the end of the month, the therapeutic course “About What Hurts” began, which became the start of important changes for many teenagers.

Spring: Time of Blossoming and New Opportunities

Spring filled the Place of Power with new ideas and vibrant events. March gave our visitors an English conversation club with John – a London Underground train driver who captivated teenagers with stories about British culture. This month saw the first Interactive Theater class, where participants wrote their own scripts and created performances. In April, we held the long-awaited “Nightingale Quiz” with Kateryna Tymoshenko, where teenagers improved their knowledge of their native language, while an inspiring meeting with Yevhen Yanovych charged the teenagers with motivation and positivity for the entire month. May was memorable for three themed weeks in the art zone, useful financial advice from Yelena Shepel, and mine safety training with dog Patron, where teenagers learned important rules.

Bright Summer: Three Months of Unforgettable Impressions

In June, we held a Day of Connection at the Place of Power and opened the doors for the parents of our teenagers. This month saw the first summer camp, where 30 participants created an incredible performance based on “Alice in Wonderland.” To celebrate the space’s half-year anniversary, we organized a grand pajama party with a DJ, treats, and energetic music and dancing. July began with the themed week “In Contact with Nature” in the space’s art zone, where teenagers created herbariums and made paper by hand. And an inspiring meeting with Anton Ptushkin gathered a full hall of dedicated listeners. In August, visitors immersed themselves in the world of fashion during the PRO-fashion course and learned to joke with celebrity comedians in the modern humor course “This is (Not) a Joke.” On Independence Day, teenagers decorated tote bags with quotes from prominent Ukrainians and participated in a discussion club where they learned what role independence plays in our lives.

Golden Autumn at the Place of Power: From Urban Studies to Art

Autumn filled the Place of Power with new knowledge and creative experiments. September was memorable for an urban studies course, where teenagers created projects to improve the city with mentors, and we also held an anti-stress day with meditations and slime-making. The highlight of the month was a three-day “Director’s Profession” course with Honored Art Worker Maxim Mikhailichenko. In October, volunteer and TV host Serhiy Prytula visited us and shared valuable advice and his experience in television with the teenagers. For Halloween, teenagers created themed lanterns, carved pumpkins, and watched a creepy horror movie. November won over teenagers with the autumn camp “Film-Influence!” where 16 participants spent a week learning to create video content and promote mental health topics.

Thank you for being with us!

A year ago, it was just a dream – to create a place where every teenager would feel at home, but today it’s a reality that we’re creating together. It was a year of discoveries, challenges, and victories, and new horizons are already waiting for us ahead!

Special thanks to our teenagers, because you make this space alive, fill it with laughter, creativity, and incredible energy. Each of your smiles is the best reward for us. Thanks to the parents for their trust and belief in what we do. To our professional team of psychologists, mentors, and trainers – for their dedication and ability to find a way to every heart. To our celebrity guests – for their sincerity and willingness to share their experience. To our partners – for the opportunity to implement our boldest ideas.

Become part of the change – subscribe to a monthly contribution to the Place of Power. Together we can help more teenagers find their space of support and development!