How the ninth “I Did It!” educational intensive went

From August 18 to 22, the Place of Power hosted the ninth “I Did It!” educational intensive, which brought together 58 teenagers aged 13–17 from across Ukraine — including children of military families, internally displaced youth, and those from large or low-income families.

Purpose of the Intensive

The main goal of the program was to show teenagers that, despite life’s challenges, they can gain new experiences, develop valuable skills, and change the world around them.

Five Days of Learning and Inspiration

On the first day, participants drew lots to form teams and began creating their own social projects. Each team worked under the guidance of a mentor, who shared expertise and personal experience.

This year’s mentors included:

• Nataliia Parkhytko — Acting Head of NGO Dostupno.UA;
• Olia Limarenko — designer, founder of Ukraine’s first Sustainable House, owner of the upcycling brand Limarenko, and founder of the Ukrainian Fashion Industry Association (APIFU);
• Viktoriia Kovalska — co-owner of the conscious coffee shop Concept;
• Bohdana Onopchuk — Ukrainian folk and academic singer, bandura player, and member of the folk group Bozhedary;
• Aliona, director of Adopt Don’t Stop Foundation, and Anna, communications and SMM manager of the foundation.

During the field day, each team visited a thematic location:

• The animal protection group went to the Adopt Don’t Stop shelter.
• The cultural code team visited the open-air museum Pyrohiv.
• The ecology group explored the conscious coffee shop Concept.
• The inclusivity team visited the Museum in the Dark.
• The sustainable fashion team enjoyed a real eco-picnic.

These experiences helped participants dive deeper into their topics, see real-world examples, and get inspired to create meaningful change.

Throughout the week, participants worked with psychologists on their Success Roadmap, reflecting on the questions “Who am I?”, “My goals and dreams”, “My resources”, and “My environment.” This helped them better understand themselves and take the first steps toward their personal aspirations.

Meetings that Inspire

The intensive was enriched by meetings with motivating public figures who shared personal stories about resilience, creativity, and self-discovery:

• Tonya Matvienko, Ukrainian singer, spoke about the power of dreams and the journey to oneself.
• Herman Nenov, creative producer and director, reminded everyone that “A dream must turn into an action plan. To succeed, you’ll fall nine times and rise ten.”
• Nastia Orudzova and Alina Blazhkevych, actresses and screenwriters, talked about creativity, humor, and self-expression.
• Christian Schulte, founder and CEO of an investment company in Frankfurt, discussed financial independence and using money as a resource.
• Solomiia Vitvytska, journalist and volunteer, shared her story of success in media and charity.
• Iryna Palko, entrepreneur and philanthropist, held a workshop on public speaking.
• Ivan Liulenov, Ukrainian musician, brought energy and sincerity — and even performed his new song live with the teens.

The Grand Finale

On the final day, participants presented the results of their teamwork on stage:

• The Sustainable Fashion team upcycled old clothes into useful items for homeless animals.
• The Inclusivity team created a Braille sign for the Place of Power and held an interactive activity to challenge stereotypes about people with disabilities.
• The Animal Protection team debunked myths about animal welfare and produced a social video about the dangers of illegal breeders.
• The Cultural Code team performed an artistic piece combining music, singing, and traditional instruments to show the harmony between people and nature.
• The Ecology team made decorations and toys from recycled materials, organized waste sorting at the venue, and produced social videos about conscious consumption.

Parents and teens alike shared their impressions:

• “Thank you for this time in such a wonderful community! You’re doing incredible work 🫶.” — Natalia, participant.
• “You managed to surprise the teens, and they managed to see themselves differently — everyone succeeded!” — Yuliia, parent.
• “You’re an inspiring team that gives so much energy ❤️.” — participant.
• “You made the kids happier, more confident, and motivated. Each day was powerful and unique. The emotions are overwhelming!” — Iryna, parent.

Gratitude to Partners

Special thanks to Make the Difference — without their support, this intensive wouldn’t have happened! We’re also grateful to our food partners who made the breaks delicious: Tisto, Syr i Titka Bella, il Molino, Piespot, and XA Food provided the pizzas; Titka Klara Bakery offered daily pastries and lemonades; Tisto Bakery spoiled participants with cardamom buns; and the final celebration cake — a true tradition — was baked by Krako.te.

💛 The ninth “I Did It!” intensive once again proved: when teenagers are given trust, inspiration, and support, they reveal their strength, creativity, and courage to shape the future.