Ukraine Launches Nationwide Teen Essay Contest Exploring Visions of Future Mayors

Essay Competition: "If I Ever Become a Mayor..."

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Ukraine has opened submissions for the second national essay competition called "If I Ever Become a Mayor...," aimed at teenagers aged 12 to 17. Participants are invited to share essays addressing real issues faced by their communities, along with their ideas for solutions. The contest runs from September 24 to October 26, 2026, requiring submissions between 2,000 and 4,000 characters (excluding spaces). All entries must be written in Ukrainian and submitted as a single PDF file; each participant may submit only one essay.

Last year, the contest attracted 1,362 essays from both within Ukraine and abroad. Organizers noticed that young writers focused more on practical challenges rather than futuristic fantasies. As Irina Ozymok remarked:

“We received 1,362 essays last year and saw something unexpected. Teens wrote not about futuristic cities but about demining, school shelters, and neighbors who will one day return.”

Judging Process and Panel

All essays will undergo checks for originality, plagiarism, and the use of artificial intelligence. To ensure impartiality, the authors’ identities will be anonymized during evaluation. The judging panel includes 12 experts from diverse fields such as education, culture, media, business, and civil society. Notable judges include:

• Comedian Lana Chubakha
• 2019 Global Teacher Prize Ukraine winner Natalia Kidalova
• Educator Artur Proydakov
• Head of CSR at LUN, Anna Denysenko
• Psychologist from the "Voices of Children" foundation, Yulia Tukalenko
• Representatives from Litosvita, MEGOGO BOOKS, "Khmarochos," and other organizations

Winners will be selected in three age groups: 12–13, 14–15, and 16–17 years old. The awards ceremony is scheduled for January 2027 at the nationwide urban movement forum "Cities Have Me." This initiative is organized by the urban movement "Cities Have Me" and Irina Ozymok, with support from the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund and the NGO "Today for the Future."

Among last year’s participants were 13-year-old Maksym Shevchenko from Yunakivka, who described the reconstruction of his village, and 17-year-old Anastasia Hladka from Kherson, who proposed the creation of a "House of Return" - an underground shelter for residents during wartime. Common themes explored in the essays included:

• Rebuilding destroyed communities
• Establishing safe spaces
• Facilitating residents’ return after conflicts
• Developing urban infrastructure

"If I Ever Become a Mayor..." offers young people a valuable platform to voice their perspectives and ideas on community development. The contest encourages teens to engage actively in civic life and fosters a sense of responsibility for their communities’ futures. By involving a broad audience and expert judges, this initiative aims to inspire tangible improvements in local areas across Ukraine.

As young Ukrainians engage in creative expression through the essay contest, it's also worth noting the parallel opportunities available for slightly older youth. The 'Create HERE!' program for entrepreneurs aged 17–24 aims to empower the next generation with practical skills and resources to launch their own initiatives, showcasing the nation's commitment to fostering youth development.