A new exhibition, "Tales of the Brave", was officially opened today at the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg. It showcases the resilience and creativity of young people of Ukraine, who turn adversity and trauma into action and solidarity amid the ongoing war.
Through personal stories and vivid posters, the exhibition presents 15 inspiring youth projects funded by the European Youth Foundation, a fund established by the Council of Europe to provide financial and educational support for European youth activities.
In 2022, the Foundation launched a special call to support young people affected by Russia's war against Ukraine. Since then, it has supported 58 youth-led projects, providing more than €900,000 in grants and reaching over 4,000 young people in Ukraine and across Europe.
Organised by the European Youth Foundation and the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, the exhibition also marks 30 years of Ukraine's membership in the Organisation.
Opening the exhibition, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge said that the projects cover everything from youth participation in rebuilding communities to conflict transformation, and from mental health to peacebuilding. He said it is "crucial work: investing in youth in all their creativity, commitment and hard work is an investment in peace, in human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It is also an investment of course in the future."
Ambassador Mykola Tochytskyi, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe said: "For nearly three years now, our youth have been living through the darkest chapter of our nation's modern history - a full-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Yet, even under constant threat, amid destruction and loss, young Ukrainians continue to demonstrate extraordinary strength and solidarity.
"Through these stories and images, we witness not only the pain of war but also the triumph of spirit - how adversity is transformed into action, how creativity becomes a form of resistance, and how every small project can grow into a powerful act of hope. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the European Youth Foundation for its unwavering support of young people affected by the war."
Among the projects featured is "Leaderka", a summer school for young disabled women that took place in Brussels earlier this year. Antonella Candiago of the European Network on independent living, who worked on the project, said: "Leaderka was more than a school. It was a space to build community. A space for young women to feel seen and heard. A space where diverse lived experiences and perspectives came together to shape a collective story of resistance, strength, and care. We learned leadership skills, but also learned how to uplift one another, share strategies for advocacy, and build cross-border solidarity rooted in justice."
This exhibition will be on display at the Palais de l'Europe, the Council of Europe's headquarters in Strasbourg, until 21 November 2025. It will then be shown at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg (17-21 November), and at the closing event of Lviv European youth capital on 28 November 2025 in Lviv, Ukraine, as well as at the European Youth Centre Budapest during the Human Rights Forum on 8-12 December 2025.
Read Bjørn Berge's speech in full
Exhibition "The Tales of the Brave": catalogue
European Youth Foundation - special call on Ukraine
Youth for democracy in Ukraine - phase IV
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge
