Kyiv hosted the panel discussion “Career guidance for everyone: how to create an inclusive system of career support for children and teenagers” during the Career Festival

On 22 May, the Career Festival at the Exhibition Centre in Kyiv hosted a panel discussion entitled “Career guidance for everyone: how to create an inclusive system of career support for children and teenagers”.

Every child has the right for support in choosing their own educational and career path – regardless of their life circumstances or special educational needs. This was the topic of discussion among the participants: how to create a modern career guidance system that takes into account the needs of different children and teenagers, helps them better understand their own potential, and make a conscious choice of their future educational and career path.

The key speakers at the panel discussion included:

• Anastasiia Konovalova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine;

• Félix Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine;

• Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor – Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment;

• Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, Co-founder and Deputy Head of the NGO DOCCU;

• Viacheslav Kozak, Head of the NGO “Network of Parental Organisations”;

• Ivanna Mykhailenko, Head of the NGO “World of Silence”.

The discussion was moderated by Olena Pshenychna, Member of the Board of the “Network of Parental Organisations” and Co-founder of the NGO “Vydymi”.

During the panel discussion, the following topics were raised, including:

• the development of a system of career guidance and support available to all children and teenagers;

• the role of communities in the development of career guidance;

• the creation of conditions under which every child can better understand their own potential;

• the shortage of sign language interpreters in the education system;

• the limited choice of professions for children and teenagers with special educational needs;

• the difficulties of finding employment for people with disabilities.

Special attention was paid to strengthening cooperation between the education system, the state, communities, parents, and employers, for the sake of the future of young people in Ukraine.

Anastasiia Konovalova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, emphasised, ‘People with disabilities can work. Our task is to figure out how to adapt the workplace and create conditions in which they can fulfil their potential. We already have strong examples of people with intellectual disabilities integrating into the workforce and working. It is now important that such approaches become a systematic state policy. We need to find solutions that really help children with special educational needs to learn, choose a profession, and work in the future.’

Félix Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine, underlined, ‘For Switzerland, it is important to support human-centred approaches. When we talk about children and teenagers with special educational needs, it is not just about education. It is about the opportunity to choose their future, their career, and to be part of society. A human-centred approach is essential for these decisions.’

Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, stated, ‘During more than a year of the national pilot project on career guidance in Ukraine, nearly 400 communities, over 700 schools, and about 60,000 children and teenagers have been reached. Local authorities, educational institutions, and businesses in all regions of Ukraine have joined the initiative. For us, career guidance is not just about choosing a profession, but about creating a support system for children and teenagers in their search for a career path. It is crucial that such opportunities are available to children and teenagers with special educational needs, who require additional support in choosing a career and starting their adult lives.’

Tetiana Lomakina, Advisor – Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment, added, ‘When the state sees every child as a future active citizen and taxpayer, education becomes an investment. If we recognise that every person in our country is important, we have to show this through specific decisions. Career guidance is about how to build a transition from education to a career. And for this, we need parents to trust the process.’

This year, DECIDE Project is an official partner of the Career Festival. The project team set up DECIDE Career Café, where, during four days, discussions were held on how to help children and teenagers make conscious choices about their educational and career paths.

The DECIDE project is implemented by NGO DOCCU and PHZH International Projects in Education with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

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