Plast: Ukrainian scouts at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly: Youth as Peacebuilders

On July 2, Plast was honored to be represented at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session in Porto. During the side event “Meaningful Participation of Young Mediators in Peace, Democracy-Building, and Conflict Resolution”, our Lviv branch head, Daryna Doskach, took the stage alongside young leaders from across the OSCE region.

As the war continues, Ukrainian youth are not passive observers — they are educators, volunteers, advocates, and defenders. Daryna shared the powerful message that Ukrainians are not victims — we are active builders of a democratic future.

She spoke of the risks young Ukrainians face, the loss of friends and homes, and the deep choice many make every day: to stay, to lead, and to rebuild. Through Plast, over 11,000 Ukrainian scouts continue to serve their communities and lead by example — organizing camps, running humanitarian aid efforts, and keeping hope alive for thousands of children, even during war.

“Peace is not only the absence of violence, but the presence of safety, dignity, and inclusion.”

We are proud to see Plast’s voice at international platforms, reminding the world that youth are not only the future — we are the present.