The summer clubs are currently running in 23 communities in Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions – all of which are partner regions of DECIDE project.

This year, all our clubs have been united by the common theme of careers guidance. Summer holidays are not just a time for rest, games, and making new friends, but also a perfect opportunity to better understand oneself, discover one’s own talents, and learn more about the world of professions.

Children and teenagers did not just listen to talks about different professions. They met professionals who love their work, visited businesses and organisations, took part in career guidance quests, attended masterclasses, and had a try at different professional roles!

Some of them visited a television studio for the first time and tested themselves as a weather presenter or a cameraman. Others met rescue workers, saw specialist equipment, and learnt more about the work of those who help others every day.

Other children could see first-hand that people from many different professions can work together at a single company: from engineers and process engineers to designers and quality control specialists.

And this is not all!

There were also farms and apiaries, banks, courts, hospitals, nature reserves, IT hubs, colleges, creative workshops, social enterprises and many other locations where children could explore different professions and see how specialists work in real life. Believe us, it was awesome!

‘The most rewarding part was seeing how the teenagers, who were shy about speaking up at the start of the camp, were by the end confidently talking about their interests, sharing their dreams, and presenting their own projects. Step by step, they discovered their strengths and began to think about who they want to become in the future,’ say teachers from the Kiliiska urban community.

And after each such meeting, the children would often be heard saying, ‘I didn’t even know that this profession was so interesting!’ Everywhere they went, they were met by professionals who sincerely introduced them to their work and helped them understand that every profession matters.

The children from Korostyshivska community share their impressions:

• ‘These ten days passed in the blink of an eye! The best bit was that we didn’t just hear about different professions, but tried everything out for ourselves: we learnt how to administer first aid, found out how the law works, and saw how huge manufacturing plants operate. Profi Stars is brilliant!’
• ‘I used to think that field trips were boring, but the visits to businesses and the career-oriented quests changed my mind completely. Now I know for sure that job can be really interesting!’
• ‘During this camp, we bonded as a team, learnt how to film videos, tackled lots of challenges, and started thinking more about what we want to be when we grow up. I want more!’

After the excursions, the children continued to explore the world of professions in summer clubs. Through quests, team tasks, workshops, and creative projects, the children discovered not only new professions but also their own interests, abilities, and strengths.

‘Career guidance does not begin when a child is simply told about a profession, but when they can experience it for themselves, ask their own questions and realise: “I want to do something like that too.” Such meetings help children learn more about themselves and take their first steps in making a conscious choice about their future career,’ conclude the teachers from Lubenska community.

DECIDE Summer Clubs 2026 “We are at home – in Ukraine” is still running! There are still many discoveries, new friendships, and inspiring stories to come. And we will continue to share the brightest moments with you!

Please note that DECIDE Project experts developed a guide “Ideas on organising summer clubs for children in communities with a focus on careers guidance for children and teenagers”. The guide is available via this link.

To view the photo gallery, click on the photo.