Olena Zelenska and Howard Buffett visited the new Youth Space 12–21 in Odesa

Olena Zelenska, the Foundation’s founder, and Howard Buffett, an American philanthropist and founder of The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, visited the new Youth Space 12–21 in Odesa.

The Odesa center became the fifth operating space of the 12–21 network in Ukraine and the fourth joint space with The Howard G. Buffett Foundation. During the visit, Olena Zelenska and Howard Buffett observed the Odesa center’s daily operations and spoke with the team about how a safe environment helps adolescents open up, make friends, and receive professional help. They examined the equipped shelter in the space, where a protected room allows the psychologists’ work, training sessions, and team meetings to continue without interruption, even during prolonged air raids.

The 12–21 concept centers on providing adolescents and youth with a safe “third place”—a barrier-free environment free of evaluation, pressure, or judgment—between their homes and schools. The centers’ work integrates three key components: psychosocial support through professional consultations and peer-to-peer groups; professional identification through visits to enterprises and master classes; and meaningful leisure activities that help reduce stress and build trust.

Over 8 months of operation, the network has brought together more than 1,300 visitors. The team has conducted about 760 group events and about 800 individual consultations and support conversations.

“When we launched this project, we assumed that leisure would be the entry point for building trust, and that adolescents would seek psychological consultations only later. But reality has shown that modern Ukrainian youth consciously seek psychosocial support, professional advice from mentors, and sincere dialogue. This is inspiring, as it indicates a step toward overcoming the stigma surrounding mental health. Our common task with our partners is to be close and timely in providing them with this fulcrum,” Olena Zelenska underlined.

During the meeting, the 12–21 team also presented the network development strategy. Now, a new area—the development of a culture of volunteering—is being standardized.

Given the high demand across regions, the Olena Zelenska Foundation plans to continue expanding the network next year, particularly in Kyiv. The Youth Spaces 12–21 network is developing as the Olena Zelenska Foundation’s systematic initiative for psychosocial support for Ukrainian youth. Its history began with the launch of the first space in Bila Tserkva in December 2025. Today, the network unites cells in Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, and Odesa, created in partnership with The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the Kryvyi Rih space, launched with support from partners in Italy. By year-end, the network’s sixth location—in Kropyvnytskyi, where preparatory work is underway—is planned.