We continue our series of materials about the young participants of the “Youth for the Future of Ukraine” project who, after completing training at the Summer School of Journalism and Media Work, joined the production of the video series “Rebuilding Ukraine: Directions, Priorities, Challenges.”

This time, Volodymyr Davydov from Zhytomyr shares his vision of Ukraine’s future.

For Volodymyr, a modern Ukraine is, first and foremost, a technological state where rules work, the economy develops, and technology makes people’s lives easier and safer.

“Probably, it is a technological country where the Constitution works as it should and where there is a strong, independent economy.”

The development of security technologies is also an important part of his vision. In his view, Ukraine should use its own experience and technological capabilities to become a country that is protected to the greatest possible extent:

“And military technologies will turn our country into such a strong shield that no one will dare attack it.”

For Volodymyr, however, technological development is not only about advanced technologies and defence. It is also about creating a practical urban environment that is comfortable to live in.

Speaking about Zhytomyr, he identifies roads, the condition of urban development, and neglected historic buildings among the most pressing problems. In his opinion, restoring them could make the city more attractive both to its residents and to tourists.

“First, the city’s roads. Second, the buildings – some of them are somewhat run-down. And third, probably the restoration of some old buildings, because they are currently not being maintained and are in poor condition.”

For Volodymyr, preserving the urban environment is also a matter of Zhytomyr’s future opportunities:

“As a result, there are very few places in our city that tourists can visit or where they can see something interesting.”

Another issue he draws attention to is the information environment. Volodymyr believes that it is difficult for society to remain united when people do not have access to reliable information and are constantly confronted with disinformation.

“In my opinion, first and foremost, it is the media, because, to be frank, at the beginning of the war we lost the information war. At first, it was difficult for people to understand what was actually happening.”

These different topics – technology, urban space, preservation of historical heritage, and information – are united by one thing: people’s quality of life and the opportunities available to them in a modern Ukraine.

That is why, in the video series “Rebuilding Ukraine: Directions, Priorities, Challenges,” the young participants do not simply identify problems. They try to imagine what will change for people and communities if these problems are solved, what values should underpin these changes, and how they can serve the common good.

The Ukraine of the future is not an abstract dream. It is a concrete vision of the state, cities, and society that we are ready to begin building today.

🎥 Watch Volodymyr Davydov’s video from the series “Rebuilding Ukraine: Directions, Priorities, Challenges.”

The project “Youth for the Future of Ukraine: Dialogue, Research and Creative Media Work for the Consolidation of Ukrainian Society and Orthodoxy” is implemented with the support of the German Government (zivik/ifa).