On October 16, 2024, as part of the visit of the Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Estonia Kristina Kallas to Ukraine, she met with the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvii Bidnyi.

Given that Estonia is actively promoting international initiatives aimed at restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and provides significant military, humanitarian and economic assistance to our country, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation in the areas of youth policy and strengthening national and civic identity.

Matvii Bidnyi expressed interest in studying Estonia's experience in developing youth work, the profession of a youth worker, in particular, in introducing a bachelor's program in youth worker training, as well as in launching joint projects to strengthen national identity with the participation of youth organizations from both sides.

Matvii Bidnyi emphasized that the team of the Ministry of Youth and Sports was working to create appropriate conditions for young people in Ukraine, and even in times of war, the development of youth work and youth infrastructure remained a priority. The Minister noted that the Ministry was paying particular attention to ensuring the economic independence and capacity of Ukrainian youth as a key to Ukraine's successful recovery. In this regard, he expressed interest in studying the experience of Estonia in implementing the EU Youth Guarantee initiative.

As part of the Estonian patronage of the reconstruction of infrastructure projects in Zhytomyr region, including those related to the provision of services to children and youth, Minister Matvii Bidnyi offered to provide methodological support from the All-Ukrainian Youth Center in organizing youth work in youth spaces, centers and other youth networks in the region.

Minister Kristina Kallas assured Matvii Bidnyi of her readiness to provide comprehensive support to the Ukrainian side in the development of youth policy, strengthening national and civic identity, and to continue to help Ukrainian youth.

The meeting was also attended by Andrii Chesnokov, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and Natalia Radchuk, Head of the International Cooperation and European Integration Department.