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Oksana has been a USF functionary since 2023. She was born and raised in the city of Lutsk. She became interested in economics at school, so in 2021 she enrolled in the economic faculty in her native city. In her 3rd year, she took part in the erasmus+ programme and is now studying at UMCS.
‘For me, freedom is the ability to choose who I am and what kind of life I want to live. It is an opportunity that requires effort and action. Freedom is both the reason that allows you to move forward and the result of your fighting for it. For me, the USF has become an example of the fighting and an environment where I can find support on the path of development.’
Makar joined the USF in 2024. He was born in Zaporizhzhia and lived there until entering the university. His soul always felt the call of creativity, so from childhood he attended various clubs, participated in local events and all-Ukrainian competitions. He entered Lutsk NTU for the specialty “Graphic Design”. With his own efforts and ambitions, he took first place in the rating list. He joined the student council of the faculty in the first year, in the life of which he participated. In the summer of 2024, he learned about the USF and decided to join the organization. The result is known)
The value of freedom began to develop in me after watching the film “Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom.” This became the point of no return.
When I joined to USF, I watched this film another time. Eventually I realized: “I’m here so that this doesn’t happen again.”
Khrystyna was born in the village near Lutsk, where she graduated from school. From childhood, feeling the desire for creative manifestation, she participated in creative and historical events. Interest in the culture and history of Ukraine has built one of its values – to spread and nurture its culture and statehood. Experience in independent projects increasingly turned her on the importance of spreading historical, political, and social problems through art. Participation in the school self-government team prompted her to be interested in civil and social processes. While studying at Lutsk National University, she learned about USF.
USF for me is about opportunities. Surrounding young people who share your desire to build, and improve our state makes the usual dreams actions that you did not know you could be capable of. You practice and do not dwell on the usual beautiful theory in your head.
Without freedom, my identity could not exist. History shows us that nothing is more destructive to individuality and human rights than the lack of will.
Ivanna was born and lives in the city of Lutsk. In 2023, she graduated from 11 grades and entered the Lutsk National Technical University with a degree in Graphic Design. She met the USS in 2023 at one of the events, where she also fundraised for loyalty program, and that’s when her active student life began. In 2024, Ivanna fully joined the community, becoming an activist.
For me, freedom is the opportunity to realize your potential, to breathe deeply, to choose anything without judgment, the possibility of many attempts, the possibility of possibilities. This is what flows in our blood, unites us, makes us strong, free and happy. Freedom is individuality and uniqueness, it is creativity. This is what is worth fighting for.
I love the USS – it is not only about theory, but also practice and specific actions. This is a community where you can be whoever you want, realize yourself to the fullest and become a part of something big, a part of change, a community of conscious, purposeful, ambitious, free youth. In whose environment, you also want to share ideas, develop, learn, change our country and change yourself.
Danylo is an activist of the USF. He spent his childhood and grew up in the city of Lutsk. He actively participated in school self-government, and after graduating from school, he enrolled in Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University to study law. He learned about the USF from the website while exploring libertarian ideas. Enthralled by the ideas of freedom, Danilo successfully completed the Leadership Program of 2024 and became an activist of the USF.
Of all the riches in the world, the most priceless is Freedom.
Andrii is not the founder of USF, but only a member of the movement that believes in the ideas of libertarianism. He was born on the day of remembrance of the tragedy at the Chornobyl NPP. Even in his school years, he showed interest in economics and sports. Received the title of candidate for master of sports in combat jujutsu. The city of Lutsk remained in his heart, because after finishing school, he entered the Volyn National University named after Lesya Ukrainka. He chose the “Law” specialty, but managed to join the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences before starting his studies. Deepens knowledge in the field of economics, law and their interaction.
“At the moment of life and faith, freedom is yours to fly, and the sky will not hold you. But it is not by faith alone that you will gain the right to consider yourself free, for only in struggle can you find the strength to build true faith, true ideas, true freedom.”
Andriy was born in Lutsk, where he attended school #1. For a long time, he could not decide what to do in the future, but in 2022 he entered Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, majoring in Secondary Education, hoping to become an English teacher. The following year, he became interested in USF activities after receiving an invitation to the event «Students as a Driving Force of Society».
«USF became my first non-governmental organization and I am glad that I can do something to spread the ideas of freedom in my country».
Bohdan is a USF activist. He was born and grew up in the city of Lutsk, where he graduated from school and continued his higher education there. From 2020 to today (2023), he studies at the Lutsk National Technical University, majoring in «Construction and Civil Engineering». Through a friend, he learned about the USF and libertarianism in general, which interested me. In 2022, he became a supporter, and in 2023, an activist.
«For me, USF means opportunities. Opportunities to grow, opportunities to change both something small and something really big, and the opportunity to be part of it yourself. And these opportunities are inextricably linked with freedom. And freedom for me is the right to choose, it is the opportunity to choose and understand the value of this right».
Nazar is a USF activist. He was born and raised in the city of Lutsk, Volyn region, where he graduated from the N14 Gymnasium (Lyceum) named after Vasyl Sukhomlynskyi. In the future, he studied for a bachelor’s degree at the Volyn National University named after Lesya Ukrainka, majoring in Law. The path in the public sector began in the summer of 2022 with the co-founding of the Lutsk branch «The European Law Students Association», where for a year he exercised the powers of the President. Joined the USS network in August 2023.
«Freedom is an individual’s ability to choose for himself the most optimal, in his opinion, option of his behavior. In my opinion, a fair society in which the interests of all its members are taken into account is possible only when each individual clearly understands his values and interests, which is impossible without freedom. That is why I believe that freedom is a prerequisite for a healthy society».
Illia grew up in Lutsk, Ukraine. Over time, he realized that it is necessary to take into account various spheres of life in order to make decisions that affect society in a positive way. Even back at school, he became interested in history, economics, geography, linguistics and many other subjects. Studied at various schools and at a certain stage changed university faculties to broaden horizons, was part of the student body. After finding out about USF, he was eager to join the organization. Currently, he is proud to be a part of this community.
‘I realized how important freedom is by being interested in history from an early age. Since then, I understood that any totalitarian regime can be very destructive for society. Therefore, the task of the generation of free people should be to support and kindle the fire of our freedom.’
Alina – was born in Berdychiv, has been living in Lutsk since 2006.
In 2022, after the Leadership Program, she joined the USF NGO.
‘Ukrainian Students for Freedom is about living here and now and having strong faith in what you are doing. I am happy to be a part of USF.’
Anastasiia was born and raised in Lutsk. In 2020, she graduated from school and entered the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University at the Faculty of Foreign Philology. She studies German, English and French, and will become a teacher in the future.
She takes an active part in student self-government, heads the student trade union committee of his faculty. At the end of 2021, she became the coordinator of the Ukrainian Volunteer Service in Lutsk.
She learned about USF from a friend who was already a member of the organization. She first became an Adherent, and later took part in the 2022 Leadership Program.
‘You can endlessly watch what you don’t like in society, while simultaneously complaining about how bad our life is. Or take a proactive position and become a change yourself, and encourage others to do so by your own example. That’s why I joined USF – a community that is not only close to me in terms of values and views, but also helped me better understand the basic principles of political science, economics and philosophy, and, of course, to find like- minded people from all over Ukraine. For me, freedom is a right, a duty, an honor, a responsibility, it is the value of a society that will never become slaves. Therefore, we, students, must stand up for what is important to us on all possible fronts.’
Arsentiy – spent most of his life in Lutsk. Even at school, he felt discomfort with his surroundings and his attitude towards himself. It became easier only when he got into the student activity of his university.There he was finally able to express himself, his thoughts, without fear that someone would not like it. In 2021, Arsentiy is elected as head of the student council of the Faculty of Geography, now his work permeates the entire faculty and sometimes even the university. He is elected for a second term in 2022. In June, he notices the advertisement of the Leadership Program from the USF and decides why not. From this moment on, he becomes part of a big family where he finally felt himself in the place where he should be.
“Freedom is your spark that ignites your life’s fire”
Max was born in Dubno, Rivne region, but grew up in Lutsk. There he graduated from high school (studied in three schools, by the way). In 2019-2020 he carried out active project activities in the Youth Center of Volyn, together with youth NGO “FRI Lutsk”. In 2021 he graduated from the Ukrainian Leadership Academy (Kharkiv). He studied at Lutsk National Technical University in the field of “Management”. He also participates in the Erasmus + exchange program in Lithuania. He joined the libertarian movement on the Leadership Program 2021.
«I have always defined freedom as one of my core values, without even understanding the reason, I accepted freedom as an axiom, as a given, as what should be, and what you cannot get rid of. But, as people say, only those who have been deprived of it can feel true freedom. I was lucky to be born after the Soviet Union, and it would seem like why should I complain? But the Maidan, the Russian aggression in the eastern region of Ukraine have shown me that freedom is not really such an ephemeral, flying value in the air. It is absolutely tangible, and it really becomes much more tangible, just when someone are trying to take it away. I’m an exchange student in Lithuania, I have traveled to many countries, but I had no desire to stay there, I had a different thought in my head: “I want Ukraine to be even better.” And I am ready to work and work, and now I have another great team – USF.»
Tatiana was born in the small village of Kulykovychi, where she graduated from elementary school. Later she moved to live closer to Lutsk in the village of Rovantsi, where she studied. She always studied well, because even then she knew that knowledge is the key to success. In 2017, she entered the Lutsk Pedagogical College to become a teacher. She had dreamed about this profession since her childhood.
Since her student years she has been interested in civic activities.
He is currently a member of the Youth Council of Volyn, the Student Council of Volyn and the Deputy Chairman of the Student Council of Lutsk Pedagogical College.
She admits that she found about USF by accident, but as soon as she saw it, she immediately filled in a questionnaire for the 5th Congress of the Leadership Program 2021, which changed her outlook and vision for life.
«USF are young strong leaders who are needed by our state, who are united by a common idea, the same vision of change at all levels.»
Natalia is a public figure in Volyn. She is a 4th year student at the EENU by Lesya Ukrainka is majoring in management. From school she was actively involved in student self-government. Accordingly, when she entered the university she immediately became a member of the Student Council of EENU. In 2017 she served as the Student Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management. In 2018 she became the head of the organizational department of the Volyn Student Council. She organized many events, including the largest ones such as: Student Republic, Leader School, Best Volyn Student. 2018—2019 (October – January) was on academic exchange in Poland (Akademia Pomorska w Słupsku). In the summer of 2019, she became a member of the Ukrainian students for the liberty.
Olexander comes from a small town in picturesque Volyn, called Kamin-Kashirsky, where he studied at school. In 2019 he started studying at the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University in the field of “History, Archeology and European Studies”. He was involved in public activities, where he gained experience in project management and implementation. On this day he works in the administrative service. He joined the libertarian movement in 2020, and in the same year, he joined Ukrainian Students for Freedom.
Freedom has always been close to me because having the freedom you can do whatever you want, develop, build, change yourself or this world. As we know from history, there are constant wars for freedom, because everyone strives for it, it is the engine of change in society, the subject of inspiration and development. It is USF that gives me the opportunity to feel it fully and the opportunity to change something for the better.