YouDecide

“Listening Beyond Words: Reflections on the YoU Decide Project’s Focus Group Milestone”

As part of the YoU Decide consortium this month, we marked a significant milestone: the completion of three focus group discussions (FGDs) in Prague, Budapest, and Warszawa that brought together Ukrainian young people displaced by full scale invasion, to share their transitions into adulthood in their new cities.  These discussions encompassed experiences in navigating new realities – finding their new homes, finishing school, enrolling in studies, or having to find a side-job, to challenges in taking up new hobbies, making friends,  and hopes for the future.

YoU Decide is an EU funded social innovation project led by Missing Children Europe with partners Terres des Hommes in Hungary (TdH), OPU in Czechia and ITAKA Foundation in Poland. In this project Heartwarmingly Research team has continued its participatory and trauma-informed work with displaced Ukrainian youth through training national partners and young people themselves who are part of  the Youth Advisory Board (YAB).  Some of these young people – Diana, Ruslan and Herman became Youth Co-Facilitators, who filled in the blanks, and helped the other young people to share either by encouragement or by their own example.

The debriefing sessions that followed — conducted with the Heartwarmingly research team and local field teams from partner organizations — revealed not only the voices of resilience among young participants but also critical insights into the social and emotional landscapes shaping their lives in displacement.

Identity, Adaptation and the Meaning of Belonging

Across all FGDs — in Czechia, Hungary, and Poland — some recurring themes emerged. One was the tension between belonging and exclusion. Participants spoke about how their sense of identity had evolved since leaving Ukraine. For some, finding new hobbies or learning local languages became a bridge toward integration. For others, it underscored their difference.

In the Czech Republic, participants described struggling to find age-appropriate social groups or community activities. Yet, these same challenges sparked creative forms of resilience. One young woman shared her dream of turning her knitting hobby into a small business, an example the team described as “a glimpse of how creativity and agency can flourish even in uncertain conditions.”

Meanwhile, in Hungary, youth participants spoke of limited access to recreational spaces, and the vital role of hobbies — like photography and IT — in creating a sense of personal space and belonging. 

In Poland, participants described a similar balancing act between adaptation and aspiration. Many of the young people involved shared that since arriving in Warsaw, they have had to adjust their hobbies and social interactions to new circumstances. Several discovered new interests such as swimming, while others deepened existing creative pursuits, including photography and digital design. Yet beneath this openness lay stories of constraint. Participants spoke candidly about the difficulty of combining school and part-time work, particularly among those supporting themselves or their families. Some also reported instances of xenophobia in educational settings, which shaped how they approached friendships and community engagement. Despite these pressures, young people continued to seek new ways to connect. One participant described how joining a local swimming club helped them feel “seen” in a new environment, while another shared how documenting everyday life through photos allowed them to process the changes they were experiencing.  For many, hobbies became a form of quiet resistance — a way to reclaim control and creativity in a context where stability often feels elusive.

Hobbies as Pathways to Healing and a symptom of (dis)Connection

In all three countries, an interesting trend emerged, that after displacement, young people choose rather more individualistic hobbies such as drawing, photography, playing an instrument or listening to music,motorbiking or jogging, or playing video games. Quite a few mentioned discontinuing their previous group activities, such as dancing, playing basketball, or board game due to the lack of money, time, not knowing the language or the local people. Only a handful mentioned continuing group sports such as hockey or dancing.  

For instance, in Czechia, facilitators observed that youth who previously took part in team activities often shifted toward more individualistic hobbies after displacement. This transition, while sometimes isolating, also encouraged self-reflection and independence. 

In Hungary, hobbies emerged as a key coping mechanism — a way to reclaim control and express identity amid instability.

And in Poland, several participants described how trying new activities, such as swimming or documentary filmmaking, gave them new aspirations for the future.

Through these activities, displaced youth found a sense of continuity, creativity, and belonging, even when other aspects of life felt uncertain.

One of the most consistent findings across all three countries was the transformative role of hobbies. Whether through dance, sports, photography, or crafts, creative engagement provided a bridge between past and present identities. Nevertheless there were a number of challenges and limitations to access them, especially those hobbies that bring young people together. 

Education, Work, and the Pressures of Independence

A second recurring thread was the challenge of balancing education, work, and personal growth.

In both Poland and Hungary, participants described the strain of navigating new education systems while contributing to family finances. Some unaccompanied children faced added pressure to become self-reliant quickly. One Ukrainian girl in Poland, also elaborated on more gendered pressure to take care of her younger siblings at home, while also navigating university and part time job. 

Work without official contracts, at times even beyond the legal age, or not respecting the age restrictions has been widespread in all three countries. In Czechia, several participants explained about them working without contracts in bars and restaurants, warehouses, 

Researchers in Hungary observed that some participants, particularly those aged 16 and older, had dropped out of formal education leading to university degree — a pattern linked to flexible schooling policies especially in Hungary and economic necessity to earn ones living. The group discussions revealed that while digital tools such as AI language platforms provided support, the absence of stable educational and emotional structures remains a critical concern.

In Poland, participants highlighted difficulties accessing medical and psychological support, often citing language barriers and limited availability of Ukrainian-speaking professionals. One participant’s story — of finding acceptance and understanding through a supportive teacher — illustrated the transformative impact that even small gestures of inclusion can have.

Rebuilding Stability: Homes and Belonging Across Three Countries

Across all three countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland — participants spoke about the daily reality of housing insecurity. Many live in shared or temporary spaces, often with limited privacy, where studying, relaxing, or simply feeling at home can be difficult. In some cases, young people are still transitioning between shelters, social housing, or host families, underscoring the fragile nature of their living conditions.

In the Czech Republic, youth living in the social housing program described both gratitude for safe accommodation and the emotional toll of impermanence. In Hungary, participants linked crowded housing and discrimination in the rental market to feelings of exclusion and instability. In Poland, several noted that cramped living arrangements affected their ability to study and rest — a quiet but constant pressure shaping their well-being.

As one facilitator reflected, “Even when the walls around them keep changing, they build a sense of home through what they create.”

Importance of Creating Safe Spaces for Youth Voices

Youth Co-Facilitators noted that hierarchy was intentionally removed from the interaction. By using inclusive facilitation methods, participants were encouraged to lead parts of the discussion and share stories in their own words. “The warm-up was quick and natural,” one facilitator reflected. “There was no need for ice-breaking games — everyone wanted to speak.”

This atmosphere of mutual respect allowed for a rare kind of openness. Participants discussed not only their daily routines but also personal experiences of displacement, adaptation, and identity. As one researcher summarized, “These young people have a lot to say, but too often they feel unheard because they are not citizens of the country where they live.”

Documenting Experiences, Building Understanding

The debriefings underscored the importance of careful, empathetic documentation. Researchers highlighted how participatory methods — where participants shape not only what is discussed but how — deepen understanding and empower youth to see themselves as co-authors of their own narratives.

Each team emphasized the need for ongoing engagement: follow-up meetings, consistent communication, and long-term mentorship. With funding cuts affecting many youth programs across Europe, these FGDs serve as both research and intervention — ensuring that young voices continue to inform policies and programs that affect them.

Looking Forward

As the YoU Decide Project continues, Heartwarmingly Research Consultancy remains committed to trauma-informed, participatory research that recognizes the agency and complexity of displaced young people. The insights gathered from these FGDs — spanning themes of identity, education, belonging, and resilience — form a vital foundation for the project’s next phase.

By listening deeply and collaboratively, the project not only generates knowledge but also strengthens the social fabric that supports youth in rebuilding their lives.

“It’s not just about collecting stories,” one researcher reflected during the debriefing. “It’s about ensuring that those stories lead to real understanding and change.”

About Heartwarmingly Research Consultancy
Heartwarmingly Research Consultancy specializes in participatory, human-centered research with a focus on migration, youth well-being, and social inclusion. Through its role in the YoU Decide Project, the research team continues to highlight the lived experiences of displaced youth and contribute to more empathetic, evidence-based policy design across Europe.