Reform Index 263: Encouraging Student Volunteering and a Digital Public Health Platform

“Law No. 4186-IX introduces several important changes aimed at recognizing the outcomes of volunteer activity and fostering a culture of volunteering among children and youth. In particular, it establishes the right of volunteers to have their acquired competencies formally acknowledged, requires organizations to issue official confirmation of volunteer activity [upon a volunteer’s request – ed.], and obliges education leaders to promote volunteering among participants in the educational process.

The proposed changes are expected to encourage greater participation in volunteering among children and youth. However, it is important to note that some provisions — like recognizing volunteer experience as educational practice — are largely terminological. For example, the phrase ‘educational and industrial practice, if carried out in a field related to the student’s specialty’ was replaced with ‘practice in accordance with the educational program of the institution’ — meaning no new mechanism was introduced.

While the law is designed to encourage student volunteering, it does not address the participation of children under 14. Current legislation allows volunteering from age 14 with parental consent, while the involvement of younger children is not officially recognized. This gap is inconsistent with international standards — such as the Universal Declaration on Volunteering — and contradicts Ukraine’s national youth policy, which affirms the right to civic participation (e.g., in children’s public organizations) starting at age six.

In neighboring European countries like Poland, eligibility for volunteering depends not on age but on whether the child has the necessary skills and whether safe conditions are ensured. If Ukraine truly intends to develop a systemic culture of volunteerism from an early age, it must adopt a similarly flexible approach.

Subordinate regulations governing how competencies gained through volunteering will be recognized will also require close public oversight. Without well-developed procedures, these legal provisions risk remaining purely symbolic.

Law No. 4186-IX is an important, though interim, step. To achieve its intended goals, further legislative work is needed — to lift age restrictions and introduce meaningful tools to support the engagement of children and youth in volunteer activity.”

Olena Vuzka-Malets, Program Director at NGO Ukrainian Volunteer Service:

“This law is a step in the right direction. It creates opportunities — to support students who are already volunteering, to foster a culture of collaboration between schools and civic organizations, and to send a clear message: volunteering is about personal choice, not a mandatory requirement.

It is especially valuable that the law’s final version preserves the emphasis on voluntariness. Its implementation gives educators a legitimate way to support volunteerism and build community partnerships. For schools, this does not mean an obligation to ‘organize volunteering’ but rather a chance to support students’ existing initiatives or to collaborate with civic organizations. If a community has a reliable NGO or volunteer initiative, its representatives can be invited to partner with the school — or students can take part in volunteering through extracurricular activities. In addition, if high school students want to act as tutors for younger peers, they can be supported — and it should be emphasized that this is also volunteer experience. Students can then include it in their motivation letters when applying to universities, which may influence admissions decisions when standardized test scores are equal.

This law creates space for schools to foster civic responsibility without coercion — and that is where its real strength lies.”

“The creation of a public health information platform is a positive step. For patients, it means that all essential information about public health and the healthcare system will be available in one place. For doctors and officials, it allows faster identification of problems and quicker paths to solutions.

Patients will better understand which diseases are common in their communities and which preventive measures are effective. This builds trust that their health is being taken seriously and that the system is becoming more transparent, predictable, and user-friendly.

This step is also highly significant for Ukraine’s European integration. We are moving closer to EU standards, and the platform will help us fulfill international obligations, receive EU support, and adopt best practices from across Europe.

There is still room for improvement in terms of protocols and quality. However, step by step, Ukraine’s healthcare system can become more modern and effective, ensuring that patients receive care that meets European standards.

It is essential that the platform ensure the protection of personal data. For it to work well, information must be updated regularly, and both doctors and patients need to understand how to use it. That likely means systematic training will be required.”

“Adopting the resolution on the procedure for operating a public health information platform is a key step toward strengthening Ukraine’s healthcare system. The document sets clear rules for collecting, processing, and using public health data. This will support more effective population health monitoring and timely responses to public health challenges.

The platform will allow data from multiple sources to be integrated and used to provide analytical support for informed decision-making. Crucially, it lays the foundation for developing digital tools in disease prevention. 

It will also help public health professionals work with greater accuracy and speed. Access to reliable, up-to-date data is expected to support the development of effective policies and programs — and move Ukraine closer to European standards in digital health. 

Transparency and openness of data are also critical for building public trust in the system. This step is part of a broader transformation of public health — one that serves the interests of every citizen.”