The forum became a space where teenagers could openly talk about themselves, their emotions, self-worth, and relationships. The program included three thematic blocks: self-awareness and self-care, relationships, trust, and personal boundaries, safety online and offline. Eight experts in psychology, education, medicine, law, and representatives of the clergy helped participants explore topics that concern today’s teenagers.

“Today we are holding the second ‘TeenEd’ forum. For us, this is not just an educational event, but a space of trust. We want teenagers to have the opportunity to speak honestly about their feelings, relationships, fears, and dreams,” says Khrystyna Shabat, Head of the Child Dignity Center.

This year, the forum was held within the framework of the “HOVORY” safety project. One of the forum’s experts was child psychiatrist Yuliana Maslak, who emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and recognizing one’s own value: “Our brain is evolutionarily programmed to notice mistakes. But acceptance is when you tell yourself: ‘I am not perfect, but I am myself.”.

Yaryna Pikulytska, pediatrician and founder of the family clinic “Vulyk,” spoke about the changing teenage body, explaining why these changes are natural, how to take responsibility for one’s health, and how to resist pressure from social media.

The block concluded with Yuliia Nikitina, a lawyer and coordinator of the legal support hotline “JurFem: Support,” who explained children’s rights, where to seek help if those rights are violated, and why knowing one’s rights and responsibilities is part of personal safety.

The second discussion block focused on relationships — friendship, trust, conflicts, and first romantic feelings. Maria Baitsar, psychotherapist at the “Family Circle” Health Center, helped participants understand how to resolve disputes, build respectful relationships, and distinguish healthy behavior from toxic behavior.

Nataliia Tarnovska, Head of Education Programs at the Child Dignity Center UCU and Manager of the “HOVORY” project, spoke about practical steps to protect oneself from harm: “We teach children to recognize dangerous situations, understand when they are being mistreated, when someone is pressuring, humiliating, or touching them without consent. Every child must know: they always have the right to say ‘stop’ and to seek help. Speaking up is not weakness — it is strength.”

Psychologist Olesia Luchko from the “Prostir Nadii” Center emphasized the importance of building relationships based on mutual respect and highlighted the role of values in choosing the people we surround ourselves with. “Values are the foundation of healthy relationships. The people you choose to walk your life path with determine whether that journey will feel safe and joyful. Values reflect our deepest desires about the life we want to build and the relationships we want to create,” she noted.

The final block focused on safety, both online and offline. Hanna Martyniuk, educational coordinator of the CyberTeens platform, explained how to protect personal data, recognize cyberbullying and dangerous trends, and where to seek help in case of online threats. Her presentation showed that digital literacy is also part of dignity and self-respect.

A Redemptorist priest Father Sviatoslav Vons spoke about spiritual resilience and the importance of nurturing inner dignity: “You are not just a set of reactions to the news. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Your dignity does not depend on external circumstances, failures, or victories. It is given by God.”.

The forum concluded with a panel discussion where teenagers asked experts questions about personal safety.

“TeenEd” was another step toward fostering a culture of safety among Lviv’s teenagers, where everyone can voice their concerns and know they will be heard.