3.5 percent

Founded directly after the full-scale invasion in April 2022, the NGO "3.5 Percent" was formed by a team of experts with international project experience who returned home to Transcarpathia just before the war. Combining their global contacts and diverse expertise, the team initially operated as a volunteer initiative, delivering daily humanitarian aid to affected central and eastern regions of Ukraine. Recognizing their team synergy, they established their first youth hub, Awarezone, in Mukachevo. Once humanitarian aid operations were passed to partner organizations, the team fully shifted its focus toward sustainable youth development, community building, and mental health support and officially registered as an organisation. The organization’s purpose is driven by the sociological "3.5% rule" (the threshold of active civic engagement required to trigger lasting societal change). It aims to transform individuals, communities, and institutions by empowering youth, strengthening civil society, boosting social mobility, and building sustainable civic ecosystems. Main activities Youth Engagement & Civic Activism: Developing youth spaces, running internship programs, career orientation, and soft skills workshops for local and displaced youth. Human Rights & Women's Empowerment: Promoting gender equality and women's leadership and advocating for child protection and safety in rural schools. Mental Health & Well-being: Implementing mental health support programs, psychological recovery initiatives for children, and resilience training within local communities. Community Capacity Building & Research: Conducting sociological research on youth engagement and facilitating integration between local authorities, international organizations, and civil society.