On January 23rd, 2026, a Youth Think Tank discussion titled “Everyday Diplomacy: Why Each of Us Is an Ambassador of Our Country” took place in Marijampolė, hosted at the Marijampolė Municipal Administration within the project “SUCCESS | Socially innovative Ukrainian Centres in Central Europe: Empowerment and Social Support”.
The event brought together 26 participants, mostly aged 14–17, representing a diverse mix of educational institutions, including Marijampolės Sūduvos gimnazija, Marijampoles profesinio rengimo centras, Marijampolės Petro Armino progimnazija, Liudvinavo Kazio Borutos gimnazija, Marijampolės Jono Totoraičio progimnazija, “Ryto” progimnazija, Kalvarijos gimnazija, as well as students studying online in Ukrainian educational institutions such as Tavrychanka Territorial Community School named after Oleksandr Hatyl, Hadiach Lyceum No. 2 named after Mykhailo Drahomanov, Private Lyceum “Kharkiv Collegium”, and Odesa Lyceum No. 118.
The speaker of the Youth Think Tank was Mr. Viktor Hamotskyi, Deputy Chief of the Embassy of Ukraine in Lithuania — a career diplomat working on bilateral relations between Ukraine and Lithuania, support for Ukrainian communities abroad, international communication, and cultural diplomacy. Drawing on his professional experience, Mr. Hamotskyi spoke about the everyday work of diplomacy, the challenges and responsibilities faced by Ukrainian diplomats abroad today, and why every citizen — regardless of position or official status — becomes an ambassador of their country through their actions, values, and voice.
Following the presentation, participants took part in an active Q&A and discussion. The conversation was lively and engaging, clearly resonating with the youth and encouraging them to reflect on their own role in representing Ukraine in daily life.
This Youth Think Tank was especially meaningful, as it marked the first event of the Ukrainian Center in Marijampolė, as well as the first visit of a representative of the Embassy of Ukraine to Marijampolė since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, offering a valuable opportunity to connect with the local community and learn more about the regional context.
We sincerely thank Mr. Viktor Hamotskyi and the Embassy of Ukraine in Lithuania, Vice Mayor of Marijampolė Ričardas Bagdanavičius and the Marijampolė municipality, NGO „Porička“, Oleksandra Vasylchenko and Tetiana Ponomarenko for their support in organizing the event, and all participants for their openness, curiosity, and meaningful engagement.
*Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.
Everyday Diplomacy: Youth Think Tank Discussion in Marijampolė