Summary of the “SPEAK UP” Marathon for High School Students
The UCU Child Dignity Center team, as part of the “SPEAK UP” project, launched a marathon for high school students. Its goal was to create short videos on safety, personal boundaries, and bullying, and to share them on social media. The aim was to raise awareness of these important topics among teenagers and show that talking about difficult issues is normal, safe, and necessary — because it is often silence that leaves children facing problems alone.
The “SPEAK UP” marathon for high school students was announced during the “TeenEd: Personal Safety for Teens” forum, held in October.
For over a month, students openly and courageously addressed topics that are not always easy to discuss: personal boundaries, the body, bullying, online safety, and the power of their own voice. The marathon brought together more than 20 schools. We received nearly 30 videos, with around 100 students participating in total — sincere, creative, motivated, and very brave.
In December, we met with the winners of the “SPEAK UP” marathon, presented them with gifts, and reminded them once again: Speaking up is power.
A special moment was the meeting with Oleksandra Pismichenko — a UCU student, blogger with a large following, and recipient of international scholarships. She shared her personal story and emphasized how important it is to speak out, not be afraid to ask for help, and trust your own feelings.
Winners were selected in each safety rule category:
- “My Personal Boundaries Are My Right” — Secondary School No. 99, Lviv
- “My Body Is My Private Space” — Secondary School No. 31, Lviv
- “Don’t Stay Silent — Speak Up” — Lyceum No. 93, Lviv and Secondary School No. 91, Lviv
- “No Place for Bullying Here” — Secondary School No. 13 and Lyceum No. 28, Lviv
- “I Have the Right to Online Safety” — Secondary School No. 47, Lviv
Additional awards:
- For Creative Idea — Lyceum “Oriana”, Lviv
- Original Script — Lyceum No. 66, Lviv
- “SPEAKING UP Is Power” — Secondary School No. 34, Lviv
All winners received gifts, and their videos will become part of the online course for high school students, “Your Personal Safety.”
“Such initiatives are not just for show. They teach teenagers that the greatest strength lies in the ability to speak up about themselves, their boundaries, and what hurts or worries them. When a child knows they will be heard, they become more confident, courageous, and much safer. That is why it is important for us to support these projects and provide a space where teenagers can freely talk about what matters,” says Natalia Tarnovska, Head of Projects and Programs in the Education area at the UCU Child Dignity Center and manager of the SPEAK UP project.
We thank all the schools, teachers, teenagers, and everyone who supported and inspired this initiative.
