Daria

DARIA MIERHUT (Ms.)

Bratislava, Slovakia
[відкрити контакти](див. вище в блоці «контактна інформація»)│[відкрити контакти](див. вище в блоці «контактна інформація»)| Linkedin: Daria Mierhut

Education, Youth Engagement and Advocacy Specialist | 4+ Years of Experience

Education, youth engagement, and communications professional with four years of progressively
responsible experience supporting education, advocacy, and refugee response initiatives in
humanitarian and development contexts. Experienced in programme implementation, stakeholder
engagement, strategic communications, policy advocacy, and capacity building, with particular
expertise in refugee education, education in emergencies, and youth participation. Proven track
record collaborating with UN agencies, government institutions, civil society organizations, and
global coalitions to advance inclusive education policies and meaningful youth engagement.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Education in Emergencies (EiE) | Refugee Education | Youth Engagement & Participation |
Programme Coordination | Strategic Communications | Advocacy & Public Engagement |
Stakeholder Engagement | Capacity Building | Partnership Building | Event Facilitation &
Moderation | Policy Research & Analysis | Knowledge Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Junior Education Consultant

UNICEF Slovakia Refugee Response Of ce | April 2024 – June 2025

Key Responsibilities

• Supported implementation and monitoring of Education, Early Childhood Development (ECD)
and Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) programmes within the Ukraine Refugee
Response.
• Contributed to programme planning, eld monitoring, reporting and knowledge management
activities.
• Coordinated stakeholder engagement with government institutions, municipalities, schools and
NGO partners.
• Developed communication and knowledge products, including policy briefs, case studies and
advocacy materials.
• Led youth engagement activities within the PATHWAYS programme.

Achievements

• Supported implementation and monitoring of education, ECD and ADAP initiatives reaching
more than 13,000 young people across Slovakia.
• Coordinated youth engagement components of the PATHWAYS programme, strengthening
participation of refugee and host-community youth.
• Developed policy briefs, case studies and programme documentation capturing results and good
practices.
• Organized UNICEF's rst youth-focused dialogue on future skills and employability, bringing
together youth representatives and private sector stakeholders.
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• Co-produced and hosted the "At Your Pace" podcast amplifying the voices of Ukrainian refugee
youth.
• Represented UNICEF-supported initiatives at international advocacy forums, including the
Summit of the Future and other global platforms.

Youth on the Move Fellow (Education Team)

UNICEF Slovakia Refugee Response Of ce | March 2023 – April 2024

Achievements

• Established UNICEF Slovakia's Youth Advisory Board and coordinated regular youth
consultations.
• Led organization of the rst edition of UNICEF's Parenting Academy, reaching more than 200
parents and caregivers.
• Coordinated youth participation in regional and global consultations related to migration,
displacement and education.
• Led development and launch of UNICEF Slovakia's Youth Chatbot.
• Produced communications products supporting refugee response programming and outreach.

Communications Lead

Refugee Education Council | September 2024 – Present

Key Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the Council's communications strategy and annual communications plan.
• Develop advocacy materials, digital content and public engagement campaigns.
• Coordinate communications activities with global partners and coalition members.
• Support capacity building of refugee youth leaders through training and mentoring.

Achievements

• Led development and launch of the Refugee Education Council's rst of cial website,
strengthening visibility of refugee-led advocacy initiatives.
• Established and manage the Council's LinkedIn presence, expanding digital visibility and
engagement with global stakeholders.
• Led communications for annual Call to Action campaigns and World Refugee Day advocacy
initiatives.
• Supported collaboration with international partners through G7 and global education advocacy
processes.
• Designed and facilitated communications and public speaking capacity-building sessions for
refugee youth leaders.

Co-Chair

Canadian International Education Policy Working Group (CIEPWG) | October 2025 –
Present

Achievements
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• Co-lead a global coalition advancing education policy and advocacy in humanitarian and
development contexts.
• Coordinate engagement with international stakeholders, including Global Affairs Canada and
education sector partners.
• Facilitate strategic dialogue and coalition positioning on education policy priorities.
• Support advocacy initiatives linked to G7 education processes and education in emergencies.

Project Manager & Communications Lead, SMART UA

LifeStarter | January 2025 – Present

Achievements

• Lead planning, coordination and implementation of the SMART UA initiative.
• Develop stakeholder engagement and communication strategies supporting project objectives.
• Coordinate partnerships, outreach activities and project visibility efforts.
• Strengthened engagement with project bene ciaries and partner organizations through targeted
communications initiatives.

News Editor and Anchor

TA3 Television Network | May 2021 – October 2024

Achievements

• Produced, edited and presented television and digital news content in Slovak and Ukrainian.
• Conducted more than 100 interviews and news productions.
• Reported from European Parliament plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels.
• Collaborated with UNESCO on awareness-raising initiatives concerning Ukrainian refugees and
education.

EDUCATION

Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations

Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia | 2026

Bachelor's Degree (BA) in Media Relations

University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia | 2023
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 SELECTED INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Speaker, International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), New York
• Moderator, #YouthLead for the Future, Summit of the Future, New York, 2024
• Speaker, The Future We Cannot Afford to Ignore, Summit of the Future, New York, 2024
• Speaker, Youth and Digitalization in Education, Global Campaign for Education, New York, 2024
• Moderator, High-Level Sessions on Youth Participation and MHPSS, Global Refugee Forum,
Geneva, 2023
• Speaker, Unlock Talent on the Move, Global Refugee Forum, Geneva, 2023
• Facilitator, Global Youth Consultation on Ending Child Immigration Detention, 2023
• Facilitator and Speaker, High-Level Strategic Dialogue with Global Affairs Canada, 2025

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

• Child Rights-Based Approach to Programming (UNICEF), 2024
• Foundations of Education in Emergencies (Save the Children), 2024
• Inclusive Education in Emergencies (Save the Children), 2024
• Gender Responsive Education in Emergencies (Save the Children), 2024
• Safeguarding in Education in Emergencies (Save the Children), 2024
• GenderPro Credential for Gender Focal Points, 2023
• Community Engagement in Emergency Preparedness and Response, 2023

LANGUAGES

Ukrainian – Native
English – Fluent
Slovak – Fluent
Russian – Native
Czech – Professional Working Pro ciency

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Programme & Coordination

Programme Coordination • Project Management • Stakeholder Engagement • Partnership Building •
Monitoring & Reporting • Knowledge Management • Workshop Facilitation • Capacity Building •
Event Management • Strategic Planning

Communications & Advocacy

Strategic Communications • Social Media Management (SMM) • Advocacy Campaigns • Public
Engagement • Media Relations • Speech Writing • Copywriting • Content Development • Brand
Development • Public Speaking • Storytelling • Newsletter Development • Podcast Production &
Hosting

Digital Platforms & Tools

Microsoft Of ce Suite • Google Workspace • SharePoint • WordPress • Canva • Bravo • Mailchimp
• Meta Business Suite • Zoom • Microsoft Teams • Content Management Systems (CMS) •
LinkedIn Page Management • Instagram Management • Google Forms • Microsoft Forms
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