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Youth for Civic Change, Eramsus+ Youth exchange

Together with our partners, we believed that every young person had the right to express their views freely and safely; influence decisions and take action on issues that mattered to them. However, young people faced significant challenges in realizing this right. They tended to be wrongly dismissed as insufficiently mature to participate in political and civic processes. They also tended to be stigmatized as potential perpetrators of disruption, not as valued citizens and contributors to society who could lead and drive positive change. Therefore, we decided to act and came up with a project initiative about youth involvement as active citizens.

The mobility “Youth for Civic Change” took place in Traisteni, Valea Doftanei, Romania, from May 11 to 18, 2025. This initiative involved 30 participants aged 18 to 25 from five countries: Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, Poland, and Lithuania. The project focused on fostering active citizenship among young people. Throughout the 8 days-long event, participants engaged in a variety of activities designed to enhance their understanding of civic engagement and democratic participation. These activities included:

1. Workshops and Seminars: Facilitators conducted sessions on the principles of active citizenship, the importance of civic participation, and the role of young people in shaping their communities. Topics such as human rights, democratic processes, and community involvement were covered.

2. Interactive Discussions: Participants took part in open discussions and debates, where they shared their views and experiences related to civic engagement in their respective countries. These sessions aimed to promote mutual understanding and the exchange of ideas.

3. Team-Building Activities: Various team-building exercises helped participants build trust, collaborate effectively, and develop leadership skills. These activities also aimed to strengthen the sense of community among the participants.

4. Field Visits: The group visited 2 local high schools from Valea Doftanei and Campina and also local authorities to observe and learn about local governance, community projects, and initiatives that promote active citizenship.

5. Community Engagement Projects: Participants worked in groups to design and implement small-scale community projects and future Erasmus+ projects. These projects addressed local needs and promoted civic responsibility, providing hands-on experience in community service and project management.

6. Cultural Evenings: Each country’s participants organized a cultural evening, where they presented their national traditions, food, music, and dances. These evenings fostered cultural exchange and appreciation among the diverse group of participants.

The “Youth for Civic Change” project aimed to empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to become active citizens in their communities. By the end of the mobility, participants were better equipped to advocate for positive change, engage in democratic processes, and inspire others to participate in civic life. The project not only fostered a sense of European identity and solidarity but also laid the groundwork for future cross-border collaborations among the participants.

Project Objectives:

• Developed solidarity and promoted tolerance among young people in particular in order to foster social cohesion in EU regions.
• Fostered mutual understanding between young people in different communities through inclusivity, constructive engagement, and networking, resulting in the reduction in prejudices, stereotyping, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, conflict situations among participants and citizens of their respective communities.
• Encouraged responsive and responsible citizenship, therefore creating awareness about EU political and democratic processes.

This project was done with the support of the Erasmus+ Programm under 2023 accreditation: 2023-1-RO01-KA151-YOU-000134997.