Author: victoria

Young people in Chisinau municipality now have the opportunity to influence future public policies and local initiatives by participating in the Municipal Survey on Identifying Youth Needs. Conducted annually by the Chisinau City Hall, the General Directorate of Education, Youth and Sport and the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center, this survey aims to identify the main challenges, aspirations and expectations of young people aged between 14 and 35.

Why is this survey important?

The participation of young people in this sociological research is essential for:

• Developing more effective public policies based on the real needs of the younger generation.
• Improved access to relevant opportunities in education, career, health, culture and leisure.
• Increased involvement of young people in decision-making and making them active partners in local government.
• To create customized initiatives aimed at responding directly to the needs expressed by participants.

How can you participate?

The survey runs from March 14 to April 5, 2025, in both online and offline formats. Those interested can complete the survey by clicking on the link: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/Ggi3j5vU.

Responses are confidential and will be used solely for research purposes. The collected results will be presented at the Municipal Youth Forum scheduled for April.

What did the 2024 data show?

The previous edition of the survey, conducted between April and May 2024, provided a detailed insight into the problems and priorities of young people in Chisinau. The survey, conducted on a sample of 1690 young people in the city and suburbs, revealed the following:

• Civic involvement: 41% of young people frequently participate in elections, but only 62% engage in civic activities such as protests or demonstrations.
• Access to services: 56% of young people were satisfied with youth services, the most used being trainings and seminars (60%), information campaigns (56%) and volunteering (50%).
• Main challenges: 85% of young people consider integration into the labor market a major difficulty and 59% support the need to expand youth-friendly health centers.
• Inclusion and discrimination: Around 10% of young people reported experiences of discrimination in various contexts, highlighting the need for more inclusive policies.
• Sources of information: Instagram (24%), Facebook (18%) and TikTok (14%) are the main platforms through which young people learn about municipal opportunities.

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The results of the 2024 survey have contributed to the development of specific initiatives for young people, and the 2025 edition aims to continue this process of consultation and improvement.

Be part of the change! By filling in the survey, every young person can make their voice heard and contribute to the development of a more youth-friendly Chisinau that is more adapted to the needs of the younger generation.

On March 8, 2025, Tucano Coffee hosted the event “Living Library: Women who have redefined boundaries”, organized by “MilleniuM” Training and Development Institute. The event brought to the forefront the stories of women who have built careers in traditionally male-dominated fields, overcoming prejudices and social barriers.

Among the guests were four women who stood out for their determination and professionalism in their fields:

Mariana Grama: Moldova’s first female colonel

Mariana Grama started her career as a chemistry teacher, but in 1997 chose to join the armed forces. She was the first female officer promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Department. In 2016, she took part in the Independence Day parade with an all-female detachment, a symbolic moment for the integration of women in the military.

Photo: MilleniuM Training and Development Institute

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Ada Banu: Senior Officer of the General Inspectorate of Border PoliceS

Ada Banu chose a career in policing, a field in which women are often viewed with skepticism. Initially working in sales, she has completely changed her career path and proved that perseverance and rigorous training can overcome any prejudice.

Photo: MilleniuM Training and Development Institute

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Ecaterina Podzirca: Car instructor

In a field where men are in the majority, Ecaterina Podzirca has managed to make a name for herself as a car instructor. Initially motivated by a desire to teach her daughter to drive safely, she has since expanded her business and now has many trainees, both women and men.

Photo: MilleniuM Training and Development Institute

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Andrea Axenti: Senior NCO at the Regional Search and Rescue Directorate in Chisinau

A student at the Technical University of Moldova, specializing in Fire Engineering and Civil Protection, Andrea Axenti has wanted to become a firefighter since childhood. Today, she works as a senior non-commissioned officer at the Regional Search and Rescue Department in Chisinau and encourages other young women to follow this professional path.

Photo: MilleniuM Training and Development Institute

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The event highlighted the need for a shift in thinking about gender roles in diverse professions. Their stories show that success does not depend on stereotypes, but on passion, hard work and determination.

The organizers underlined the importance of such initiatives to promote equal opportunities and to encourage the younger generation to follow their vocation, regardless of the norms imposed by society.

 

In an ever-changing world, technology is redefining every aspect of our lives. The Technical University of Moldova, in collaboration with FAF NGO and UTM TEKEDU Club, organized within the National Institute of Innovations in Cybersecurity “Cybercor” – ,,She-novate”, an event dedicated to innovative ladies who use technology to change the world.

Open to both girls and boys, ,,She-novate” brought together pupils, students and professionals interested in areas such as technology, entrepreneurship and personal development. The event brought female innovation and leadership to the forefront, providing opportunities for learning, networking and inspiration.

As avowed supporters of diversity and technology education, TEKEDU Club and FAF NGO, in partnership with the Technical University of Moldova (TUM), promote an inclusive and opportunity-packed environment for talented young people in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) fields. These initiatives aim to provide the necessary resources to support the development of a new generation of professionals to meet the technological challenges of the future. Through educational projects, hackathons, mentoring sessions and collaborative activities, TEKEDU and FAF facilitate students’ interaction with industry experts and give them the chance to develop personally and professionally.

Photo: Facebook/UTM – Technical University of Moldova

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During the event, participants took part in a series of workshops designed to combine soft and technical skills:

• Gender mobbing – with Dina Barcari (anthropologist, PhD in philosophy, university lecturer, UTM);
• Project management – with Elizabet Grinciuc (senior expert at the IT Governance and Project Management Directorate, National Bank of Moldova);
• CV/LinkedIN – with Anastasia Iarovoi (Career Counselor, Vector Academy);
• Hands-on – with Daniela Grosu (Tekedu mentor), Vitalie Calaev (Orange Digital Center Mentor, FabLab), Cătălin Drogoman (management and organization specialist, MicroLab), Elena Timbur (Tekedu mentor), Ana-Maria Gîlca (graphic designer, Tekwill Academy), Nicoleta Guțu (trainer coordinator, Tekedu), Tatiana Popescu (Tekedu mentor), Mihaela Ermurachi (Tekedu mentor);
• Tech – with Elena Graur (machine learning engineer, Sigmoid), Cristina Lîniuc-Șerșun (Ruby on Rails Developer, Salt Edge), Liliana Spatari (web/data analyst, Orange and Community Fibre), Daria Covalenco (delivery lead/agile coach, Amdaris).

The soft skills workshops aimed to improve the planning and communication skills essential for a successful career in technology and to capitalize on experience and skills to make a great impression on employers.

And in the hands-on and tech workshops, young people unleashed their creativity, creating origami flowers and unique postcards inspired by femininity and appreciation.

The Chisinau Municipal Youth Centre organized the ceremony of awarding the grant certificates to the 10 winning youth organizations within the Municipal Grants Program for Youth Organizations, 2025 edition. They were selected from a total of 36 submitted projects, benefiting from a total budget of 2.5 million lei for the implementation of the proposed initiatives.

The winning organizations and funded projects are:

• AO “Association of Intellectual Games of the Republic of Moldova” – “DIALOGICA. Inclusion in action, 2nd edition”
• Human Rights Association “Legis” – “I Speak, Convince, Inspire”
• AO “Center of Excellence for Agroecological Consultancy and Development ACDA” – “Entrepreneurship for YOUTH”
• AO “Development and Opportunity for All” – “Accelerate Career”
• AO Development Training Institute “MilleniuM” – “Vector Civic”
• AO Center for Applied Legal and Economic Studies – “Rights Protection and Financial Education for YOUTH”
• AO National YMCA Alliance of the Republic of Moldova – “Vocational guidance and employment for young people in rural areas of Chisinau municipality”
• AO “Caroma Nord” – “Youth for the future: development, orientation, success”
• AO “Youth Resource Center AVANTE” – “MentorUp – Connect, Learn, Grow”
• AO Institute for Innovations, Sustainable Progress and Civic Education – “Integration of young people on the labor market – legal mechanisms of protection and guarantee”

Through this grant program, the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center aims to support innovative initiatives dedicated to young people, contributing to their personal and professional development, as well as to increase their civic and economic involvement in the community.

The beneficiary organizations will be responsible for implementing the projects by the end of the year, with the support of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Centre in monitoring and ensuring the positive impact on young people in the municipality.

In February, the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center launched three Municipal Grant Programs dedicated to youth organizations, initiative groups and student councils.

The Municipal Grant Program for Initiative Groups provides financial support for projects related to volunteering, inclusion, health and personal development. The total budget is 300,000 lei and each group can apply for up to 20,000 lei. Applications are open throughout the year at programgranturi@gmail.com and assessment is made on receipt of at least two applications.

The Municipal Grant Program for Student Councils supports initiatives for democratic participation and self-governance. The total budget is 1 million lei and each council can apply for up to 10,000 lei. Applications are open until March 14, 2025, and selected projects will be implemented between April 14 and November 30, 2025.

For more details and program rules, interested young people can access:

• bit.ly/grantsGrantsGroupsInitiative2025
• bit.ly/grantsStudentCouncils2025

The Municipal Council of Pupils held an information session on the Municipal Grants Program for the Pupil Councils of Chisinau municipality. The event, moderated by Petru Grecu, director of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center, gathered representatives of the Pupils’ School Councils from the Ciocana and Riscani sectors.

The young people had the opportunity to learn essential details about the application process and the opportunities offered by this program. During the sessions, participants explored the specific requirements for submitting projects, discussed funding priorities and received answers to questions related to the selection and implementation of initiatives.

The Municipal Grants Program provides financial support for projects proposed by Student Councils with the goal of improving school life and encouraging the active involvement of young people in their community. The sessions organized by the Municipal Student Council are an important step in preparing teams to access these funds and develop initiatives with real impact in their schools.

In order to participate in the program, student councils must submit their application to programgranturi@gmail.com by March 14, 2025. Applications must comply with the requirements set out in the program rules, which are available online for consultation.

The program aims to fund projects that contribute to the development of the student community with the following areas of interest:

• Development of self-governing bodies
• Participation and democracy
• Promotion of a healthy lifestyle
• Young people’s personal development and life skills training

The total budget of the program for 2025 is 1 million lei, and each selected project can receive a maximum of 10,000 lei.

For further details, the program rules and annexes can be found at this link: https://bit.ly/granturiConsiliiElevi2025.

Eligibility criteria:

• The Student Council must be formally constituted and have minutes of constitution
• The group leader must be at least 18 years old
• If the president of the council is under 18, he/she must designate a legal representative
• The group must have at least 3 members

For questions and clarifications, those interested can contact the organizers on: 022 923 555 / programgranturi@gmail.com

This is an important opportunity for Chisinau student councils to turn their ideas into concrete projects with real impact on the school community.