Author: victoria

Chisinau has been selected in the shortlist of five finalist cities for the title of European Youth Capital 2028, joining a large-scale competition that aims to promote the active involvement of young people in community life, peace-building and sustainable development. Under the slogan “ChisiNOW: Youth for Peace, Securing our Future”, the Moldovan capital is preparing intensively for the final stage of the selection.

The coordination of the application process is carried out by the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM), in partnership with the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center and the Chisinau City Hall. They are currently working on the development of the extended application, a strategic document that will reflect the needs, aspirations and potential of young people in the capital.

One of the key components of this approach is direct and continuous consultation with young people. Recently, at the Chisinau Municipal Youth Forum, more than a hundred young people were invited to contribute with ideas and suggestions on Chisinau’s future as European Youth Capital. The discussions were facilitated by Igor Ciurea, an expert affiliated to the bid team, and Roman Banari, Secretary General of CNTM.

Topics discussed included:

• How can the European Capital of Youth program become more participatory and inclusive;
• What themes are key for young people in 2028 and who bears the responsibility for their realization – young people or authorities;
• What types of actions and partnerships are needed to support Chisinau’s bid.

The application process is built on a participatory model, and the organizers encourage the involvement of all actors in the youth sector – from non-governmental organizations, informal networks and initiative groups to public institutions and academia.

According to the application team, winning the title would mean more than just European recognition: it would represent a real opportunity to transform Chisinau into a city that invests strategically in young people, a space of peace, cohesion and sustainable development.

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READ ALSO: Chisinau is a finalist in the “European Youth Capital 2028” competition

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The title of European Youth Capital is awarded annually by the European Youth Forum and the winning city benefits from international visibility, funding for youth projects and support in implementing innovative youth policies.

The 2028 winner is to be announced this fall. Until then, Chisinau continues to mobilize its resources and community to convince Europe that it deserves the title.

Chisinau has the chance to become a European model of civic engagement and innovation for young people – and the future also depends on the contribution of each and every one of us.

The 9th edition of the Municipal Youth Forum was held at the Urban Business Center on April 12, under the theme “Young People from Chisinau in the European Course: Opportunities, Challenges and Active Involvement”.

Organized by the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center and the General Directorate of Education, Youth and Sport, under the aegis of the Chisinau City Hall, the event provided a space for dialogue between young people, authorities and experts, putting on the public agenda the challenges and needs of the young generation in the European path of the Republic of Moldova.

The participants included: representatives of the youth sector, representatives of central and local public authorities, specialists and youth workers.

,,This forum is the tip of the iceberg” – Messages from representatives of the authorities

During the opening ceremony, Ion Ceban – Mayor General of Chisinau Municipality, came with a message of greeting to the participants, emphasizing the importance of involving young people in local decision-making processes. “All the ideas we came up with today came from you, from youth-friendly spaces to solutions for active participation and economic inclusion. We want you to stay at home and realize your potential here.”

In her turn, Angela Cutasevici – Deputy Mayor of Chisinau said that young people are not only the future, but the active present of the city. “We worked together on projects initiated by you. We saw how simple ideas turned into real actions, how volunteers became community leaders. These achievements are not accidental, they are the fruit of a beautiful partnership between the local public authority and young people.”

Andrei Pavaloi, Deputy Head of the General Directorate of Education, Youth and Sport, said that the forum is an important milestone in the authority’s ongoing efforts to harness the potential of young people and integrate their voice in the sustainable development of the capital. “This forum is the tip of the iceberg. It is the culmination of all our activities over the past years. Young people are not just a force, they are shaping the city.”

Petru Grecu – Director of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center, highlighted the impact of youth programs and the essential role they play in shaping a modern city. “Chisinau is changing, and you, young people, are part of this change. Over the past year, more than 60,000 young people have benefited from municipal programs. This involvement will grow even more.”

The results of the sociological survey conducted between March and April 2025 on a sample of 2050 young people, aged 14-35 years, living in 5 sectors of Chisinau municipality and suburbs, were presented at the forum.

The survey, presented by Irina Pîcălău – quantitative data analysis specialist of the Strategic Research Services Company, highlighted the main concerns of young people.

The results of the municipal survey

According to the survey, 13.4% of the young people interviewed consider that among the activities that should be organized by youth institutions are career guidance and orientation programs, 27.2% see access to scholarships and financial aid as the most important resources for supporting students, 10.6% propose the organization of more information and promotion campaigns by LPAs to motivate young people to get involved in the decision-making process and another 44.6% see a very high level of importance in holding a volunteer card.

Those affected by the difficulty of getting a job include 26.6%, and 25.8% want to pursue a major in the near future.

Among those who feel there are not enough information services about starting a business are 25.3%, and 15.8% are concerned about discrimination against young people based on their economic situation.

Depending on the data obtained, the implementation of public policies in this field by young people, with the help of Local Public Authorities, will follow.

The Forum included a series of panels with experts and representatives of relevant organizations.

Panels of the Municipal Youth Forum

In the first panel on “Education and European mobility”, scholarships, exchange programs and funding opportunities, including Erasmus+, were presented by Alexandru Raul Petreuș, youth advisor at the National Youth Foundation of Romania.

The second panel was on “Entrepreneurship and employability with European support”. Together with Petru Gurgurov, Director of the Municipal Center for Entrepreneurship Development, young people discussed how local authorities can support the professional development of young people and encourage entrepreneurship.

During the third panel, young people discussed “Civic participation and democracy” with Rebeca Apostolescu, youth advisor at the National Youth Foundation of Romania, highlighting their role in the decision-making process and how they can contribute to promoting European values.

The last panel was entitled “Social challenges and local solutions”. The participants, together with Petru Grecu, Director of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center, discussed the involvement of young people in the sustainable development of Chisinau and how they can contribute to the transformation of the city.

The event was followed by four workshops on:

1. Participation of young people, pupils and students in decision making, volunteering and civic involvement, coordinated by two youth counselors from the National Youth Foundation of Romania – Rebeca Apostolescu and Alexandru Raul Petreuș;
2. Entrepreneurship and supporting young people in business, moderated by the Director of the Municipal Centre for Entrepreneurship Development – Petru Gurgurov;
3. Chisinau for the European Youth Capital 2028, led by the Secretary General of the National Youth Council of Moldova – Roman Banari and the expert in youth policy and organizational development – Igor Ciurea.
4. Guidance and career orientation of young people, personal development and leisure activities, coordinated by the director of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center – Petru Grecu and the counselor of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center – Iulia Nicorici.

In these practical workshops, young people came up with solutions to the challenges identified in the municipal survey.

A participant in the first workshop reported that together with the other young people they analyzed the barriers that limit their active involvement in the community and worked on solutions that directly address these challenges. “Many young people put the lack of involvement in decision making as a reason for lack of information, that’s why we generated several solutions, among the most important ones are: support for mobile promotion, improving grants, youth friendly attitude, energizing local youth councils.”

Peter Gurgurov, the moderator of the second workshop, said that together with young people they discussed the challenges and opportunities of the entrepreneurial environment for the new generation, identifying concrete measures that can support their initiatives and turn their ideas into reality. “Together with the workshop participants we discussed this segment and came up with solutions, namely: entrepreneurship courses, mentoring and consultancy, access to finance, business support infrastructure, accelerator programs for growth and development, experience accumulation.”

Ana Covali, a participant in the third workshop, said that the discussions with the other young people centered on inclusion, empathy and building a more connected future for all. In their view, youth participation should be supported through concrete actions and by creating a safe and accessible environment for everyone. “Each of us came up with generous ideas and perspectives, with the idea of creating safe spaces for young people, whatever their abilities. It’s very important not only to invite young people to participate, but to create that connection between people, because in fact this is one of the goals for Chisinau to become the European Youth Capital 2028.”

Nicoleta Grosu, a participant in the last workshop, confessed that together with her colleagues they have shaped a professional vision on how to support young people in their personal and professional development. “We were able to find solutions, reflect and reflect on the needs of young people. Among the solutions we proposed were interest clubs, thematic workshops, quizzes, simulation of risk and failure situations, open day at a job, hub-ui and quests.”

The event ended with the adoption of a resolution, which will be submitted to the municipal authorities, containing concrete proposals tailored to the challenges facing young people.

The Chisinau Municipal Youth Forum was conceived as a mechanism for consultation and creation, providing a platform for active participation for the capital’s young people. Now in its 9th edition, the event is the result of a strategic collaboration between the authorities and youth organizations in an effort to strengthen public policies and the needs of young people.

This year, Chisinau is to host one of the most important gatherings of the European Youth Information and Counseling Agency, bringing together experts from 26 countries and consolidating Chisinau as a reference point on the international youth policy map.

Chisinau Municipal Youth Centre has been designated to participate in the international competition “Mystery Engineering Box”, an innovative educational program organized by the Danish company Shape Robotics, known globally for developing educational technologies that encourage interactive and interdisciplinary learning.

Shape Robotics, founded in Denmark, is the maker of the Fable educational robot, used in schools and educational centers around the world to facilitate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) learning through creative and hands-on activities. The company’s mission is to bring the education of the future closer to young people by emphasizing collaboration, critical thinking and real-world problem solving.

“Mystery Engineering Box” is one of Shape Robotics’ latest initiatives and is aimed at educational centers and schools that want to turn learning into an engaging experience. The kit has officially arrived at the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center, marking the debut of Moldovan youth involvement in this international competition.

What’s inside the Mystery Engineering Box?

The kit is made up of a variety of modern components, including:

• The Fable Go module – a mobile robot with sensors, easy to program and ideal for exploring complex themes.
• Fable Joint – modular robotic joints that allow the construction of customized structures.
• Motion, light and temperature sensors as well as components for programming and automation.
• Materials for prototyping, such as building boards, cables, batteries and a user’s guide for the challenges.

Each participating team will be given a mission-mystery involving a real-world problem with global relevance. Topics include: innovation in space exploration, human-robot collaboration and sustainable solutions for communities.

 

The aim of the

“Mystery Engineering Box” competition is to turn curiosity into innovation and to stimulate young people to think outside the box. Participants will work in teams, design technical solutions and present prototypes, while developing key skills such as:

• team collaboration and communication;
• critical thinking;
• complex problem solving;
• creativity applied in a technological context.

Benefits of participation

• For young people from Chisinau, this opportunity represents:
• Access to state-of-the-art educational technologies;
• Practical experience in engineering and robotics;
• The opportunity to compete internationally and win prizes;

Recognition and personal development in a global context.

Participating in the competition is an important step for young people from the Republic of Moldova who aspire to careers in innovative fields and want to actively contribute to the sustainable development of their communities.

More details about the competition can be found on the official Shape Robotics website: https://shaperobotics.com/mystery-engineering-box

Student Councils in Chisinau now have the chance to turn their ideas into concrete projects by accessing the Municipal Grants Program, a special mechanism created to support youth initiatives in the educational environment.

The program directly targets students active in school councils, providing them with the resources they need to make visible changes in their community. Projects can receive funding of up to 10,000 lei, which is earmarked for the development of ideas that have a real impact on the lives of their peers and educational institutions.

Why is it worth applying?

1. Concrete financial support
   Whether it’s about creating a relaxation space in the school, organizing an educational event or equipping a classroom, the grant provides the financial basis for implementation.
2. Turn ideas into reality
   The program encourages projects that start from the real needs and wishes of students, giving them the framework to work for positive change in their school.
3. Gain practical experience
   Participation is more than just money – it’s a practical lesson in how to build a project: from proposal writing to implementation, promotion and reporting. Students learn about leadership, organization, communication and teamwork.

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ABOUT PROGRAM

The application period has been extended until April 11, 2025, giving those interested an additional chance to access funding for their initiatives.

In order to participate in the program, student councils must submit their application file on programgranturi@gmail.com by the deadline. 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-governance 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.

Change starts with a question but takes shape through the collective voice of those who believe in it.

Under this principle, on April 5 the Municipal Council of Students organized a press conference to mark the launch of the municipal survey. This initiative aims to identify the needs and challenges facing students in the capital.

The event brought together representatives from educational institutions and members of the Student Council, curious to find out how they can contribute, by simply filling in a form, to shaping a more inclusive and effective education system.

The survey aims to collect relevant data on learning conditions, pupil-teacher relationships, mental health, participation in decision-making and other topics of interest to the school community.

During the conference, Council representatives emphasized the importance of direct involvement of students in the decision-making process and encouraged all young people in the capital to participate in the survey.

Christian Nistorică, the president of the GCE, told us that the initiation of such a survey was prompted by a real need to listen to the voices of students. “The very need for such a survey motivated us to initiate it. We want to identify the challenges and needs that a student in Chisinau faces every day. We don’t want to work on assumptions, but on the reality they experience, because this is the only way we can propose real solutions that will really respond to the needs of students.”

To ensure the widest possible participation, GCE will actively promote the survey on social media, school groups and direct visits to high schools. “We will go to schools, talk to students, answer their questions. It’s important for them to know that it’s not just a form, but a gesture of ownership and involvement” , says Christian.

In his turn, Cristian Chirica, vice president of the GCE, emphasized the significant impact of the survey, saying that it will help to improve the relationship between students and the high school administration. “The impact of this survey will be quite far-reaching in the capital. It will help students and institutions to have a more effective collaboration. I have come across cases where students are embarrassed or afraid to approach the administration in case of conflicts. There should be a friendly and open relationship, and the Student Council will try, through a survey, to facilitate this collaboration.”

With the support of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center and the educational community, WEC aims to obtain a significant number of responses, targeting around 20,000 opinions from students. The responses will be analyzed and the results will be forwarded to the authorities.

With this initiative, students from Chisinau show that their voice counts. It remains to be seen what opinions and answers the young people of the capital will convey, and until then, the responsibility lies with all of us: to listen, analyze and act.

You can complete the survey from April 5 to April 30, 2025, by clicking on the link.