GEYC - Group of the European Youth for Change

Open call - European Fellowship on Democratic Engagement powered by EU-MATTER, 01.06.2026-31.12.2026

2026-04-27T17:04:00.003+03:00

Un program de leadership civic pentru 40 de tineri din România care vor să înțeleagă cum funcționează democrația europeană, cum se construiesc politicile publice și cum pot contribui activ la viitorul Europei.

Implementat de GEYC în colaborare cu IVC - In Varietate Concordia, în cadrul proiectului european EU-MATTER.

Perioadă Fellowship Iunie – Decembrie 2026

Locație și perioadă seminare București, iunie – august 2026

Locuri disponibile 40 Fellows

Deadline 29 mai

Important: acest apel vizează participarea în primul ciclu al Fellowshipului, dedicat cunoașterii, explorării și implicării civice. Participanții activi vor putea continua ulterior către etapa de practică și leadership în politici publice.

De ce EFDE?

Europa se află într-un ciclu strategic decisiv, marcat de provocări majore: criza climatică, instabilitatea geopolitică, transformarea digitală, dezinformarea, inegalitățile sociale și scăderea încrederii în procesele democratice.

Tinerii sunt direct afectați de aceste schimbări, însă sunt adesea insuficient reprezentați în procesele de decizie. EFDE a fost creat pentru a schimba acest lucru, oferind tinerilor instrumentele necesare pentru a înțelege, analiza și influența politicile publice care le modelează viitorul.

Multe programe civice se concentrează fie pe teorie, fie pe activism. EFDE construiește întregul parcurs: de la cunoaștere și competențe, până la practică, colaborare internațională și co-creare de politici publice.

Cine poate aplica?

Programul este deschis tinerilor din România cu vârsta între 18 și 29 de ani.

Sunt încurajate în mod special aplicațiile din partea:

studenților;
tinerilor NEET, care nu sunt în educație, angajare sau formare;
tinerilor din medii marginalizate sau subreprezentate;
tinerilor activi în ONG-uri, inițiative civice, forumuri studențești sau organizații ale societății civile;
tinerilor pasionați de Uniunea Europeană, democrație sau schimbare socială.

Minimum 30% dintre participanți vor fi tineri cu oportunități reduse. Nu este necesară experiență anterioară în politici europene. Motivația și angajamentul contează cel mai mult.

Parcursul Fellowshipului

Cycle I: iunie – decembrie 2026

Cunoaștere și explorare

Cinci seminare naționale de educație civică organizate în București - datele exacte urmează să fie confirmate.

Temele seminarelor:

instituțiile și guvernanța Uniunii Europene;
procesul de elaborare a politicilor europene;
domenii și priorități ale politicilor UE;
mecanisme de participare civică;
alfabetizare media și reziliență democratică.

Fiecare seminar durează o zi și combină discuții cu experți, ateliere interactive, studii de caz, simulări de politici și învățare între participanți.

Vizite de studiu și engagement digital

Învățare conectată la experiențe reale

Fellows vor avea ocazia să participe la vizite de studiu la instituții-cheie, precum Parlamentul României, instituții guvernamentale, Biroul Parlamentului European în România și Reprezentanța Comisiei Europene în România.

Aceste experiențe vor sta la baza unor materiale digitale create în echipe mici. Participanții vor putea contribui la formate precum:

#FakeOrFact – combaterea miturilor și dezinformării despre UE;
Policy Explainers – explicarea pe înțelesul tinerilor a mecanismelor și propunerilor UE;
Video & Storytelling – documentarea experiențelor din vizitele de studiu;
Podcasturi și interviuri – conversații cu tineri, experți și stakeholderi.

Cycle II: martie - decembrie 2027

Practică și leadership

După finalizarea primului ciclu, participanții activi vor putea continua către etapa de practică și leadership în politici publice, organizată în perioada martie – decembrie 2027.

Această etapă include Policy Labs în București, dezvoltarea de propuneri de politici publice și posibilitatea ca cei mai activi patru Fellows să reprezinte România la un hackathon civic internațional în Napoli, Italia.

Ce câștigă participanții?

Cunoștințe

înțelegerea guvernanței și politicilor UE;
cunoașterea mecanismelor de participare democratică.

Competențe

analiză și redactare de politici publice;
public speaking și dezbatere;
media literacy și detectarea dezinformării;
implicare civică digitală.

Experiență

participare la simulări de politici;
colaborare internațională;
co-creare de politici alături de tineri europeni.

Recunoaștere

certificat de absolvire;
certificat Europass;
recomandare LinkedIn din partea organizatorilor.

Oportunități după finalizarea programului

După finalizarea Fellowshipului, participanții devin parte dintr-o rețea națională de tineri lideri democratici conectați la proiectele și inițiativele GEYC și IVC.

Prioritate pentru schimburi de tineri, conferințe internaționale, inițiative civice europene și programe de formare.
Posibilitatea de a colabora cu GEYC în proiecte viitoare, inclusiv prin misiuni pe termen scurt, în funcție de expertiză și disponibilitate.

Platforma digitală EU-MATTER

Participanții selectați vor avea acces la platforma digitală EU-MATTER, un spațiu inovator creat pentru a le sprijini parcursul de învățare, colaborarea cu alți participanți și implicarea continuă în teme legate de democrație, politici europene și participare civică.

Platforma extinde experiența Fellowshipului dincolo de seminare și vizite de studiu, oferind resurse interactive, suport educațional și instrumente prin care participanții își pot urmări progresul.

Digital Agora

Un spațiu online colaborativ unde participanții pot împărtăși idei, comenta propuneri de politici și colabora cu participanți din alte țări.

AI Educational Assistant

Un chatbot educațional, antrenat pe resurse europene, care oferă suport 24/7 pentru înțelegerea instituțiilor, termenilor și mecanismelor UE.

EU Civic Barometer

Un instrument care vizualizează date privind atitudinile și prioritățile civice ale tinerilor din Europa.

Civic Literacy Diagnostic Tool

Un instrument de autoevaluare prin care participanții își pot măsura cunoștințele inițiale, progresul și zonele de dezvoltare.

Vrei să înțelegi cum se construiește viitorul Europei și cum poți contribui la el?

Aplică la European Fellowship on Democratic Engagement și alătură-te unei rețele de tineri care vor să transforme participarea democratică în acțiune concretă. Participarea este gratuită.

DEADLINE: 29 MAI

Aplică aici

Publication - Ghid practic pentru formare și facilitare în lucrul cu tineri neurodivergenți

2026-04-27T12:30:00.003+03:00

Acest ghid face parte din resursele dezvoltate în cadrul proiectului NeuroDem și oferă un set structurat de metode și activități pentru sprijinirea participării civice și a proceselor de advocacy în rândul tinerilor neurodivergenți. Ghidul este organizat în module tematice care abordează subiecte precum democrația, drepturile, participarea, media și activismul, fiecare modul incluzând obiective de învățare, activități pas cu pas, materiale necesare și sugestii de adaptare.

Ghidul poate fi utilizat atât ca resursă de sine stătătoare, cât și ca parte a unor programe de formare mai ample, oferind un cadru practic pentru crearea unor spații de învățare accesibile, sigure și relevante, în care tinerii își pot dezvolta abilitățile de exprimare, implicare și influențare a deciziilor care îi afectează.

Publicat în aprilie 2026 | Accesează AICI

Events - "CivicHype EU: Listening circles" event capturing youth voices against disinformation

2026-04-24T10:00:00.024+03:00

On April 23rd, 2026, Alexandru Ioan Cuza High School in Bucharest became a space for meaningful civic dialogue about one of democracy's most pressing challenges: navigating trustworthy information in an increasingly complex digital landscape. The "CivicHype EU: Learning Circles" event brought together 56 students aged 17–18 from two 11th-grade classes to reflect on their experiences with misinformation, explore media literacy needs, and articulate civic priorities for democratic participation in the digital age.

What happened: Creating space for honest conversation

The event, facilitated by Simona Păvăloiu, an English teacher and member of EDU Community, employed an innovative methodology designed to capture authentic youth insights while creating psychological safety for honest dialogue. Rather than lecturing about media literacy, the assembly invited young people to become researchers of their own experiences and concerns.

Participants completed an anonymous survey capturing their personal experiences with misinformation, emotional responses to unreliable information, primary news sources, common peer discussions about online content, confidence-building strategies, and desired changes to digital information systems. Crucially, the anonymity proved essential—students expressed concern about being individually identified for their answers, yet felt comfortable sharing frankly when responses remained confidential.

The facilitator conducted a facilitated discussion focused on capturing students' know-how on media literacy, identifying shared concerns and brainstorming solutions to the identified challenges they are confronting with while being online. This collective analysis transformed individual experiences into collective learning, allowing participants to discover that peers faced both similar and strikingly different challenges navigating digital information ecosystems.

What young people are experiencing: The trust crisis

The survey results reveal a generation navigating profound uncertainty about information trustworthiness. Nearly 70% of participants encountered situations where friends disagreed about whether information was real, or where content seemed too extreme or sensational to be true. Forty-five percent faced conflicting information across different sources, while an identical proportion encountered unclear or suspicious sources.

When asked how these experiences made them feel, skepticism dominated—52.7% reported skepticism as their primary emotional response. Confusion affected 25.5%, while smaller proportions experienced frustration or worry. Notably, only 1.8% reported feeling worried, suggesting young people have adapted to information uncertainty as a normalized condition rather than an acute threat.

Perhaps most revealing is where young people obtain news and information. TikTok emerged as the leading source, followed closely by friends and family, then news apps. Instagram, YouTube, and school ranked lower in preference. This distribution underscores a critical reality: young people increasingly rely on peer networks and algorithmic feeds rather than traditional news institutions or educational settings for understanding current events.

When discussing online content with peers, fake news and misinformation topped concerns (45.5%), followed by information taken out of context (45.5%). Distinguishing opinion from fact emerged as a challenge for 25.5% of participants, while 32.7% reported peers discussing manipulation. These conversations reveal young people possess sophisticated awareness of information distortion mechanisms—they recognize not only obvious falsehoods but also more subtle forms of manipulation like contextual stripping and algorithmic curation.

What young people need: Skills, institutions, and systemic change

Perhaps unsurprisingly, participants identified concrete needs for building confidence in evaluating trustworthy information. An overwhelming 74.5% wanted to know where information comes from and how to verify sources. Sixty-three percent sought fact-checking skills. Understanding how algorithms work attracted 27.3%, while 54.5% expressed desire for better tools and features on social media platforms.

Notably, 61.8% identified schools and teachers as essential actors in supporting media literacy development—tying a close second with parents and family (also 61.8%). Fifty-four percent emphasized young people's own role in peer education and democratic participation. This distribution reveals participants don't view media literacy as primarily an individual responsibility; rather, they recognize it as a collective endeavor requiring institutional support and shared civic commitment.

When asked what single change would most improve information sharing online, 45.5% prioritized removing fake news and misinformation. Thirty-six percent emphasized better protection of young people's privacy and data. Twenty percent advocated for better media literacy education itself. Only 5.5% focused on changing social media algorithms—surprising given the prevalence of algorithmic concerns in peer discussions, perhaps suggesting participants recognize algorithm modification as more systemic and less immediately actionable than content moderation or educational intervention.

Emerging civic insights: Beyond individual literacy

The most significant insights emerged during collective discussion of survey results. Participants expressed surprise and curiosity discovering the diversity of their peers' experiences, some encountered misinformation regularly, others less frequently; some felt highly skeptical, others uncertain. This discovery process proved educationally valuable, normalizing concerns while broadening perspectives on digital literacy challenges.

Several participants offered unsolicited comments reflecting deeper civic awareness. One noted that "media literacy is important for all kinds of people of any age," signaling recognition that information challenges transcend youth demographics. Another emphasized "the importance of not sharing personal information online," reflecting privacy consciousness. Most provocatively, one student suggested that "kids under 16 shouldn't be allowed on the internet, adults of the current generation over 40 shouldn't be allowed either"—a comment reflecting frustration with how both age groups navigate digital spaces.

Perhaps most significantly, one participant called for permanent banning of "media outlets that misspread information," particularly "TV news channels that share out of context propaganda." This demand reveals young people's frustration with weak institutional accountability and their conviction that trustworthy information ecosystems require active gatekeeping and institutional responsibility.

Implications for democratic participation

These insights point toward fundamental truths about media literacy and democratic health. Young people understand, perhaps more intuitively than many adults, that trustworthy information systems constitute essential democratic infrastructure. They recognize that individual skill-building alone cannot counter systemic design promoting misinformation. They expect institutional actors—schools, platforms, journalists, governments—to bear ethical responsibility for maintaining information integrity.

The event raised awareness not only among participants but also for educators and policymakers observing the assembly. The anonymous survey data provides concrete evidence of youth experiences and priorities, moving beyond speculation to evidence-based understanding of what young people actually need.

"CivicHype EU: Listening circles" was part of the local activities organized in the frame of the "CivicHype EU: Youth Engage, Debate, Influence, Connect" CERV Project.

Cum au transformat studenții de la FSPUB lipsa apei potabile într-o victorie pentru implicare civică și sustenabilitate

2026-04-23T09:00:00.011+03:00

Într-un context în care sustenabilitatea rămâne adesea la nivel de discurs, o inițiativă pornită de jos în sus, chiar din rândul studenților, arată că schimbarea este posibilă și necesară. La Facultatea de Științe Politice a Universitatea din București, un grup de studenți a reușit să transforme o nevoie de bază, accesul la apă potabilă gratuită, într-o campanie concretă, cu rezultate vizibile.

O problemă simplă, ignorată prea mult timp

Totul a început cu o observație: lipsa accesului la apă potabilă gratuită în spațiile unde studenții își desfășurau cursurile, fie că era vorba de sediul istoric al facultății sau de Rectoratul UB, studenții nu aveau acces liber la apă potabilă. Sute de studenți se confruntau zilnic cu această realitate comună. În timp ce dozatoarele erau rezervate exclusiv personalului, iar alternativa, sticlele de apă de la automate, nu era doar o soluție costisitoare, ci și generatoare de deșeuri plastice.

Petiția: „Efort minim, impact maxim” - Cum s-a trecut de la conversații la acțiune

Primul pas al Sindicatului Studențesc din cadrul FSPUB nu a fost unul instituțional, ci uman: dialogul. Totul a început cu o simplă discuție între prieteni. „Am realizat că, probabil, și ceilalți colegi sunt în asentimentul nostru, iar o problemă colectivă cere o soluție colectivă”, povestesc reprezentanții sindicatului. Studenții au vorbit mai apoi cu cât mai mulți colegi pentru a valida problema și a înțelege amploarea ei. Apoi au trecut la acțiune.

Timp de o lună, au strâns aproximativ 150 de semnături, un număr semnificativ într-o facultate cu circa 400 de studenți. Cu această susținere, au mers în fața Consiliului Facultății, unde au prezentat petiția și au cerut soluții.

Rezultatul? Promisiunea instalării unei cișmele. Realitatea? Cișmeaua a fost instalată după aproape un an de la demersurile inițiale.

Cu toate acestea, instalarea fântânii reprezintă o mare victorie pentru inițiativele colective studențești și de tineret. Pentru ei, succesul a demonstrat că „toate acestea pot fi realizate de orice colectiv, atâta vreme cât există un consens puternic pentru soluționarea unui obstacol, oricât de banal ar fi acesta”.

Barierele invizibile: birocrația și „vidul de responsabilitate”

Deși conducerea facultății s-a arătat deschisă, procesul a fost încetinit de obstacole instituționale. „Motivul principal invocat de către facultate a fost lipsa fondurilor din partea universității”, explică studenții, subliniind un „vid de responsabilitate instituțională” care blochează orice progres.

Dar inițiatorii nu au renunțat. Succesul studenților nu a venit de la sine, ci prin insistență constantă: „am dat mail-uri la decanat, am vorbit cu profesorii care fac parte din consiliu” și au menținut presiunea. Semnăturile strânse au devenit argumentul lor principal: dovada clară că nevoia este reală și urgentă. În final, rezultatul a apărut, demonstrând că „barierele de mentalitate pe care le-am întâlnit au fost de fapt consecințele unor mecanisme instituționale” greoaie.

Mai mult decât apă: o lecție despre cetățenie activă

În contextul Campaniei organizate de către GEYC, Water4.EU, și a Campaniei Youth Earth Action Week 2026, desfășurată sub umbrela Zilei Pământului și a Săptămânii Europene de Tineret, exemplul FSPUB oferă o lecție valoroasă despre sustenabilitate și de schimbarea de mentalitate. Studenții au demonstrat că nu sunt doar beneficiari pasivi ai sistemului educațional, ci actori capabili să-l modeleze. Inițiativa lor arată că acțiunea colectivă, chiar și în jurul unei probleme aparent simple, poate genera impact real. În acest context, și cei peste 25 de Ambasadorii „Sete de Soluții” urmează să facă presiuni concrete în 8 comunități din România, pentru a aduce apă potabilă în spațiile lor publice.

Deși nu știu dacă exemplul lor va fi preluat imediat prin ordin administrativ la nivelul întregii Universități din București, studenții speră într-o schimbare mai profundă: „Inițiativele la firul ierbii sunt importante nu numai datorită rezultatului tangibil pe care îl produc, ci și fiindcă pe termen lung creează o cultură a cetățeniei active, în care oamenii se simt puternici în fața instituțiilor”. În contextul subfinanțării sistemului educațional, nu se așteaptă neapărat la măsuri „de sus în jos”. În schimb, mizează pe efectul de inspirație. „Avem speranța că reușita noastră îi va inspira pe colegii din alte facultăți să inițieze acțiuni similare.”

Un exemplu al tinerilor demn de urmat

Succesul lor este un apel la acțiune pentru tinerii și studenții din toată țara: schimbarea nu vine neapărat de sus în jos, ci prin dialog, perseverență și curajul de a pune pe agendă problemele care contează pentru comunitatea lor. Povestea studenților de la FSPUB este mai mult decât un caz de succes local. Este un exemplu concret despre cum tinerii pot deveni agenți ai schimbării, exact spiritul pe care îl promovează proiectul european „Sete de Soluții” și Campania Water4.EU.

Într-o lume în care provocările de mediu și sociale sunt tot mai complexe, soluțiile pot începe cu pași mici: o conversație, o petiție, o comunitate care decide să acționeze.

Și, uneori, chiar cu un pahar de apă!

💧

Acest articol face parte din campania #YouthEarthActionWeek26 (22 aprilie - 30 aprilie 2026).
Proiectul „Sete de Soluții” își propune să sprijine dezvoltarea durabilă a noii generații și să crească gradul de conștientizare cu privire la necesitatea accesului gratuit la apă potabilă în spațiile publice din România.
Finanțare: Erasmus+ KA154.2024-3-RO01-KA154-YOU-000287055

Celebrăm Ziua Pământului: Apă potabilă gratuită în spații publice, un drept, nu un privilegiu

2026-04-22T09:00:00.010+03:00

Tinerii din Cluj-Napoca acționează pentru accesul gratuit la apă potabilă în spațiile publice.

Apa potabilă reprezintă o resursă indispensabilă, recunoscută ca drept al omului de ONU încă din 2010. Și totuși, la nivel global, aproape 2 miliarde de oameni nu au acces sigur la apă curată, iar în spațiile publice din România, realitatea nu e cu mult mai bună, existând gări, aeroporturi și piețe publice fără o sursă gratuită la vedere. De aceea am ales noi să acționăm.

O echipă de cinci tineri din Cluj-Napoca inițiază un demers civic concret după ce au luat parte la bootcampul „Young Multipliers”, organizat în cadrul proiectului Thirsty for Solutions. Între 19 și 22 martie 2026, la Bran, 27 de tineri din 8 orașe ale României s-au reunit cu un scop clar: să contribuie la garantarea accesului gratuit la apă potabilă în spațiile publice.

Echipa din Cluj-Napoca a fost formată din Robert Stan, Mariana Musteață, Matei Lostun, Luana Copaci și Maria Dejeu. Cele trei zile de bootcamp au reprezentat un spațiu în care ideile s-au transformat în planuri, în care advocacy-ul a căpătat formă și în care o întâlnire cu deputatul USR Ștefan Tanasă a oferit o perspectivă directă despre funcționarea instituțiilor publice și a procesului legislativ în România.

Vocea echipei din Cluj-Napoca

Apa reprezintă prima resursă ca importanță. Tocmai de aceea, absența ei din spațiile publice înseamnă o problemă reală și presantă pentru oameni.

Luana Copaci

Experiența din bootcamp ne-a arătat că vocea noastră contează. Suntem determinați să aducem o schimbare vizibilă și necesară în infrastructura din comunitatea noastră.

Robert Stan

Accesul la apă este o necesitate fundamentală, nu un lux pe care să fim obligați să-l plătim. Este timpul să normalizăm sursele publice gratuite peste tot.

Mariana Musteață

Prin dialog cu autoritățile și implicare civică, tinerii pot fi catalizatorul unor proiecte esențiale. Acționăm azi pentru un spațiu public mai primitor.

Matei Lostun

Fiecare demers pe care îl facem reprezintă o voce care cere un drept de bază. Ne unim forțele pentru a aduce apa potabilă acolo unde este cea mai mare nevoie de ea.

Maria Dejeu

Un moment central al bootcampului a fost crearea Manifestului WATER4EU, un document aliniat cu obiectivele și directivele Uniunii Europene și cu recomandările procesului pregătitor al Conferinței ONU privind Apa din 2026. Manifestul propune măsuri concrete pentru ca accesul gratuit la apă potabilă să devină un drept garantat la nivel european, cu accent pe incluziune socială, adaptare la schimbările climatice și implicare civică.

De ce contează acest subiect acum?

Pe 22 aprilie 2026 marcăm Ziua Pământului, un moment global de reflecție și angajament față de resursele naturale ale planetei. Apa este una dintre cele mai vizibile și mai presante dintre aceste resurse. Ea este recunoscută ca drept fundamental al omului de către ONU încă din 2010 și, în același timp, este tot mai afectată de schimbările climatice, de poluare și de gestionarea ineficientă a infrastructurii publice.

Ziua Pământului ne reamintește că protejarea resurselor naturale nu este doar o responsabilitate globală, ci și una locală, concretă, aplicabilă chiar și în gara din orașul tău. Tocmai de aceea, comunicatul de față este publicat în această perioadă: pentru că acțiunile echipei din Cluj-Napoca sunt și un răspuns direct la valorile pe care le celebrăm pe 22 aprilie.

Galerie: Bootcamp Young Multipliers

Pașii noștri spre o schimbare reală

Imediat după încheierea bootcampului, echipa din Cluj-Napoca a trimis solicitări de informații de interes public către CFR SA Cluj, SNTFC, SRTFC Cluj și Consiliul Județean Cluj, pentru a documenta situația reală a surselor de apă potabilă din cele două spații publice. Solicitările au primit deja răspunsuri.

Petiție Publică: Următorii pași includ contactarea platformei Declic pentru lansarea unei petiții publice cu o țintă de 10.000 de semnături, adresată cetățenilor din Cluj și din întreaga țară care susțin implementarea surselor de apă.

Eveniment de Dialog (6 Iunie 2026): De Ziua Mediului, organizăm un eveniment care combină un workshop educativ cu un panel de dialog între societatea civilă și reprezentanți ai instituțiilor publice, vizând crearea unui spațiu real de decizie (minim 50 participanți).

Obiectivul Major: Instalarea a cel puțin 3 surse de apă potabilă gratuită în Gara Cluj-Napoca până în septembrie 2026.

Astfel, demonstrăm că tinerii pot transforma îngrijorările civice în acțiuni documentate și susținute de dialog instituțional. Apa nu este un lux. Este un drept. Și dacă schimbarea nu vine de sus, se construiește de jos, comunitate cu comunitate.

💧

🌍 Acest articol face parte din campania #YouthEarthActionWeek26 (22 aprilie - 30 aprilie 2026).
Proiectul Sete de Soluții își propune să sprijine dezvoltarea durabilă a noii generații și să crească gradul de conștientizare cu privire la necesitatea accesului gratuit la apă potabilă în spațiile publice din România.

Finanțare: Erasmus+ KA154.2024-3-RO01-KA154-YOU-000287055

Open call - EU-Matter Online opening event on the 7th of May 2026

2026-04-21T12:31:00.021+03:00

Want to understand how Europe works and actually have a say in it? Join us on May 7th at 16:00 (EEST) for the EU-MATTER online opening event. We’ll introduce the project, show you how it works and invite you to be part of what’s coming next. This project targets young people aged 18-29!

About EU-MATTER

how EU institutions work;
how decisions are made;
how to shape your ideas into real proposals.

Plus, if you complete the programme, you’ll get a Europass Certificate — a great boost for your future in NGOs, EU projects, consulting or academia. The project is happening in:
Italy Romania Bulgaria Spain Albania Serbia Lithuania

If you’re curious, motivated, or just want to understand how things really work in the EU — this is for you.

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Wanna get involved more?

Open call - [PT-802] Impact Baby, 23.06.2026-30.06.2026, Madeira, Portugal

2026-04-16T19:05:00.002+03:00

Key Information

23/06/2026 - 30/06/2026Arrival / Departure

Madeira, Portugal

26/04/2026Application
Deadline

6 placesApply Now →

💡 About the Project

Impact Baby focuses on learning how to communicate what we achieved during the exchange and why it matters. We will look at the behind the scenes of what it takes to make the whole island and Europe know what happened during the exchange in a clear and meaningful way.

You will spend a full week with an international group, together you will research, plan, and take action. Improving how you communicate, think critically, and collaborate. This youth exchange aims to empower young people (18-25 y.o) with fewer opportunities backgrounds to take part in civic and environmental actions, make their impact visible, and encourage local youth to get involved.

Building a real connection to green topics and understanding specific local environmental challenges and why they matter. As part of this commitment, we started My Madeira Forest in partnership with the Ecologic Park of Funchal to counteract the environmental footprint of our mobilities. A full-day trip to the forest is planned, during which we will focus on maintenance activities. Tools and materials will be provided.

✨ Highlight: This project is hosted by My Madeira Island and supported by the Erasmus+ Programme.

🎯 Objectives

Empower young people through communication and storytelling
Strengthen active citizenship and collaboration
Connect youth with environmental action and local realities

👥 Target Group

Participants: Aged 18–25 years old;
Priority will be given to those from fewer opportunities background, meaning you are coming from an outermost, rural, or economically disadvantaged areas where access to international and civic experiences is limited.
Participants at their first Erasmus+ experience will be given priority!
We expect that you are an open-minded person ,able to communicate in English and will be ready to participate actively during the program.
You must have your GEYC ID updated in the last 30 days from the opening of the call

🏠 About the Location

Participants will be accommodated at the Funchal Youth Centre - Centro de Juventude do Funchal. With the main activities being organised here aswell. Breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner will be provided throughout the project.
Accommodation address - Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian, 9000-011 Funchal

💶 Financial Details

Covered by Erasmus+:

100% accommodation and meals
Travel reimbursement up to 580 EUR upon presenting all justifying documents.
🙌 Your contribution: a cofunding of 200 RON covering community management and administrative costs not included in the European funding.
Waived for: GEYC’s executive team, Board, interns, volunteers, European Fellows, and participants with fewer economic opportunities. If you have a valid MC Voucher you can use it to waive your contribution.

✈️ Travel Policy

Travel plans must be approved by the organizers: community@geyc.ro in line with GEYC's Travel Policy

Only economy/basic fare tickets approved from your location in Romania and back to Romania.

All travel plans must be pre-approved by organizers

Reimbursement in EUR after mobility.. Check here the applicable rates for the month of payment.

Only buy tickets from official airline websites.
Please purchase your flight directly from the company’s official site (for example: Wizz Air, Ryanair, Lufthansa, TAROM, etc.). Third-party platforms such as Kiwi, Skyscanner, or eSky may be used to search for flights, but not to purchase them.

Do not buy any travel tickets before receiving final confirmation.
Wait for an official selection confirmation email from the organizers before booking your trip.

Choose the most economical travel option.
Select low-cost or direct flights whenever possible. Checked baggage, seat selection, in-flight meals, or other extra options are not automatically reimbursed and must be pre-approved by GEYC or the hosting organization.

Keep and store all travel documents properly.
You must provide all the following for reimbursement:

Invoices (saved as PDFs – see how to do it here)
Boarding passes (physical copies or screenshots)
Physical tickets for any bus, train, or local transport used
All travel documents should be uploaded to Google Drive, in a personal folder named after you (for example: Firstname_Lastname_TravelDocs).
Important: Missing or incomplete travel documents may result in delayed or reduced reimbursement.
We are going green 💚. Check out the Travel Policy at GEYC which might differ from other projects you joined before.

📘 Important Information

Health insurance: EHIC or private policy required
Travel documents: Valid ID/passport (6+ months)
Youthpass certificate: awarded at the end of the mobility.
Please bring and wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear.
For the intercultural eveningy you can think of national food, drinks, snacks, symbols, songs, dances, presentations, games, etc. Kitchen for cooking is not available.
Light travel only - with a backpack
What else to bring: Personal medication (anti-allergies, painkillers, etc.), Clothes for colder and warmer weather, Personal hygiene items, Comfortable shoes

News - ALF Romania's first online network meeting with GEYC as HoN

2026-04-16T15:30:00.013+03:00

On April 15, 2026, the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) Romania network held its inaugural meeting since GEYC assumed the role of Head of Network. Conducted online from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, this significant gathering brought together seven member organizations to mark a new chapter in the network's evolution and establish the foundation for collaborative growth.

Meeting overview & participants

The online meeting convened representatives from diverse organizations across Romania (Center for Civic Resources, CPDIS Association, D.G.T. Association, Diaspora Solidarity Group, Pro Time-R Educational Association, The Romanian Association for Baltic and Nordic Studies and GEYC), each bringing unique expertise in areas such as intercultural dialogue, youth education, civic engagement, rural development, and peace-building initiatives. The participants engaged in constructive discussions that set the tone for revitalized network collaboration.

Key outcomes

Governance framework reinforced: GEYC presented an updated internal regulation and governance model, both of which have been published on the ALF website. This comprehensive documentation ensures transparency and clarity regarding the network's operational structure and leadership roles.

Steering Committee established: A Steering Committee was formally created to serve as an advisory body. The committee members expressed interest in contributing to network strategic direction. The committee's mission is to guide network revitalization, analyze member organizations, promote ALF values, evaluate new membership applications, and ensure organizational alignment with the foundation's principles.

GEYC's strategic plan presented: GEYC outlined its comprehensive plan for the coming months, focusing on:

Network revitalization: Contacting all existing member organizations to reconfirm their active participation and update contact information
Expertise mapping: Developing a comprehensive database of organizational capabilities to facilitate peer-to-peer support and collaborative opportunities
Learning & best practices: Creating a knowledge-sharing space through training programs tailored to member needs
Community building: Organizing both online and in-person network events
Project development support: Encouraging members to identify synergies and develop joint initiatives beyond foundation-funded programs
Developing a more dynamic digital presence, through the participation of all members and co-creation of the materials

Brainstorming session: Envisioning ALF Romania's future

The meeting included an interactive brainstorming session where members shared their vision for the network. Some of the ideas shared were:

Focusing on co-creating intercultural exchange programs, (re-)connecting with youth specialists and non-formal education experts in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as peace-building initiatives.
Resource optimization: Accessing diverse funding sources beyond Anna Lindh Foundation grants
Knowledge dissemination: Creating better mechanisms for members to share relevant expertise and activities through the newsletter and the other communication platforms

Identified learning needs & expertise areas

Members articulated their interest in: project writing and development skills, strategic partnership building, institutional collaboration techniques, and sustainability strategies for community programs. The group emphasized that network strength lies in pooling the collective expertise of all member organizations, learning should flow multidirectionally, not solely from network leadership.

Next steps & timeline

May 2026: Completion of organizational data updates
June 2026: First in-person network meeting in Bucharest
Ongoing: Regular online meetings on thematic topics, facilitated by interested member organizations

This first meeting represents a significant commitment by all participating organizations and GEYC to transform ALF Romania into a vibrant, collaborative community. By combining administrative efficiency with genuine partnership, the network aims to amplify the impact of member organizations while promoting the core values of the Anna Lindh Foundation: Equality and respect for diversity, Solidarity and empathy, accountability and transparency.

The enthusiasm displayed during the meeting, combined with concrete plans and committed leadership from the Steering Committee, signals a promising future for the network, one built on shared values, mutual support, and collective action toward meaningful social change.

Events - Europe at a Crossroads: Competitiveness, Climate & Crisis - What we heard at the COMPASS Kick-off Conference

2026-04-15T20:06:00.005+03:00

The launch of the COMPASS (COMpetitiveness Policy for Accelerating Sustainable Solutions) project brought together voices from the European Commission and the wider European policy community to reflect on one central question: how can Europe remain competitive, sustainable, and united in an era of accelerating uncertainty?

The conference also included breakout rooms, where participants had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions around the five thematic pillars of the COMPASS initiative. Each breakout room focused on one of the key areas shaping Europe’s future competitiveness: Tech & AI, Trade & Strategic Autonomy, Defence, Healthcare & Biotech, and Sustainability & the Clean Industrial Deal. Participants explored challenges, shared national and local perspectives, and discussed how these sectors can evolve in a way that is both innovative and aligned with European values.

Across all interventions, a clear message emerged: Europe’s economic future, environmental resilience and geopolitical position are deeply interconnected, and young people must play a central role in shaping what comes next.

Competitiveness and sustainability are no longer separate agendas

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy, highlighted that Europe is operating in a period of instability, where even environmental policies are being reshaped in response to emerging pressures. Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge; it is already reshaping ecosystems, from rivers and lakes to broader environmental systems that societies depend on.

These changes, she emphasized, are not only environmental but also economic. Climate impacts increasingly translate into competitiveness challenges for Europe. In this context, the green transition and economic competitiveness should not be viewed as competing priorities, but rather as two sides of the same strategic direction. A recurring emphasis was placed on the importance of ensuring that young people are placed at the center of this transformation.

Water resilience as a strategic European priority

A key discussion point during the conference was water resilience, increasingly recognised as one of Europe’s defining climate and economic challenges. Water scarcity, pollution, leakage, and inefficiency are no longer isolated environmental issues, they are systemic risks that affect food systems, public health, nature, and economic stability. The European Commission’s approach is moving toward a more integrated Water Resilience Strategy, focusing on scaling up smart water systems, improving efficiency, strengthening EU-wide standards, and increasing public awareness around responsible water use. In this context, GEYC also launched the Water4EU Manifesto, which can be signed at water4.eu, so that no citizen has to ask why water in public spaces is still a privilege.

Europe’s place in a changing geopolitical landscape

From a geopolitical perspective, Susi Dennison, Senior Fellow and Director for European Power, European Council on Foreign Relations, underlined the importance of understanding Europe’s interdependencies. While external dependencies can be a source of strength through cooperation, they can also create vulnerabilities if they are not properly mapped and managed. She stressed the need for Europe to better understand where it is exposed and how those dependencies could potentially be leveraged against it in a geopolitical context. At the same time, internal division remains a key challenge. Europe’s ability to act collectively was described as essential, with unity being a fundamental condition for strategic strength in an increasingly complex global environment.

Uncertainty as the new global constant

Joanna Drake, Deputy Director-General, Planet, People & Science for Policy, DG Research & Innovation, reflected on how uncertainty has become a defining feature of today’s global system. Geopolitical developments are reshaping supply chains, investment patterns, and research and innovation priorities across Europe and beyond. In this context, she highlighted the need for sustained and consistent sustainability policies, alongside a balanced perspective that recognises the long-term economic importance of environmental action. Innovation, research, and investment decisions are increasingly influenced by global volatility, making policy stability and strategic foresight more important than ever.

Closing Europe’s innovation and scaling gap

Nils Behrndt, Deputy Secretary-General, Policy Coordination - European Commission, emphasised that Europe continues to hold strong competitive advantages, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy. However, he also pointed to a persistent structural challenge: Europe’s difficulty in scaling innovation. While the continent produces strong ideas, research, and entrepreneurial initiatives, too few of these successfully scale into global solutions. Addressing this requires closing the innovation gap, aligning decarbonisation with competitiveness, and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy by reducing critical dependencies.

A shared conclusion

Despite the diversity of perspectives, the conference converged on a shared understanding: Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and security are not separate challenges but interconnected dimensions of the same future. Turning ideas into scalable, systemic impact, while ensuring inclusivity and youth participation, will be essential for Europe’s ability to navigate uncertainty and remain globally relevant in the years ahead.

This Kickoff Conference is part of the COMPASS (COMpetitiveness Policy for Accelerating Sustainable Solutions) transnational youth engagement CERV project which aims to empower a diverse generation of young citizens to co-create evidence-based policy proposals on EU competitiveness through structured dialogue and deliberative learning, ensuring their insights directly influence high-level European strategic decision-making. Funded by: CERV - Citizens’ engagement and participation Project ID: 101253989

Publication - Metodologia NeuroDem: abordări și instrumente pentru incluziunea tinerilor neurodivergenți în procese democratice

2026-04-15T18:27:00.000+03:00

Mai mult decât un cadru teoretic, Metodologia NeuroDem propune instrumente concrete, metode de lucru și strategii de facilitare care pot fi utilizate direct în lucrul cu tinerii neurodivergenți. Prin această abordare, metodologia contribuie la dezvoltarea competențelor lucrătorilor de tineret și la crearea unor spații democratice mai accesibile, în care tinerii neurodivergenți pot participa activ și pot deveni agenți ai schimbării.

Această publicație oferă o imagine de ansamblu asupra principiilor, proceselor și instrumentelor dezvoltate în cadrul proiectului, fiind concepută ca o resursă practică pentru toți cei interesați de incluziune, participare și inovare socială în lucrul cu tinerii.

Publicat în aprilie 2026 | Citește AICI

Publication - De la date la schimbare: rezultatele cercetării NeuroDem privind participarea tinerilor neurodivergenți

2026-04-12T17:45:00.000+03:00

Această publicație prezintă rezultatele cercetării realizate în cadrul proiectului NeuroDem, oferind o perspectivă de ansamblu asupra modului în care tinerii neurodivergenți – în special tinerii autiști și cei cu ADHD – pot fi susținuți în participarea democratică și în procesele de advocacy.

Bazată pe un demers de cercetare desfășurat la nivel european, care a combinat chestionare adresate lucrătorilor de tineret, focus grupuri naționale și analiză documentară, publicația aduce împreună date relevante despre nevoile, provocările și oportunitățile existente în acest domeniu. Rezultatele evidențiază atât angajamentul și motivația practicienilor, cât și lacunele persistente în formare, resurse și implementarea unor abordări incluzive.

Acest material face parte din metodologia mai amplă NeuroDem și reprezintă fundamentul pentru dezvoltarea unor instrumente practice, programe de formare și resurse inovatoare menite să sprijine implicarea reală a tinerilor neurodivergenți în viața democratică.

Publicat în aprilie 2026 | Citește AICI

News - Eco-Patrols International Session: Co-creating the Future of Sustainability Education

2026-04-08T17:11:00.004+03:00

What happens when educators, youth workers, and sustainability experts from across Europe come together with one shared mission? You get three days of intense collaboration, creativity and meaningful learning.

The Eco-Patrols International Workshop in Ohrid, North Macedonia, marks a key milestone in the development of the Eco-Patrol Manual, which is a practical educational resource designed to empower youth workers and teachers to bring sustainability topics to life for children and young people.

What is the workshop about?

This international session brings together representatives from all partner organizations to test, refine, and co-create non-formal education methods developed within the Eco-Patrols project. Each partner has designed a module addressing critical sustainability themes, and this workshop is where theory meets practice. The main goal was to collaboratively develop and refine educational modules that are engaging, practical, and impactful, ensuring they can be effectively used in real educational settings. The workshop is not the final step, it’s a crucial testing phase. Each partner and expert were:

- Presenting their modules and proposed activities

- Engaging in hands-on testing using non-formal education approaches

- Collaborating through group work, discussions, and simulations

- Providing constructive feedback to improve the learning experience

Exploring Sustainability Through Diverse Modules

The Eco-Patrol Manual brings together a rich diversity of topics, each developed by partner organizations:

Module 1 - Earth Systems (Romania)

Module 2 - Circular Economy (Greece)

Module 3 - Zero Waste Food (Spain)

Module 4 - Fast Fashion (North Macedonia)

Module 5 - Digital Waste (Croatia)

Module 6 - Misinformation (Romania)

Module 7 - Eco-Emotions (Greece)

Module 8 - Green Transition (Spain)

Each module follows a carefully designed structure that combines theoretical background with experiential learning, guiding participants through activities such as energizers, simulations, critical reflection, systems thinking, and real-life application.

At the heart of the workshop is the experiential learning cycle, participants don’t just learn about sustainability, they experience it. Through concrete activities, reflection, conceptual understanding, and practical experimentation, the modules aim to create deep, lasting learning.

In a world facing complex environmental challenges, education must go beyond information. It must inspire action, critical thinking, and responsible choices. The Eco-Patrol Manual aims to do exactly that- support educators in shaping a more sustainable future, one learning experience at a time.

Stay tuned for the final version of the manual and the impact it will create across classrooms and youth initiatives in Europe!

Eco-Patrols aims to enhance non-formal environmental education by scaling up the Eco-Patrols method, integrating modern environmental concepts, and using digital tools to empower youth, youth workers, and organizations across the EU for a sustainable future. Funded by: Erasmus+ KA220, Project ID: 2025-1-HR01-KA220-YOU-000361087

Closed call - [ES-817] DigiArt, 03.07.2026-08.07.2026, Malagón, Ciudad Real, Spain

2026-04-07T13:19:00.006+03:00

Key Information

03/07/2026 - 08/07/2026Arrival / Departure

Malagón, Ciudad Real, Spain

10/04/2026Application
Deadline

3 placesApply Now →

💡 About the Project

The project bring together youth workers from different countries with the aim of strengthening their competences to support young people with creative talent in transforming their skills into sustainable employment opportunities. The project will focus on the exchange of experiences, non-formal learning, and the development of practical tools that will enable participants to improve their work with young people, especially those with fewer opportunities. During the activity, participants will take part in interactive workshops, collaborative sessions, and learning dynamics that will foster the exchange of good practices among youth organizations. The activity will take place in Spain and will bring together organizations from different countries working in the fields of youth development, culture, and social inclusion.

✨ Highlight: This project is hosted by Transeunte Europe and supported by the Erasmus+ Programme.

🎯 Objectives

Improve the digital and entrepreneurial competences of youth workers.
Share innovative youth work methodologies focused on creativity and artistic talent.
Develop practical tools and training materials that can later be used by the participating organizations.
Promote social inclusion and the participation of young people with fewer opportunities.

👥 Target Group

Participants: Aged 18–35 years old;
The project is open to a wide age range of youth workers, although most participants are expected to be involved in youth
Young people from diverse backgrounds (rural/urban) or facing fewer opportunities;
Professionals working with young artists or creative youth
Representatives of youth organizations

🏠 About the Location

Accommodation will be provided in Malagón, Ciudad Real (Castilla–La Mancha, Spain), in a central area of the town with easy access to the main activity venues and local amenities. The venue offers a comfortable, safe, and welcoming environment, creating the ideal conditions for participants to focus on learning and sharing throughout the training course.

🏡 Venue: The activity will take place in Malagón, located approximately 200 km south of Madrid. The easiest and fastest way to reach the area is by high-speed train (AVE) from Madrid Atocha Train Station to Ciudad Real. The host organisation will arrange pick-up from Ciudad Real train station.

Participants will stay in shared double or triple rooms, arranged according to gender and availability.

The organisers will provide three meals per day, mainly based on traditional Spanish cuisine.

🚆 How to Get There

The arrival day is 3rd July at Madrid Airport (Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport – MAD). Participants are recommended to arrive between 12:00 and 16:00 to allow enough time for the journey to Malagón (Ciudad Real).

The departure day is 8th July. Participants are advised to book return flights from Madrid Airport (MAD) between 13:00 and 18:00, depending on the train schedule from Ciudad Real to Madrid.

How to Get from Madrid Airport to Ciudad Real

Participants arriving at Madrid Airport (MAD) should follow these steps:

From the airport, take the Cercanías train (lines C1 or C10) or the Airport Express Bus to Madrid Atocha Train Station (approximate cost: 5€, cash recommended).

From Madrid Atocha, take the high-speed train (AVE) to Ciudad Real. The train journey takes approximately 1 hour.

The organising team will provide detailed guidance, including recommended train schedules. If possible, we will also help coordinate arrivals so participants can travel together from Madrid to Ciudad Real.

✉️ Travel plans must be approved by the organizers: community@geyc.ro in line with GEYC's Travel Policy

💶 Financial Details

✅ Covered by Erasmus+:

100% accommodation and meals

Travel reimbursement up to 395 EUR upon presenting all justifying documents.

🙌 Your contribution: a cofunding of 200 RON covering community management and administrative costs not included in the European funding.
Waived for: GEYC’s executive team, Board, interns, volunteers, European Fellows, and participants with fewer economic opportunities. If you have a valid MC Voucher you can use it to waive your contribution.

✈️ Travel Policy

Only economy/basic fare tickets approved from your location in Romania and back to Romania.

All travel plans must be pre-approved by organizers

Reimbursement in EUR after mobility.. Check here the applicable rates for the month of payment.

Do not buy any travel tickets before receiving final confirmation.
Wait for an official selection confirmation email from the organizers before booking your trip.

Keep and store all travel documents properly.
You must provide all the following for reimbursement:

Invoices (saved as PDFs – see how to do it here)
Boarding passes (physical copies or screenshots)
Physical tickets for any bus, train, or local transport used

All travel documents should be uploaded to Google Drive, in a personal folder named after you (for example: Firstname_Lastname_TravelDocs).

Important: Missing or incomplete travel documents may result in delayed or reduced reimbursement.

We are going green 💚. Check out the Travel Policy at GEYC which might differ from other projects you joined before.

📘 Important Information

Health insurance: EHIC or private policy required

Travel documents: Valid ID/passport (6+ months)

Youthpass certificate: awarded at the end of the mobility.

Înscrie-te acum ✍️

Events - Tinerii iau inițiativa pentru accesul la apă potabilă în spații publice: Bootcampul „Sete de Soluții” la Bran

2026-04-04T10:00:00.014+03:00

În perioada 19–22 martie 2026, 27 de tineri din România au participat la Bootcampul „Young Multipliers”, organizat la Bran, în cadrul proiectului Erasmus+ „Sete de Soluții / Thirsty for Solutions”. Evenimentul a adus împreună tineri din opt comunități: Călărași, Galați, Pitești, București, Cluj-Napoca, Suceava, Oltenița și Dorohoi, pentru a identifica și promova soluții concrete pentru accesul echitabil la apă potabilă în spațiile publice.

O primă etapă a programului de formare EFSD a fost participarea la trei sesiuni online de învățare legate de implicarea civică și modul de funcționare a instituțiilor publice, astfel încât fiecare participant să poată construi o campanie de advocacy în comunitatea din care fac parte.

În prima sesiune s-a analizat separarea puterilor în stat, tipurile de acte normative și modalitatea prin care o simplă idee ajunge la implementarea ei efectivă. Discuția s-a bazat pe și pe clarificarea rolurilor instituțiilor și autorităților publice, mai exact cine gestionează orașele în care trăim și serviciile puse la dispoziția cetățenilor.

Programul de formare a continuat cu cea de-a doua etapă, dedicată acțiunilor și instrumentelor pe care le putem folosi în cadrul unei campanii de advocacy. Sesiunea a pus accent pe mecanismele legale de consultare și participare a cetățenilor, alături de partea de comunicare online și offline a unei campanii sau inițiative. În cadrul aceleași sesiuni, ne-am bucurat de prezența lui Alin Grigore, Director General-Direcția Generală de Turism din cadrul Ministerului Economiei, Digitalizării, Antreprenoriatului și Turismului, lider cu experiență în sectorul de reprezentare al studenților și al tinerilor. Acesta a răspuns la o serie de întrebări din partea participanților, punând accentul pe nevoia de implicare a tinerilor în toate formele acesteia.

În ultima sesiune am analizat câteva întrebări la care ar trebui să răspundă orice inițiator atunci când decide să organizeze o campanie: De ce resurse avem nevoie? Care este instituția cheie? Cum putem comunica ideile noastre?

Am discutat cu 2 dintre cei 27 de tineri ambasadori ai proiectului “Sete de soluții”, pentru a vedea ce impact au avut sesiunile online în modul în care își vor organiza campaniile în viitor.

“Consider că acest format de învățare vine în completarea educației formale de care beneficiem în cadrul școlii, echipându-ne cu abilitățile necesare pentru a analiza problemele din societatea noastră și pentru a găsi modalități de acționa și de a implica. În cadrul sesiunilor, ne-am simțit confortabil să punem întrebări și să am primit răspunsuri elocvente ce ne ajută acum în crearea campaniilor noastre”

— Ioana, elevă în București și Ambasador STSL

“După aceste sesiuni înțeleg mai bine procesele de dezbatere și publicare, iar acest lucru m-a ajutat să fiu mult mai atent la modul în care proiectele sunt adoptate. Sunt mult mai pregărepătit pentru a soluționa problemele din comunitatea mea. Cred că acest format de învățare e foarte util pentru tineri, pentru că ne oferă posibilitatea să ne conectăm din orice colț al țării. Discuțiile și joculețele îl fac mai interactiv, ceea ce e un mare plus, deoarece creează o atmosferă puțin mai colectivă în cazul sesiunilor online.”

— Robert, student, Cluj-Napoca și Ambasador STSL

În timpul Bootcampului, tinerii participanți au lucrat în echipe pentru a dezvolta planuri de acțiune locale, care includ:

Organizarea de evenimente dedicate accesului la apă potabilă;
Redactarea de demersuri oficiale: petiții, solicitări către autorități, intervenții în comisii parlamentare;
Identificarea spațiilor publice prioritare pentru instalarea de puncte de acces la apă: aeroporturi, gări, parcuri și zone centrale din orașe precum Cluj-Napoca, Galați, București și Oltenița.

Dialog cu factorii de decizie: Ștefan Tanasă și legislația pentru apă potabilă

La Bootcamp a participat și deputatul USR Ștefan Tanasă, care a discutat cu tinerii despre funcționarea instituțiilor publice și procesul legislativ privind accesul la apă potabilă în spațiile publice. Propunerea legislativă pe care o susține prevede acces gratuit la apă în diferite spații publice precum instituții publice, spitale sau școli.

Deputatul, implicat în promovarea dreptului la apă potabilă gratuită în spațiile publice, a lansat recent platforma apapentruromani.ro – prin care cetățenii pot susține completarea Ordonanței Guvernului nr. 7/2023 pentru a garanta accesul liber la apă potabilă în instituțiile publice, spitale, școli, gări, aeroporturi și alte spații de tranzit din România. Platforma oferă informații despre propunerea legislativă, argumentele din spatele acesteia și posibilitatea ca fiecare persoană să-și adauge semnătura în sprijinul măsurii, consolidând astfel vocea comunității în favoarea unui standard european de civilizație în ceea ce privește hidratarea publică.

Water4EU Manifesto: Apă potabilă gratuită, o miză europeană

În cadrul Bootcampului, participanții au co-creat Water4EU Manifesto. Acest document propune transformarea accesului gratuit la apă potabilă într-un drept garantat la nivel european și urmărește obținerea unei finanțări de 1 milion euro pentru apă potabilă în spații publice și formarea unei generații de tineri implicați civic și pregătiți să aducă schimbare în comunitățile lor. Manifestul susține măsuri concrete pentru:

Implicarea civică a tinerilor;
Adaptarea la schimbările climatice;
Incluziunea socială și sustenabilitatea;
Implementarea recomandărilor Conferinței ONU privind Apa din 2026, cât și a obiectivelor ECI „Right 2 Water” și Campania Comisiei Europene „Water Wise EU”

Semnează Manifesto / Sign the Manifesto

Susține cerințele Water4EU și alătură-te mișcării noastre europene / Endorse the Water4EU policy demands and join our European movement.

Cum a arătat Bootcampul „Sete de Soluții”

News - GEYC's annual report for 2025 has been launched

2026-04-03T10:00:00.013+03:00

For GEYC, 2025 was a year of growth, consolidation, and meaningful impact—one in which ideas matured into action and the organization strengthened its role at both national and international levels. To better capture what this year truly meant, we asked the members of the Board of Directors a simple question: What was 2025 like for you within GEYC? Here is what they shared:

Gabriel Brezoiu

“I am glad to see that GEYC’s work is recognized at international level, that we accelerated our representation within the UN, the EU, and the Council of Europe, that our professionalism was confirmed through ISO-standard accreditation, and that our impact was validated by the awards we received.”

Adrian Calancea

“2025 was an intense year, full of challenges, in which my role meant commitment and responsibility, but also personal development.”

Sabina Spătariu

“It was a year in which, within GEYC, we debated many new ideas, set objectives, and prepared strategies, alongside strengthening our internal organization.”

Ioana Tatarciuc

“2025 was about turning aspirations into real actions, growing from a newly planted seed into long-term results.”

Alexandru Lache

“It was a dynamic year, in which we managed to create impact through our projects and to lay the foundations for new national and international initiatives for young people.”

Teodora Akinola

“For me, 2025 was a year of consolidation and impact for GEYC, in which we succeeded in turning bold ideas into concrete projects, growing the community, and strengthening the organization’s role in digital innovation, sustainability, and youth civic engagement.”

Daria Mateciuc

“2025 was a year of strong growth within GEYC, so much so that I would say it was defined by this word, across the team, the community, and our impact, shaped by inspiring people and increasingly high-profile projects.”

Publication - PRISMA Framework methodology on digital citizenship education has been launched

2026-03-31T13:14:00.019+03:00

The methodology will be used for the implementation of the National Digital Democracy Labs and serve as inspiration for the activities organized during the European Digital Citizenship Education Week 2026, within the framework of the PrismaEU OG 2026 project, to strengthen digital citizenship and enhance democratic participation.

This publication has been created in the context of a learning mobility as part of the project PrismaEU OG 2026/101235778. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

News - GEYC's input on the EU strategy for islands | Europe at the borders

2026-03-30T20:11:00.016+03:00

At GEYC, we advocate for an EU strategy for islands that mirrors the objectives of our "Europe at the borders" programme by addressing the systemic "peripheral gap" shared by both insular and land-based border regions. We emphasize that the "right to stay" for island youth must be secured through digital empowerment and economic diversification, moving beyond a reliance on single sectors like tourism to foster high-skill opportunities in the blue and green economies.

Our feedback highlights the need for inter-regional mentorship and simplified administrative frameworks to help smaller island authorities overcome capacity constraints and feel meaningfully connected to European decision-making. By treating islands as innovation test beds for sustainability—drawing on GEYC’s experience with youth-led "Enviropreneurship" in the Azores—the EU can ensure these territories become dynamic contributors to a resilient and inclusive Union.

What is the strategy all about?

The proposed EU strategy for islands aims to create a coordinated policy framework to address the long-standing structural, economic, and environmental challenges unique to these territories. Currently, the initiative is structured around four primary objectives:

economic competitiveness by diversifying traditional sectors and improving digital/transport connectivity;
sustainability and resilience through decarbonization, renewable energy, and climate adaptation;
demographic resilience by securing the "right to stay" through better access to public services and housing; and
security and defense, positioning islands as strategic contributors to infrastructure and border management.

As a non-legislative Communication indicatively planned for Q2-2026, the strategy seeks to reduce administrative burdens and ensure island needs are integrated into the next generation of EU national partnership plans.

Check out our contribution

You can also have your say

Until April 1st, the platform is open for feedback. Feel free to join and have your say.

Publication - Construind un viitor rezilient: Pregătirea cetățenilor într-o uniune în schimbare - Concluziile evenimentului

2026-03-26T20:41:00.026+02:00

Într-un context marcat de incertitudine și transformări accelerate, tema pregătirii și rezilienței devine din ce în ce mai centrală. Inițiative precum roadmap-ul READY lansat de GEYC, dar și strategia privind reziliența și pregătirea cetățenilor pentru situații de urgență, dezvoltată de Comisia Europeană, conturează o direcție clară: cetățenii, comunitățile și organizațiile trebuie să fie mai bine pregătite pentru crize multiple – de la dezastre naturale la amenințări hibride și energetice.

În același spirit, weekendul precedent a găzduit Panelul Cetățenilor Europeni dedicat pregătirii, consolidând dialogul la nivel UE privind rolul activ al cetățenilor în construirea rezilienței colective.

În acest context, evenimentul „Construind un Viitor Rezilient: Pregătirea Cetățenilor într-o Uniune în Schimbare”, organizat de GEYC la Reprezentanța Comisiei Europene în România, a adus împreună aproximativ 50 de participanți – tineri, experți, reprezentanți ai societății civile și ai instituțiilor – pentru un schimb de idei concret și orientat spre soluții moderat de către colegul nostru, Gabriel Brezoiu, manager general.

Evenimentul a fost construit în două etape complementare:

Prima parte: intervenții ale experților + sesiune de Q&A
A doua parte: 4 colțuri tematice (ateliere interactive), unde participanții au lucrat pe idei și soluții concrete. Rezultatele acestor discuții au fost colectate și integrate în Citizens Engagement Platform.

Vocile experților: perspective complementare asupra rezilienței

Securitate cibernetică

Dan Gaidău — Cyber Security Manager, Honeywell

A adus o perspectivă tehnică și practică asupra riscurilor digitale, subliniind că atacurile cibernetice nu mai sunt excepții, ci realități cotidiene.

Atelier: Securitate cibernetică și pregătire digitală

Discuțiile au pornit de la experiențe reale – majoritatea participanților au fost victime ale unor atacuri de tip phishing.

Recomandări-cheie:

Introducerea unei materii de educație digitală în școli
Promovarea autentificării multi-factor și a verificării breșelor de date
Campanii naționale de informare privind securitatea online
Creșterea transparenței platformelor digitale

Reziliență civică și comunitară

Luca Ciubotaru — Fondator Rădăuțiul Civic

Luca a discutat despre rolul participării cetățenești și al încrederii în instituții. Reziliența începe cu cetățeni implicați și informați.

Atelier: Reziliență civică și sprijin comunitar

Participanții au identificat provocări legate de încredere, colaborare și pregătire practică.

Recomandări-cheie:

Cursuri de inteligență emoțională și educație socială
Organizarea de evenimente locale pentru creșterea încrederii
Promovarea voluntariatului de la vârste fragede
Simulări reale (cutremure, incendii) în instituții de învățământ

Reziliență la dezastre naturale

Matei Sumbasacu — Fondator Re:Rise

A subliniat importanța pregătirii comunitare în fața riscurilor seismice, în special în contextul vulnerabilităților din București.

Atelier: Dezastre naturale și pregătire comunitară

Accentul a fost pus pe nevoia de trecere de la teorie la practică și colaborarea între actori.

Recomandări-cheie:

Modernizarea metodelor de informare pentru tineri
Organizarea de simulări și exerciții practice
Crearea de infrastructuri comunitare de urgență
Integrarea sprijinului psihologic în planurile de intervenție

Rolul programelor europene

Simona Musteață — Coordonator Departament Tineret, ANPCDEFP

Simona a evidențiat modul în care programele precum Erasmus+ contribuie la dezvoltarea competențelor de preparedness.

Atelier: Programe europene și dezvoltarea competențelor

Discuțiile au evidențiat rolul transformator al mobilității europene în dezvoltarea rezilienței, atât în educația formală cât și în cea nonformală.

Recomandări-cheie:

Accent pe simulări realiste și training-uri practice
Dezvoltarea competențelor de autocontrol și prioritizare
Integrarea educației financiare și interculturale
Schimb constant de bune practici între organizații

Cu ce rămânem după eveniment?

Evenimentul a demonstrat clar că reziliența este un proces care trebuie construit activ, prin:

educație practică și continuă
implicare civică reală
colaborare între instituții, ONG-uri și cetățeni
aliniere la prioritățile europene

Următorul pas este transformarea acestor idei în politici, programe și acțiuni concrete, iar rolul tinerilor rămâne esențial în acest proces.

English Version

Conclusions and recommendations: Building a Resilient Future.

Download EN (PDF)

Versiunea Română

Concluzii și recomandări: Construind un viitor rezilient.

Descarcă RO (PDF)

Publication - Ghid NeuroDem pentru incluziunea și participarea tinerilor neurodivergenți

2026-03-26T17:19:00.006+02:00

This Guide is a practical resource designed to support youth workers, educators, and organizations in creating inclusive, safe, and empowering learning environments for neurodivergent youth, particularly those with autism and ADHD. Developed as part of the NeuroDem Erasmus+ project, this guide brings together field experience, co-creation processes, and evidence-based practices to address the real needs of neurodivergent participants.

This publication focuses on key elements such as stakeholder roles, inclusive facilitation, sensory and emotional adaptations, and ethical considerations in working with neurodivergent groups. It emphasizes the importance of flexibility, psychological safety, and neuro-affirmative approaches, offering concrete recommendations that can be applied across different learning and participation contexts.

To explore more about the NeuroDem project, access additional resources, and discover the full methodology, visit www.neurodem.eu

Published in March 2026 | Read HERE

Closed call - ACT4EU Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator for Creative Entrepreneurs

2026-03-25T20:42:00.028+02:00

ACT4EU Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator

for Creative Entrepreneurs

Are you a young creative entrepreneur who wants to strengthen your idea, grow your project, and access practical support in an international learning environment? Or are you interested in creative entrepreneurship and want to learn more?

The ACT4EU Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator is a 5 week online programme designed for young creative entrepreneurs from Romania, France, Spain, and Greece, mainly, but we are happy to have all those interested join us. The programme is part of the Erasmus+ project A.C.T.4EU: Advocacy, Creativity, and Transformation for Europe, financed by the European Union.

This accelerator supports creative entrepreneurs in turning ideas into realistic and sustainable initiatives through practical learning, peer exchange, and tailored resources. It pays special attention to the realities faced by participants with fewer opportunities, including young women, people from minority backgrounds, persons with disabilities, young people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and young people facing geographic or territorial barriers.

5 weeks

5 - 1hr live sessions

Fully online

Google Meet + Google Classroom

Free of charge

Who is it for?

Eligible participants

Young people based in Romania, France, Spain, or Greece, generally aged 18 to 35.
People active in or connected to the creative and cultural sectors, such as design, visual arts, music, crafts, digital media, photography, audiovisual, fashion, cultural projects, illustration, community arts, or creative tech.
Applicants with an idea, initiative, freelance activity, early stage venture, or project they want to develop further.
Participants motivated to learn in an international online setting.
Priority is given to applicants from fewer-opportunities backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

What makes this programme different?

It is short, focused, and interactive.
It is designed with inclusion and accessibility in mind.
It combines entrepreneurship basics, ecosystem awareness, practical planning, and peer learning.
Each session contributes to one part of a lean venture plan, so participants finish with a draft venture plan they can continue to refine.

What will participants gain?

    Learning experience
    Five live sessions, each a maximum of 1 hour.
Interactive live sessions on Google Meet.
Practical tools tailored to creative entrepreneurship.

  

Resources and exchange

Google Classroom resources and templates.
Peer exchange across four European countries.
Short follow-up tasks between sessions.

Outcomes

A draft venture plan including offer, audience, validation, communication, revenue logic, and next steps.
Clearer next steps for venture development.
A certificate of participation, based on attendance and engagement.

Format

Duration: 5 weeks (5 live sessions)

Format: fully online

Live sessions: Google Meet

Assignments and materials: Google Classroom

Participation fee: FREE of charge

Short and focused sessions

Interactive peer learning

Accessible, practical resources

Participation expectations

Attend the live sessions.
Complete short Google Classroom tasks.
Contribute to peer learning and discussion.
Respect the inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Selection criteria

Relevance of the applicant profile

Motivation and commitment

Connection to the creative sector

Interest in entrepreneurship

Diversity, inclusion, and access considerations

How the accelerator fits into ACT4EU

What has already been done

ACT4EU has already created a first common learning space through earlier project activities and the February 2026 Advocacy for Creative Entrepreneurs training. In parallel, the project diagnosis has identified key barriers to inclusive creative entrepreneurship across the partner countries.

What the accelerator adds now

The Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator translates these findings into a practical and supportive online programme focused entirely on entrepreneurial development: ecosystem awareness, offer clarity, validation, communication, business basics, support access, and draft venture planning.

What comes after the accelerator

After the accelerator, participants can continue using ACT4EU resources, stay connected through peer exchange and project visibility activities, and build on links with wider mentoring and follow-up support opportunities within the project ecosystem.

5 Session Accelerator Structure

Session 1. Understanding Your Ecosystem and Your Starting Point

15 April, 17:00 CEST | Ecosystem awareness, entrepreneurial starting point, and positionality, facilitated by Adelina Dragomir, Head of Future Skills @GEYC

This session helps participants understand the context in which they are building their creative work, identify opportunities and constraints around them, and start shaping their venture plan from a realistic starting point.

Expected outputs
Ecosystem snapshot, starting-point reflection, first venture outline.

Resources
Lean Venture Plan Template, Ecosystem and Position Mapping Worksheet.

Session 2. From Idea to Offer and Audience

22 April, 17:00 CEST | Offer clarity and audience definition, facilitated by Alex Craciun, VP on Future Skills @GEYC & President @Oportune

This session focuses on turning a broad idea or creative practice into a clearer offer and a more defined audience. It strengthens the foundation of the venture plan.

Expected outputs
Offer statement and first audience profile.

Resources
Offer and Audience Worksheet, Audience Profile Template.

Session 3. Validation, Positioning, and Communication

29 April, 17:00 CEST | Validation, communication, and visibility, facilitated by Joanna Mielcarek, President @Euromuevete

This session helps participants test relevance, define how they are different, and communicate their work more clearly in realistic ways.

Expected outputs
Validation insights, positioning statement, communication direction.

Resources
Validation Log and Feedback Tracker, Positioning and Communication Planner.

Session 4. Business Basics, Revenue, and Support Pathways

6 May, 17:00 CEST | Pricing, support access, and realistic growth options, facilitated by Gilles Evrard Essuman, founder @Resopa

This session introduces accessible business basics for creative entrepreneurs and explores realistic revenue, support, and funding pathways.

Expected outputs
Basic revenue outline, support map, one concrete next opportunity.

Resources
Revenue and Pricing Basics Worksheet, Funding and Support Mapping Sheet.

Session 5. Action Plan, Mentoring, and Venture Plan Consolidation

13 May, 17:00 CEST | Action planning, continuity, and draft venture plan, facilitated by Adelina Dragomir, Head of Future Skills @GEYC

The final session consolidates previous outputs into a realistic short term roadmap and a draft venture plan, while connecting participants to future support and continuity.

Expected outputs
30 and 90 day action plan, draft venture plan consolidation, next support step.

Resources
30 and 90 Day Action Plan Template, Final Venture Plan Consolidation Checklist.

Application closed

Application deadline: 13.04.2026

Selection results date: starting with 10.04.2026

Number of spots available: 20

Closed call - [ES-818] Campaigners, 14.05.2026-21.05.2026, Mollina, Spain

2026-03-23T18:19:00.002+02:00

Key Information

Dates:	14/05/2026 - 21/05/2026
Arrival day:	14/05/2026
Departure day:	21/05/2026
Location:	Mollina, Málaga, Spain
Participants needed:	6 (5 participants + 1 group leader) participants from Romania
Deadline to apply:	29/03/2026 via geyc.ro/mobility

💡 About the Project

Campaigners"" is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange focused on the intersection of digital creativity and civic engagement. In a world dominated by fast-paced digital content, social causes often struggle to gain visibility. This project empowers young people to use storytelling, videography, and social media to design impactful campaigns that promote volunteering and active citizenship.

As a follow-up to the Training Course “Through Markers & Lenses,” this exchange turns theory into action. Participants will work in international teams to explore how digital content can influence attitudes and inspire others to become active in their communities. The program is hands-on, focusing on the technical side of filming and editing, as well as the soft skills of message design and public speaking.

✨ Highlight: This project is hosted by EuroMuévete and supported by the Erasmus+ Programme.

🎯 Objectives

Develop storytelling competences, including scriptwriting and message design;
Practice videography skills, including filming techniques, basic editing, and visual language;
Design and produce real digital campaigns focused on promoting volunteering;
Strengthen creativity, self-confidence, and communication skills in international teams;

👥 Target Group

Participants: Aged 18–30 years old;
Group Leader: Aged 18+ (no upper age limit), preferably with youth work experience or a past participant of "Through Markers & Lenses";
Young people from diverse backgrounds (rural/urban) or facing fewer opportunities;
Individuals interested in video-making, activism, and social media campaigns;
Motivated to develop creative skills and work in an intercultural environment.

🏠 About the Location

Mollina, Málaga, Spain – a municipality in the region of Antequera, Andalusia.

🏡 Venue: CEULAJ (Centro Eurolatinoamericano de Juventud). This is a specialized youth center equipped for educational programs and outdoor activities.

Participants will stay in shared rooms (2-3 people) with mixed nationalities and same gender;

3 meals and 2 coffee breaks provided per day;

A dedicated bus will transport participants from Málaga to the venue on arrival day;

More info about the venue: https://ceulaj.injuve.es/en

🚆 How to Get There

Participants should travel to Málaga Airport (AGP);

A meeting point in Málaga will be arranged for the 18:00 shuttle bus to the venue on May 14th;

Return transport to Málaga will leave the venue at 10:00 on May 21st;

✉️ Travel plans must be approved by the organizers: community@geyc.ro in line with GEYC's Travel Policy

💶 Financial Details

✅ Covered by Erasmus+:

100% accommodation and meals

Travel reimbursement up to 275 EUR upon presenting all justifying documents.

✈️ Travel Policy

Only economy/basic fare tickets approved from your location in Romania and back to Romania.

All travel plans must be pre-approved by organizers

Reimbursement in EUR after mobility.. Check here the applicable rates for the month of payment.

Do not buy any travel tickets before receiving final confirmation.
Wait for an official selection confirmation email from the organizers before booking your trip.

Keep and store all travel documents properly.
You must provide all the following for reimbursement:

Invoices (saved as PDFs – see how to do it here)
Boarding passes (physical copies or screenshots)
Physical tickets for any bus, train, or local transport used

All travel documents should be uploaded to Google Drive, in a personal folder named after you (for example: Firstname_Lastname_TravelDocs).

Important: Missing or incomplete travel documents may result in delayed or reduced reimbursement.

We are going green 💚. Check out the Travel Policy at GEYC which might differ from other projects you joined before.

📘 Important Information

Health insurance: EHIC or private policy required

Travel documents: Valid ID/passport (6+ months)

Youthpass certificate: awarded at the end of the mobility.

Înscrie-te acum ✍️

News - World Water Day: Launch of the Water4EU Manifesto requesting 1M EUR EU funding for public authorities | Free drinking water 💧

2026-03-22T14:07:09.074+02:00

Water4EU Manifesto

This manifesto is more than a call for policy change; it is a call for collective responsibility.

The Water4EU Manifesto calls on EU institutions, Member States and local authorities to act now and adopt these measures as part of a coordinated strategy to make free drinking water accessible. As Europe enters a new era shaped by climate pressures, increasing heatwaves, and growing water stress, ensuring access to safe drinking water in public spaces becomes a matter of urgency, dignity, and resilience.

By aligning our efforts with the values of equity, sustainability, and democratic participation, we have the opportunity to transform how water is understood and governed across Europe. Water4EU stands as a platform for collaboration, where citizens, especially young people, can actively contribute to shaping solutions that respond to real needs.

The future of water in Europe depends on the choices we make today. Access to water must no longer be treated as a privilege, but as a shared responsibility and a guaranteed right. Together, we can build a Europe where water is accessible to all, and where no one is left behind.

Introduction

Access to safe and free drinking water is a fundamental human right and a public good, yet across Europe it remains uneven, restricted, or monetised, especially in high-traffic public spaces such as airports, train stations, schools, and public institutions. This gap disproportionately affects young people, children, elders, and vulnerable groups, while contributing to the overuse of single-use plastic bottles and the environmental and social costs associated with them. Climate change and extreme heat events, which are increasing in frequency and intensity across Europe, exacerbate these challenges, making the lack of public water access a pressing concern for human health, equity, and sustainability.

The Water4EU project addresses this fundamental yet often overlooked issue. It builds upon a proven foundation of grassroots activism and youth-led advocacy, particularly the KA154 Erasmus+ project “Thirsty for Solutions” in Romania. This campaign emerged in 2024 following a critical heatwave incident at Otopeni Airport, where a ventilation failure during five days of extreme heat left travelers without access to water. Together with the pressure from multiple stakeholders and the resulting advocacy led, by February 2026, to free potable water at Otopeni and Băneasa Airport and soon the installation of potable water fountains, a tangible demonstration of how youth-led initiatives can directly influence public policy and infrastructure.

While the “Thirsty for Solutions” campaign laid the groundwork at the national level, Water4EU scales this validated model to a continental level, striving to make access to free drinking water a standard European right. The project creates a transnational youth network and strengthens grassroots organisations, bridging the gap between local activism and EU-level policy reform. Anchored in the EU values of human dignity, equality, and sustainability, Water4EU emphasizes that safe drinking water must be guaranteed as a public good rather than a privilege. Youth and civil society are calling for water justice and water resilience. Through initiatives like the Thirsty for Solutions Ambassadors, young people are shaping youth-driven policy recommendations for Europe, advocating for equitable access to water, resilient infrastructure and inclusive governance. Their voices are central to transforming grassroots advocacy into EU-level action and ensuring that water rights are protected for all.

Water4EU aligns closely with existing EU frameworks and strategic priorities, including the Water Framework Directive, the EU Water Resilience Strategy, the ECI Right to Water and WaterWiseEU campaign and with the key takeaways from the One-Day Stakeholder Meeting in Dakar, Senegal, in connection with the High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. By promoting transnational cooperation, youth participation in democratic life, and structured dialogue with policymakers, the project translates grassroots advocacy into coordinated European action.

This manifesto calls on EU institutions and policymakers to take urgent action: guarantee free potable water in public spaces, strengthen infrastructure, and empower citizens, particularly young people, to participate in shaping water governance.

Water4EU envisions a Europe where water is accessible, sustainable, and resilient—a Europe where no one has to ask the simple question: “Why is drinking water still a privilege in public spaces?”

Our Vision

Water4EU envisions a Europe where:

Water is not a luxury, but a human right: accessible to all, without barriers.
Water as a public good: protected, sustainably managed and freely available in public spaces.
Youth are co-creators: actively shaping water governance, infrastructure, and climate-resilient solutions.

Youth Principles and Perspectives

The Water4EU Manifesto is grounded in the lived experiences, expectations, and urgency expressed by young people during the Bootcamp of Young Multipliers (19-22 March 2026), as part of the „Thirsty for Solutions” KA154 Erasmus+ Project. Through participatory workshops and consultations, youth voices clearly highlight that access to free drinking water is not only a matter of infrastructure, but of dignity, equity, and climate resilience.

Their concerns are further reflected in emerging legislative and civic initiatives at national level. In Romania, proposals such as “Apă pentru Români” (“Water for the Romanian population“) advocate for a structural shift in how water access is guaranteed in public spaces. The initiative calls for a legal obligation for public institutions, healthcare units, educational facilities, and transport operators to provide free access to drinking water, particularly in waiting areas and transit zones.

Water access must reflect real everyday needs

Young people consistently identified a critical gap in access to free drinking water in the spaces they use daily. High-traffic and essential public areas such as transport hubs (train stations, airports, public transport), educational institutions, parks, and urban public spaces are among the most frequently mentioned locations where water is either unavailable, inaccessible, or not safe to drink. These responses reveal a clear disconnect between policy commitments and lived reality: water access is often missing precisely where it is most needed. For youth, access to water is a necessity that should be seamlessly integrated into public infrastructure and urban planning.

Water must be a universal norm, not an exception

Across responses, a strong and consistent message emerges: free drinking water should be “a normality”, “a right”, and “accessible to all.” Young people envision a Europe where water is:

Universal – available to everyone, regardless of socio-economic status.
Safe and high-quality – clean, regulated, and trustworthy.
Accessible – easy to find, free of charge, and present in all public spaces.
Protected – managed responsibly to prevent waste and ensure long-term availability.

Water, climate change and heat stress are interconnected crises

Youth perspectives strongly connect water accessibility with the growing impacts of climate change and heat stress. Participants point to water pollution, overconsumption, and inefficient management systems as key challenges that threaten long-term water sustainability. Their messages reflect both urgency and awareness: water scarcity is no longer a distant threat, but an emerging reality; extreme heat amplifies the need for immediate hydration; and inaction today risks turning water into an inaccessible resource for future generations.

From Consultation to Co-Creation

These insights reaffirm that effective water governance must be participatory, inclusive, and grounded in real needs. Integrating youth perspectives is not optional; it is essential for designing policies that are relevant, equitable, and future-proof. From their perspective, cities and public authorities must take a more proactive and systemic role in ensuring water resilience. Key priorities identified include:

Investing in modern, sustainable, and inclusive water infrastructure;
Ensuring transparent and efficient use of public and EU funds dedicated to water services;
Strengthening monitoring, accountability, and public trust in water governance systems;
Integrating water access and management into broader urban planning and climate adaptation strategies.

A CLEAR MESSAGE TO DECISION-MAKERS: ACT NOW

"Water is life. It is a fundamental right, not a privilege and urgent, decisive action is needed now to ensure equitable access in the face of climate change. Youth are not only beneficiaries of water policies, but key stakeholders and co-creators of solutions."

Commitments

We commit to advancing the recognition of free and safe drinking water in public spaces as a fundamental right across Europe. Through Water4EU, we aim to amplify the voices of young people and communities who experience daily gaps in water access, transforming their lived realities into concrete policy demands. Our goal is to foster a culture of civic engagement where citizens are not only beneficiaries of water policies, but active contributors to shaping them.

We commit to promoting transparency, accountability, and evidence-based advocacy by monitoring progress, supporting open data initiatives, and sharing knowledge on effective and inclusive water access solutions. By building strong partnerships with civil society, public authorities, and European institutions, we seek to bridge the gap between grassroots initiatives and decision-making processes.

By promoting public water infrastructure, Water4EU reduces CO2 emissions and single-use plastic waste while ensuring equitable access to essential resources, especially for youth and vulnerable communities. The initiative directly contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specific targets:

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: Safe and affordable drinking water for all.

• Target 6.8: Support local engagement in water and sanitation management.

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.3: Inclusive and sustainable urbanization.

• Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities, including waste management.

• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.2: Sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

• Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention and reduction.

Goal 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters.

• Target 13.3: Build knowledge and capacity to meet climate change.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.G: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development.

• Target 17.H: Encourage effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

Through strategic partnerships, public campaigns, and cross-border collaboration, we will continue to challenge systemic gaps, promote sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics, and advocate for a structural shift towards accessible, climate-resilient water systems. Water4EU will act as both a platform for mobilisation and a driver of policy change at European level.

Take Action

What you can do to support the Manifesto:

Share it in your social media, use the #Water4EU hashtag and tag us.
Sign ✍️ to support the manifesto (on behalf of your organisation or as an individual).

Policy Demands/Call to action

Ensuring universal access to safe drinking water in public spaces requires a combination of immediate action, targeted funding, and long-term policy commitments. Building on EU targets, initiatives and directions, but also on a global momentum and stakeholder recommendations from the 2026 UN Water Conference preparatory process, Water4EU proposes concrete measures that can deliver tangible results while empowering local communities, promoting civic engagement, and aligning with European priorities for climate resilience, social inclusion, and sustainability. Water must be treated as a cross-cutting enabler of sustainable development, connecting climate resilience, public health, social equity, and democratic participation.

The Water4EU Vouchers: 1M EUR for Local Authorities

Pilot Projects and Preparation Actions (PPPA)

Request: Launching the Water4EU Voucher Pilot by the European Commission, modelled on the WiFi4EU framework, by allocating €1 million to support 100 municipalities with €10,000 vouchers for the installation, renovation or cleaning of public drinking water fountains.

Reasoning & Impact:

This is a low-bureaucracy, high-visibility initiative that demonstrates immediate EU action on water resilience. It responds directly to the identified global need to scale practical, visible, and climate-resilient solutions while closing the gap between policy ambition and implementation. By targeting municipalities directly, the pilot ensures rapid deployment of infrastructure where it is needed most.

Implementation Framework:

💧 Democratic Resilience: Priority should be given to climate-vulnerable regions. Municipalities must conduct citizen consultations to identify community needs and optimal fountain locations before requesting funding, strengthening civic engagement.
💧 Digital Infrastructure: The pilot will promote the mapping of public water points before and after the programme. An EU-wide open data platform will facilitate coordination between EU, national, and community levels, helping locals and tourists find potable water sources easier.
💧 Impact Monitoring: Systems should include real-time monitoring of liters dispensed, plastic waste avoided, and water quality metrics.
💧 Urban Planning: Encouraging municipalities to integrate water access into broader urban planning and long-term sustainability goals.

"From policy ambition to visible local implementation."

EU Youth Programmes Joint Priority on Water Resilience

Erasmus+ 2027; ESC 2027; Erasmus+ 2028-2034

Request: Designating “Water Access, Public Hydration, and Climate Equity” as a shared Thematic High Priority Area for the 2027 Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) calls, while ensuring its structural integration into the Post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

Strategic Long-Term Alignment:

With negotiations for the new MFF and the 2027 priorities currently underway, we call for a structural shift that positions water as a cross-cutting enabler of the Green Transition and Social Inclusion. By bridging these two frameworks, the EU can move from reactive measures to a proactive strategy where youth-led climate adaptation is a permanent pillar of European solidarity and education funding.

Strategic Impact & Resource Allocation:

💧 Erasmus+ Policy Leadership: Funding KA2/KA3 projects to scale youth-driven policy recommendations, ensuring water rights are embedded in democratic life and non-formal education.
💧 ESC Operational Solidarity: Mobilizing large-scale volunteering teams to provide hydration support and plastic-reduction campaigns in heat-vulnerable cities across the Union.
💧 Structural Inclusion: Responding to 2026 UN Water Conference stakeholder recommendations by ensuring that the new MFF provides continuous, resourced, and meaningful participation for youth and marginalized communities in water governance.
💧 MFF Climate Resilience: Leveraging youth programmes to act as a bridge between high-level EU climate policy and local urban resilience, focusing on equitable access to public infrastructure.

"Securing the future of water resilience through youth actions in the heart of the European budget."

A “Blue Deal” for Public Access: Embedding Water in EU Systems

MFF 2028–2034 • Cohesion Policy

Request: Integrating a “Water Access Guarantee” into all Cohesion Policy and Urban Development funds for the 2028–2034 period, making the development of free drinking water infrastructure mandatory in all EU-funded public spaces.

Strategic Rationale:

To ensure structural and lasting change, water access must be institutionalized across EU funding and governance frameworks, reflecting the global call to integrate water across all sectors. Linking water access directly to EU funding ensures long-term, legally-backed infrastructure improvements. By making hydration points a requirement for Cohesion funding, water access becomes a standard component of sustainable urban development, rather than an optional add-on.

Long-term Impact:

💧 Permanent Infrastructure: Guarantees water access as a permanent, non-negotiable feature of all future EU-funded urban development projects.
💧 Prioritizing Wellbeing: Encourages local governments to prioritize public health, sustainability, and citizen wellbeing as core metrics of successful development.
💧 EU-Wide Water Culture: Creates a visible, union-wide culture of recognition for water-conscious municipalities, setting a global standard for public resource management.
💧 Cross-Sectoral Synergy: Treats water as a cross-cutting enabler, connecting infrastructure spending with the European Green Deal and the Pillar of Social Rights.

"Transforming water from an optional amenity into a mandatory European right."

The European “Blue Label” for Cities

European Climate Pact • Voluntary Commitment

Request: Award the European “Blue Label” to municipalities that ensure at least one public drinking water fountain per 10,000 citizens as a minimum baseline, while encouraging higher density in high-traffic and heat-vulnerable areas.

Strategic Rationale:

To complement regulatory approaches, Water4EU proposes a voluntary commitment mechanism that rewards leadership. This baseline ensures universal coverage while allowing cities to scale up access based on local needs, population density, and climate risks. The initiative supports the development of broad-based public demand for water services, promoting leadership, equity, and accountability in water governance.

Strategic Impact:

💧 Political Competition: Creates positive "reputational competition" between European cities to achieve and exceed the Blue Label standards.
💧 Public Recognition: Increases visibility and public recognition of local water leadership, making water access a point of civic pride.
💧 SDG Alignment: Encourages local commitments that align directly with EU sustainability goals, bringing cities closer to achieving the SDGs at the grassroots level.
💧 Accountability: Provides citizens with a clear, measurable metric to hold their local representatives accountable for public hydration infrastructure.

"Recognizing local leadership in the transition toward water-resilient cities."

Sign the Water4EU Manifesto

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Keep me updated on the Water4EU platform launch and future actions.

Our Journey: From Action to Policy

5th June 2024

Launching the "Thirsty for Solutions" campaign advocating for free drinking water at the Bucharest Airport.

March 2025

The KA154 Erasmus+ project was officially approved and commenced implementation.

October 2025

Danube Caravan: Youth from Călărași, Fetești, Brăila, and Galați met with elected policy makers to discuss public water needs.

February 2026

Major Victory: Bucharest Airport announced that free drinking water is now accessible to all travelers.

March 2026

Thirsty for Solutions Bootcamp: 28 youth from 8 communities in Romania gathered to train and plan local actions for water access.

22nd March 2026

International Day of Water: Official global launch of the Water4EU Manifesto.

5th June 2026

Planned launch of the water4.eu digital platform to coordinate European advocacy.

Sete de soluții / Thirsty for solutions

Period: Mar 2025 - Oct 2026

Funded by:
Erasmus+ KA154 (Youth Participation)

Project ID:
2024-3-RO01-KA154-YOU-000287055

Aim: To support sustainable development for the younger generation and to raise awareness about the need for free potable water in public spaces across Romania.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

News - Launching DEEP Stories: Understanding the Stories Behind Disinformation

2026-03-19T17:35:00.003+02:00

We often assume that misinformation spreads because people lack information. But what if the real driver is something deeper: personal experiences, identity, frustration, or trust?

Project overview

🧠 DEEP (Unveiling Deep Stories and Boosting Emotional Intelligence to Empower Citizens Against Disinformation) goes beyond facts to explore the emotional layer behind beliefs and turns these insights into practical tools for young people across Europe. DEEP brings together NGOs, researchers, and educators to work directly with young people through research, experimentation, and real-life interventions.

About

📅 Duration: February 2026 – January 2028

🌍 Network: 6 partners across Europe:

Romania 🇷🇴

Germany 🇩🇪

Bulgaria 🇧🇬

Serbia 🇷🇸

Poland 🇵🇱

Italy 🇮🇹

Why DEEP is different

DEEP addresses the human side of disinformation: emotions, identity, and trust.
This makes it more realistic, more relatable, and more effective in the long term.

❌ Fact-checking only

❌ Surface media literacy

✅ Emotions & identity

1. Collecting deep stories

Focus groups & in-depth interviews
Diverse perspectives (social, political, cultural)
Identifying emotional drivers: fear, distrust, frustration

👉 Output: European comparative report on emotions & disinformation

2. Designing interventions

Insight Walks format:

90-120 min guided city walks
6-12 interactive stops
Audio, video, quizzes

Real-life narratives & media examples
Understanding emotional influence
Recognizing manipulation techniques

3. Testing in real life

1–2 interventions per country
50–60 participants/country

~300
participants

6
countries

4. Measuring impact

Pre & post surveys
Cross-country data analysis
Comparative results

👉 Focus: emotional awareness, disinformation detection, trust

5. Scaling results

National events
European conference
Guidelines & policy recommendations

Our role

🇷🇴 In Romania

Focus groups & interviews
Insight Walk implementation
National dissemination event

At European level

Leads intervention phase (WP11)
Coordinates implementation in all countries
Ensures quality & consistency
Develops key reports

GEYC is shaping how the project works in practice across Europe using non formal education methodology.

Get involved

Join DEEP and be part of a new approach to understanding and combating disinformation.

Opportunities will open for young people, facilitators, and community actors to test innovative formats and shape future tools.

Follow our updates

This project is funded by the European Union through the CERV programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values), under the Citizens’ Engagement and Participation strand. Project ID: 101253717. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission’s CERV Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

News - Noua generație de Ambasadori „Sete de Soluții” 2026 începe misiunea pentru acces la apă potabilă!

2026-03-16T18:21:00.004+02:00

Programul European Fellowship on Sustainable Development (EFSD) 2026, organizat de către GECY marchează începutul unei noi etape pentru inițiativa „Sete de Soluții” (STSL), aducând împreună 27 de tineri din România hotărâți să contribuie activ la schimbări reale în comunitățile lor. Pe parcursul a 7 luni, acești participanți vor deveni parte dintr-o rețea națională de tineri lideri, Ambasadori Sete de Soulții, care promovează accesul la apă potabilă gratuită în spațiile publice din comunitățile lor,

Momentul-cheie al programului este Bootcampul organizat în perioada 19–22 martie 2026, la Bran, unde participanții își vor dezvolta competențele necesare pentru a deveni ambasadori cu competețe dezvoltate în advocacy și participare.

Ce este un Ambasador STSL și ce va face

Un Ambasador STSL este un tânăr implicat activ în proiectul „Sete de Soluții”, care își asumă rolul de a reprezenta și promova cauza accesului la apă potabilă în comunitatea sa. Acești ambasadori vor:

Susține nevoile comunității lor în fața autorităților locale
Inițiază și implementează acțiuni și evenimente în școli, instituții și spații publice
Creează campanii de conștientizare
Mobilizează alți tineri să se implice în inițiative de sustenabilitate
Contribuie la dialogul cu factorii de decizie în domenii relevante

Prin acest rol, participanții își vor dezvolta competențe esențiale de advocacy, comunicare și leadership, devenind adevărați „young multipliers” – tineri capabili să inspire și să genereze schimbare la nivel local, național și european. În lunile următoare, acești ambasadori vor transforma ideile în acțiuni: vor organiza evenimente, vor lansa campanii și vor lucra direct cu comunitățile lor pentru a promova soluții sustenabile. Alături de ei, alumnii EFSD 2025 vor contribui ca mentori, oferind sprijin și ghidare pentru implementarea inițiativelor locale și pentru dezvoltarea unei rețele puternice de tineri implicați.

Ce este Fellowship-ul și care sunt etapele acestuia

EFSD este un program intensiv de învățare și acțiune, construit în jurul Obiectivelor de Dezvoltare Durabilă și al implicării civice active. Acesta se desfășoară în contextul Anului Internațional al Voluntariatului 2026, punând accent pe rolul tinerilor în dezvoltarea durabilă.

Programul include mai multe etape esențiale:

1. Sesiuni online de pregătire (6–14 martie 2026) - Participanții vor lua parte la trei sesiuni de învățare menite să le ofere bazele necesare în advocacy, politici publice și funcționarea administrației locale.

2. Bootcampul EFSD (19–22 martie 2026, Bran) - Un program intensiv în care tinerii vor învăța să dezvolte campanii digitale; să comunice eficient cu autoritățile și să creeze planuri de acțiune pentru comunitățile lor.

3. Zilele de Acțiune pentru Implicarea Comunității (22 aprilie – 5 iulie 2026) - Ambasadorii vor implementa planurile dezvoltate, organizând activități în jurul unor momente-cheie: Ziua Pământului (22 aprilie), Ziua Europei (9 mai) și Ziua Mediului (5 iunie)

4. Vizita de studiu la Bruxelles (23–25 septembrie 2026) - 10 dintre cei mai activi participanți vor avea oportunitatea de a interacționa direct cu factori de decizie europeni și de a înțelege mecanismele democratice la nivel european.

Faceți cunoștință cu Ambasadorii Sete de Soluții!

Remembrance Walks: Bucureștiul Comunist și #învizită la Memorialul Închisoarea Pitești

2026-03-13T12:13:00.001+02:00

Cum putem vorbi despre viitor fără să înțelegem trecutul? În cadrul Caravanei Munteniei, am integrat o dimensiune esențială: remembrance – procesul prin care ne amintim, învățăm și reflectăm asupra istoriei recente, pentru a construi comunități mai conștiente și mai responsabile.

🌍 Un început internațional, cu sens

În perioada Caravanei, am avut alături de noi facilitatori internaționali din organizațiile partenere:

Euro Mirada 🇪🇸

Ekonomska Klinika 🇭🇷

CIAPE 🇮🇹

Aceștia au venit în România nu doar pentru a contribui la activitățile educaționale din licee, ci și pentru a descoperi o parte importantă din istoria noastră recentă.

#RemembranceWalk în București

🔎 Ce a însemnat acest moment?

introducere în istoria comunismului din România
explorarea spațiilor simbolice din centrul Bucureștiului
dialog intercultural despre memorie, identitate și democrație

Participanții au descoperit povești despre instaurarea regimului comunist, despre controlul asupra societății și despre transformările urbane care încă definesc orașul de azi. Dincolo de informații, experiența a fost una profund reflexivă – o invitație la înțelegerea modului în care trecutul influențează prezentul.

Închisoarea Memorială Pitești

Pe 8 martie, echipa GEYC și facilitatorii internaționali au ajuns la Pitești – prima destinație a Caravanei. Aici, am participat la un tur ghidat al fostei închisori, astăzi muzeu memorial.

👉 Descoperă mai mult despre Memorialul Pitești

De ce este acest loc atât de important?

Închisoarea Pitești este cunoscută pentru unul dintre cele mai dure experimente de „reeducare” din perioada comunistă – Fenomenul Pitești (1949–1951).

tortură fizică și psihologică extremă
distrugerea identității și convingerilor
transformarea victimelor în instrumente ale opresiunii

Ce au experimentat participanții?

mărturii despre viața în detenție
explorarea spațiilor reale ale abuzurilor
reflecție asupra regimurilor totalitare

Vizita a fost un moment puternic emoțional, dar necesar – o lecție despre limitele umane, despre rezistență și despre importanța memoriei colective.

💬 De ce contează remembrance?

Gândire critică

Combaterea extremismului

Empatie civică

Activitățile de tip remembrance nu sunt doar despre trecut – ele creează contexte reale de învățare și conectează istoria României cu realitățile europene.

🔗 Tu cum contribui la memorie?

👉 Ce știi despre istoria comunității tale?
👉 Ce povești merită redescoperite?
👉 Cum poți transforma memoria în acțiune civică?

Această publicație a fost realizată în contextul unei mobilități de învățare din cadrul proiectului de acreditare Erasmus în domeniul Tineret / 2025-1-RO01-KA151-YOU-000299434. Finanțat de Uniunea Europeană. Punctele de vedere și opiniile exprimate aparțin, însă, exclusiv autorului (autorilor) și nu reflectă neapărat punctele de vedere ale Uniunii Europene sau ale Agenției Executive Europene pentru Educație și Cultură (EACEA). Nici Uniunea Europeană și nici EACEA nu pot fi considerate răspunzătoare pentru acestea.