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On April 24, 2026, the Kick-off Event of the European Youth Week 2026 took place at the European Parliament in Brussels, bringing together young people, former volunteers, youth organisations, European institutions and decision-makers from across Europe. This year’s event also marked 30 years of European volunteering through European Voluntary Service (EVS) and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), celebrating the long-term impact of solidarity, mobility and youth participation.

Romania was represented among the ambassadors of the “Three Decades of Solidarity” exhibition by Nagy Géza Attila, vice-president of the Youth Association from Transylvania. His story was selected because he took part in a one-year EVS project in Greece in 2011–2012, an experience that later contributed to the creation and development of our organisation. Since then, ATA has hosted more than 150 EVS/ESC volunteers and sent more than 250 young people to volunteering projects abroad.

During the event, Attila took part in the official opening in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament and in several breakout sessions focusing on European volunteering, multilingualism and artificial intelligence, and international Erasmus+ opportunities beyond EU borders. The participation was also an opportunity for him to reflect on how one volunteering experience can influence not only one person’s life, but also the development of local communities and long-term youth work in Romania.

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Within the framework of our Erasmus+ project SYNERGY, the first international study visit took place in Cristuru Secuiesc, bringing together participants from Slovakia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Romania. The group included youth workers, teachers, and volunteers who came together with a shared goal: to explore effective methods that can reduce youth apathy and strengthen active civic participation.

During the study visit, participants had the opportunity to explore three different systems that have already proven successful at the local level. The first was the Local Youth Council, where guests gained direct insight into how young people can represent their interests within structured frameworks and become active actors in local decision-making. Members of the council shared their experiences and presented their work, followed by an open discussion where participants could ask questions.

The second method introduced was the Synergy Group, a local cooperation network that brings together representatives of institutions and organisations to respond to community needs in a coordinated and effective way. Participants found it especially inspiring to see how such collaboration can emerge and how a shared idea can evolve into an international project such as the SYNERGY initiative since itself was born from this team.

The third system presented was the ATA local youth volunteering group, which supports young people through a long-term, structured volunteering process. Participants gained insight into the structure of a one-year volunteering journey and heard first-hand about the experiences, challenges, and successes of the young volunteers. The interactive meeting created a genuine dialogue, offering not only inspiration but also concrete learning points.

Reflective learning also played a key role throughout the programme. Working in national teams, participants analysed the causes of youth apathy in their own countries and communities, then jointly explored possible solutions and adaptable elements from the methods presented. On the final day, alongside summarising the learning process, participants were introduced to the Youthpass framework and began consciously formulating their learning outcomes.

The study visit not only contributed to professional development but also strengthened international cooperation among partner countries. Coordinators held a dedicated project management meeting to discuss next steps, including preparations for the upcoming study visit, which will be hosted by the Georgian partners.

The experiences gained throughout the week confirmed that youth engagement does not depend on a single method, but rather on the cooperation of different actors, long-term processes, and creating real space for young people to participate. The aim of the project is precisely to explore and strengthen this synergy across Central and Eastern Europe.

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Very soon, the Sóskút Student Hostel and the streets of Cristuru Secuiesc will be full of life again. Between the 20–29th of May, young people from five countries will join us for the Creating Possibilities from Scratch Erasmus+ Youth Exchange to learn together about event organisation, community building, each other and a little bit about themselves as well.

This project didn’t come out of nowhere. Through our youth work, we have repeatedly experienced that young people living in smaller towns and rural areas often have far fewer opportunities to take part in engaging and meaningful leisure activities. And that’s no coincidence. Great activities don’t simply happen on their own, someone has to imagine them, plan them, and bring them to life.

We believe young people are more than capable of doing exactly that.

That is what this youth exchange is all about. We want to show that you don’t need a huge budget or extraordinary circumstances to create something valuable. What matters much more is a good idea, an enthusiastic team, and the courage to take the first step.

During the first days of the exchange, we will focus on self-discovery and team building, because it is difficult to build a community without first getting to know ourselves and one another. From there, we will explore how an idea turns into a real event. Participants will learn the basics of event planning, discover practical tools and methods, and, based on their own interests, prepare and facilitate activities for the rest of the group. Whether it’s sports, arts and crafts, science, music, or storytelling, everyone will have the chance to share something they are passionate about.

The learning doesn’t stop there: The highlight of the project will be an Open Day at the ATA House, where participants won’t just plan an event, they will actually organise and deliver one. We will welcome local high school students to take part in activities, games, and workshops designed and led by the international group. This will be the moment when everything they have learned throughout the week comes to life in a real-life setting.

And, of course, like every Erasmus+ Youth Exchange, this week will be about much more than workshops. There will be intercultural evenings, plenty of laughter, new friendships, shared experiences, and endless inspiration. Because very often, it is these informal moments that spark the best ideas.

We can’t wait to see what this group will create together. One thing we know for sure: when young people are given the opportunity to create, something amazing always happens.

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One week. Eight countries. 23 participants. Countless ideas, conversations, and shared experiences.

From 24–30 March, the ATA House in Cristuru Secuiesc became home to youth workers, youth center managers, and community builders from Hungary, Slovakia, Spain, Portugal, Albania, Italy, and Bulgaria. We came together with one simple goal: to learn how we can make our youth centers even better places for young people.



And what a week it was: From the very first day, it felt like we had known each other for much longer. The atmosphere was open, joyful, and supportive. Everyone arrived with different experiences, yet somehow we were all on the same wavelength. Every discussion, workshop, coffee break, and evening conversation brought new ideas, different perspectives, and practical solutions.

We explored the everyday realities of running youth centers, not only through theory, but by sharing our own stories. We brought real-life challenges from our organizations to the table, analysed individual cases together, and looked for solutions as a group. Sometimes the best answer came from someone working hundreds of kilometers away, facing surprisingly similar situations.

Throughout the week, we discussed everything from youth participation and burnout prevention to community engagement, conflict management, and cooperation with local stakeholders.

Beyond the workshops, something equally important happened. New partnerships started to grow, future Erasmus+ ideas were born, and many new friendships were made. Once again, we experienced what international youth work is really about: learning from one another, supporting each other, and building a network of people who genuinely care about creating better opportunities for young people.

As the seminar came to an end, everyone left with new inspiration, practical tools, fresh motivation, and, hopefully, the feeling that they are part of something much bigger than a single project.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared your knowledge, your stories, your questions, and your energy. See you again soon!

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We took part in the first meeting of a long-term international project focusing on children’s rights. What makes this project unique is its creative and interactive approach: the topic is explored through escape rooms. The main goal is to develop playful learning tools that help children better understand and experience their own rights.

Participants from the Zeyk Domokos Technological High School in Cristuru Secuiesc included two teachers and two students (Nagy Borbála-Zsuzsánna, teacher; Lukács Réka, teacher; Egyed Zsolt, student; Ilyés Szabolcs-Levente, student, along with Máté Isztojka, a staff member of ATA). During the five-day meeting, we gained not only valuable professional experience but also many shared memories.

The project brings together six partner countries: Romania, Slovakia, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania, and Hungary. The first international meeting took place in Italy, in the beautiful coastal Tuscan city of Viareggio, between March 16 and 20. The program was organized by the Italian partner, IAL Innovazione Apprendimento Lavoro Toscana.

One of the highlights of the meeting was testing the escape rooms: we had the opportunity to try ten different creative and informative rooms. These were not only entertaining but also served a strong educational purpose. They presented children’s rights in a way that is easy to understand and engaging for young people. Special emphasis was placed on cultural diversity, inclusion, and awareness-raising, particularly regarding situations that not all children encounter—such as the everyday lives of people with disabilities or the challenges faced by children from different social backgrounds.

Here is a short reflection from one of the teachers of the Zeyk Domokos Technological High School:

“I had a great time during the Erasmus+ project. As a beginner teacher, it was a great honor for me to participate in this program. Our topic was the right to identity, which we explored through the creation of an escape room.

We had the chance to test our escape room during the meeting in Italy, and it was very successful. We received positive feedback from experts, and two of our tasks performed exceptionally well.

I am very happy that our creativity, organization, and adaptability proved strong even in an international environment. I am proud of our students, who are open to development, and I am grateful for this opportunity. I hope we will have many more similar experiences in the future.”

Réka Lukács
German teacher

In addition to the professional program, we also had the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Tuscany. We visited Florence, where we took part in a discovery-based city activity. Divided into teams, we explored the historic city center while learning about its most important landmarks. The program was followed by a shared lunch and a visit to a special exhibition in a former orphanage, which deeply moved all of us by presenting the stories of the children who once lived there.

On the final day, we evaluated our experiences together and shared ideas and suggestions that will contribute to the further development of the project.

On our way home, we also visited the city of Pisa, where we admired the famous Leaning Tower, closing our journey with a truly memorable experience.

This meeting was not only professionally valuable but also an important community experience. We returned home with new ideas, inspiration, and connections, ready for the next steps of the project.

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We are very happy to announce that this year our Short Term Summer Fun ESC volunteering project will take place for the fifth time. This is a special year for us, as our program celebrates its anniversary — for five years now we have been working to create unforgettable summers for children and to have a positive impact on the local community.

How did it start?

Five years ago, we started with a simple yet important dream: we wanted to provide amazing summer experiences for children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend a summer camp.

Since then, our project has grown year by year and has made a summer full of learning and experiences accessible to more and more children.

The essence of the project

Our program focuses on the local community. International volunteers come to join us and work with the children through creative workshops, games, and non-formal learning methods.

Participants can:

• improve their English skills in a playful way

• gain new experiences

• create lasting memories

Our results in numbers

Over the past years:

• more than 50 volunteers have participated in the project

• more than 40 camps have been organized

• nearly 1000 children have enjoyed the camp experiences

• countless shared moments and memories have been created

The 2026 project

This year we are once again organizing the Short Term Summer Fun ESC project, which provides summer camp experiences and development opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

📍 Location: Szekelykeresztur area, Transylvania – in the heart of Romania
📅 Dates: July 13 – September 9, 2026
⏳ Duration: 59 days (excluding arrival and departure days)

📌 Application deadline: April 6, 2026

Be part of it!

We are looking for young people aged 18–30 who:

• enjoy working in a team but can also work independently

• like working with children

• are creative, energetic and open to new ideas

What we offer

For the participants we provide:

• pocket money and food allowance for the entire duration of the project

• travel reimbursement

• health insurance

• accommodation in a well-equipped apartment at the ATA Youth House

• a summer full of experiences and valuable learning opportunities

Application

Read the information package at the link below, then send your application to:

📧 office.ata@gmail.com

Required documents:

• English CV with photo

• short motivation letter

• completed Google application form –
  https://forms.gle/o7vfeQMfiVRwHPWE7

Check the Information Package here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hP8y_NjWgDDtVCUqkcaYHRBtXdxsO6IH/view?usp=drive_link

If you would like to get a glimpse of the project atmosphere, watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=xJ7W2XvBQ5s  

✨ We look forward to your application — and maybe this year you will also be part of a truly special summer!

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Do you remember Cristuru without the ATA House? Honestly… neither do we.

It has already become a place where young people can simply drop by, spend time together, organize activities, share ideas, or just enjoy a cup of tea after school. But creating a youth center is only the beginning. The real challenge starts afterwards: How do you keep it alive? How do you make it a place that young people genuinely want to return to? 

These are exactly the questions we want to explore during our upcoming Seminar on Managing Youth Centers. From 24–30 March, we will welcome youth workers, youth center managers, NGO representatives, and passionate community builders from across Europe to Cristuru Secuiesc. Throughout the week, we will learn from each other’s experiences, exchange practical ideas, and work together on creating youth centers that are welcoming, inclusive, sustainable, and truly shaped by young people.

During the seminar, we will dive into some of the biggest challenges youth centers face today. Together we will explore how to design activities that not only attract young people but also keep them engaged in the long run. We will discuss what to do when participation starts dropping, how to prevent volunteer and staff burnout, how to deal with conflicts, and how to create safe spaces where everyone feels welcome.

We will also look beyond the walls of the youth center. A successful youth center is more than a building, it can become a real community hub, working together with schools, local authorities, organizations, and community members while still keeping young people at the center of everything it does.

And of course, just like in all our Erasmus+ projects, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking, sharing experiences, developing new project ideas, and creating future partnerships. Some of the best ideas often come during a coffee break, an intercultural evening, or an Open Space discussion, and we cannot wait to see what this week will bring.

For us, this seminar is especially meaningful because the ATA House is still growing. Every event, every mistake, every successful activity teaches us something new. Hosting youth workers who face similar challenges in their own communities is a great opportunity to reflect on our work, discover fresh perspectives, and collect practical tools that we can apply here in Cristuru.

We are excited to welcome everyone, fill the ATA House with new ideas and inspiring conversations, and spend a week learning together.

The coffee is almost ready. See you soon in the ATA House!

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Between February 3-4, the partners of the SYNERGY project met in Chișinău, Moldova, for the first in-person kick-off meeting of the project. Hosted by the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi), the meeting brought together 12 representatives from the six partners from Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine for two full working days dedicated to planning the next phase of the project. 

During the meeting, partners presented their organisations, roles and local realities, and confirmed a common understanding that many of them work in small towns, rural areas and minority contexts, making peer learning especially relevant for the partnership. The consortium also agreed on the need for open communication, shared documentation and practical cooperation throughout the implementation period.

Partners reviewed the SYNERGY timeline as the main coordination tool and confirmed that study visits should not be limited to passive observation, but should create real learning opportunities through experience, reflection and adaptation. The consortium also confirmed the current list of practices to be explored in each partner country, including topics such as youth empowerment, student councils, volunteer structures, global education, rural activism and local stakeholder cooperation. 

They also finalised the 2026 study visit calendar, agreed on the preparation of the guidelines for documenting and monitoring good practices, and confirmed the next online coordination meeting for mid-March, which will focus on the study visit in Romania.

With all these done, the SYNERGY partnership now moves forward to the first study visit and to the next phase of exchanging, testing and disseminating practices that can help counter civic apathy among young people in Central and Eastern Europe.

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