News

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.

News

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!

News

News

From the 12th to 18th of January 2026, Cristuru Secuiesc, Romania, became a meeting point for people from across Europe during the Transnational Bootcamp #2, part of the RYSE project.

Gathering 36 youngsters and 6 youth leaders from France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, and Romania, the bootcamp created a space for sharing micro-projects, ideas, and lived experiences. Together, participants explored how local initiatives can generate wider impact, particularly in the areas of sustainable development and youth empowerment.

Through Digital Storytelling, participants transformed their projects and personal journeys into meaningful narratives, giving voice to their experiences and highlighting the value of collaboration and active citizenship.

Led by Le Partenariat (France) and supported by partners from Italy (CEFA ETS), Hungary  (Anthropolis), Spain (Jovesolides), Portugal (Aventura Marão Clube), and Romania  (Asociația de Tineri din Ardeal), RYSE aims to strengthen young people’s employability while deepening their understanding of today’s social, environmental, and ecological challenges.

More than a training, the bootcamp was a shared journey of connection, creativity, and inspiration, carried forward by participants into their local communities.

You can find the short videos HERE.

News

New ESC Volunteering Opportunity: Green Growth – Sustainability and Community Action in Transylvania!

We are happy to announce our new European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering project titled Green Growth, an exciting opportunity for young people who want to take action for the environment and contribute to a greener future.

The project aims to support sustainability, raise environmental awareness, and promote the importance of recycling with the participation of 12 international volunteers, both in rural and urban environments.

🌱 What will we do?

During the project, volunteers will take part in hands-on and creative activities, such as:

• workshops on sustainability and recycling
  
  
• creating short awareness-raising campaign videosc
  
  
• community clean-up campaigns in both rural and small-town areas.
  
  
• cleaning riverbanks, streams and polluted areas in six nearby settlements
  
  

Our goal is to involve at least 200 local young participants, offering them valuable learning experiences and encouraging them to become active in protecting their environment.

🌍 What do we offer volunteers?

The project will take place in Székelykeresztúr (Cristuru Secuiesc), Transylvania, Romania, a culturally rich small town with a welcoming local community.

Volunteers will receive:

✅ accommodation in a modern, well-equipped facility
✅ food allowance
✅ pocket money
✅ travel reimbursement according to ESC rules
✅ health insurance
✅ support from an experienced mentor
✅ non-formal education-based trainings
✅ basic Hungarian language sessions

Two project coordinators will ensure smooth implementation throughout the project.

👥 Who are we looking for?

We are searching for motivated young people aged 18–30 who:

• are interested in sustainability and recycling
  
  
• enjoy teamwork and community engagement
  
  
• are not afraid of getting their hands dirty
  
  
• are open-minded, proactive, and creative
  
  
• can work independently and contribute their own ideas
  
  

📅 Important Dates

📌 Application deadline: February 25, 2026
📌 Arrival day: June 3, 2026
📌 Project dates: June 4–18, 2026
📌 Departure day: June 19, 2026

📝 How to apply?

Please send an English CV with a photo and a motivation letter to:

📩 office.ata@gmail.com

and complete the Google Forms application form.
Infopeck: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m_MEZq0nseGmzJlnt2gzoKXDFRnlq0LA/view?usp=sharing
Application form : https://forms.gle/oKHLd5BQLpdg6uJF6

News

The training course  aims to strengthen the competencies of youth workers interested in addressing sustainability, food systems, and agroecological practices within their organizations. Held from 14–18 January 2026 in Cerralba–Pizarra near Málaga, Spain, the program combines theoretical inputs, group discussions, field visits, and practical workshops to provide participants with a concrete understanding of environmental challenges and local community-based solutions. The course places particular emphasis on responsible consumption, ecological farming, and rural development, equipping youth workers with tools that can be transferred to their professional contexts.

Accommodation will be provided in a basic communal facility, where all participants will sleep together in a mixed shared room equipped with beds or bunk beds, and with five shared showers available according to an organized schedule. Meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—will be delivered by local catering and served on-site, with attention given to dietary needs. Participants are required to contribute a 20 EUR participation fee, which supports the involvement of local producers and the quality of the practical activities. Travel costs are reimbursed according to Erasmus+ distance bands, after all original tickets and documents are submitted, in approximately 1 – 2 months after the project.

News

Between November 25 and 26, 2025, Cristuru Secuiesc hosted the final conference of the YouthINC project, bringing together international partners, local youth, educators, and community representatives. The event marked the conclusion of a two-year journey dedicated to discovering invisible local heroes and empowering young people to think critically about inclusion, memory, and community impact.

🌍 Day 1 – International Partner Meeting

On November 25, representatives from Hungary, Germany, Albania, Kosovo and Israel met in Cristuru Secuiesc for the final transnational partner meeting.
The agenda included:

• reviewing the last administrative and methodological steps
• evaluating the overall impact of two years of cooperation
• discussing how the MAKIVI Action and PBL methodology worked in each country
• preparing the final dissemination tasks and possible future opportunities and ideas

🎙️ Day 2 – Roundtable Discussion and Workshop

The roundtable began with a short introduction of all participants, followed by a structured discussion built around key reflective questions connected to the YouthINC project. The conversation offered deep insights into how communities define “heroes,” why some remain invisible, and how the project shaped young participants.

During the roundtable, participants shared what they had learned while discovering local heroes: that communities are full of diverse, often unnoticed individuals whose quiet contributions shape everyday life. They reflected on how we choose heroes, usually based on community needs and shared values and noted examples of local recognition traditions.

Partners also highlighted how the project strengthened young people’s technical and social skills, as well as their confidence to take action. The discussion touched on everyday, unrecognized heroism found in families, caregivers, or community helpers, and how social context influences who is celebrated. Participants also explored why many heroes remain invisible from safety concerns to lack of awareness, limited recognition circles, or simple jealousy. The roundtable closed with the shared belief that discovering heroes should continue: through more exhibitions, youth activities, and ongoing documentation that keeps these stories alive.

Workshop Connection

Following the roundtable, the workshop reinforced these themes through:

• a P4C (Philosophy for Children) “Belief Bingo”, opening discussion about values and assumptions
• a dialogue on the qualities that make life meaningful
• an artistic activity where participants drew a “hero” and gave them visual traits that represent what society expects or admires

These activities helped deepen critical thinking about inclusion, heroism, and the many forms that community contribution can take.

🏛️ Public Conference & Heroes Exhibition

In the afternoon, we welcomed community members, representatives of local institutions, educators, youth workers, decision-makers and anyone interested in the project and our general work during the year.

The public conference presented all project results, the findings of the MAKIVI Actions, the process of creating digital monuments and the learning journey of young participants.

On the picture you can see one of our local hero, Zsuzsanna Vári

Visitors then had chance to explore the Local Heroes Exhibition, where the stories collected by youth were displayed through posters, descriptions, and QR codes leading to the digital monuments published on IZI.TRAVEL. The exhibition allowed the community to finally meet the people whose quiet, consistent work shapes everyday life.

Thank you to all partners, youth participants, and community members who brought YouthINC to life.

News

Between 10-14 November 2025 in Szentendre, coordinated by the Váci SZC Petzelt József Technikum és Szakképző Iskola, the three-year cooperation of six European countries – Hungary, Romania, Lithuania, Italy, Slovakia, and Portugal – started within the framework of the “Awareness of Children’s Rights in Secondary Education – Through Escape Rooms” Erasmus+ project.

The aim of the programme is to make children’s rights understandable and experiential for young people using modern, experience-based methods, especially through the creative and interactive tools of escape rooms.

The teachers and professionals participating in the project became familiar with the common objectives, the responsibilities of each country, and the main milestones of the three-year work plan already on the first day of the meeting.

Escape rooms are a complex yet highly attractive method for young people: they introduce the world of children’s rights in a playful form while developing teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

First steps of the joint work:

The participating teams arrived on Sunday afternoon at the Mathias Rex guesthouse in Szentendre, which welcomed them with a calm, homely atmosphere. Monday began with a rich breakfast and informal conversations, followed by the official opening where the Hungarian Education Chancellor greeted the international team. The leadership of the Petzelt József Technikum and the key professional partners involved in the implementation of the project were also present at the event.

In the morning the online platform designed for sharing project materials and tasks was introduced. After an overview of children’s rights, the participants tried the first escape room, created on the basis of “The definition of a child” (Article 1 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). The experience, containing quizzes, code-breaking tasks, and playful puzzles, served as inspiration for all countries for the further creative process.

Joint creation – designing escape rooms:

Tuesday was spent in a calm, creative atmosphere: each country began developing its own tasks in smaller groups. The aim was for the partners to contribute unique and inventive elements to the escape room collection being developed. In this spirit, participants worked with the keywords of the 28th children’s right – the right to education (e.g. support, education, equality) – and created new tasks based on their own professional experiences.

On Wednesday the teams presented their completed tasks to each other, and there was also an opportunity to try them out. In the second half of the day the voting for the project’s official logo took place – out of several excellent submissions, the Romanian team’s design received the most votes.

Testing the escape rooms with local students:

The highlight of Thursday’s programme was the practical testing of the tasks. Ten students from the Petzelt József Technikum és Szakképző Iskola participated in the testing, providing real feedback to the teachers on how young people respond to the games they created. The students’ enthusiasm confirmed that the project is heading in the right direction and that the method is indeed suitable for developing children’s rights awareness.

In the afternoon the participants set out to explore Budapest, visiting Buda Castle and the House of Terror Museum. The cultural programme not only enriched the team with historical knowledge but also provided opportunities for informal conversations and for deepening international connections.

Looking ahead: 42 escape rooms in the service of children’s rights!

During the project a total of 42 escape rooms will be created – both in online and offline form – which will be freely available for students and teachers to try in their own institutions.

The emphasis throughout is on collective thinking, creativity, and sharing experiences. It is hoped that by the end of the three-year cooperation a complex pedagogical toolkit will be created that effectively supports schools in teaching children’s rights.

Authors: Melinda Kornis and Borbála Nagy, teachers of the Zeyk Domokos Technological Lyceum.

News

Are you ready to build a healthier, more relaxed relationship with food and with yourself? Then join Eat with Confidence, an inspiring Erasmus+ youth exchange taking place from 30 January to 5 February 2026 in the cozy village of Palárikovo, Slovakia. During this week-long adventure, you’ll explore how to enjoy food without guilt or pressure. Guided by a friendly nutritionist, participants will learn how to listen to their bodies, understand hunger cues, and discover that food is not just about calories — it’s about joy, culture, and connection. 

You’ll meet young people from Slovakia, Spain, Portugal and Hungary, forming an open-minded community where everyone can share experiences, challenge stereotypes, and learn together. Don’t worry if your English isn’t perfect — this is a safe and supportive space where communication, laughter, and friendship matter more than grammar!🤝Travel costs will be reimbursed up to 417 € and all accommodation, meals, and activities are fully covered — just make sure to apply by 20 November 2025 here.

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Volunteering is so much more than simply offering help — it’s a journey of connection, understanding, and shared growth. When young people from different cultures come together, something truly special is born: a community shaped by openness, acceptance, and curiosity.

We’re thrilled to announce that our international volunteers have arrived at the Transylvanian Youth Association! 🎉
Last week, we held the Get to Know Each Other Days program, where we explored each other’s stories, fears, and hopes. Together, we created our very own bucket list, filled with exciting plans and shared dreams — trips, workshops, cultural events, and lots of laughter.

This week, our volunteers are taking part in the On-Arrival Training (OAT) program, where they’ll prepare for teamwork, develop new ideas, and learn how to make our community even more vibrant and colorful.

Get ready — the next amazing eight months will be full of projects, events, and unforgettable experiences!

A new international adventure begins now — filled with inspiration, creativity, and heart. 💫

Dear volunteers, welcome to your second home — we’re so glad you’re here! 🤍