Projects
SYNERGY Project launches to strengthen youth engagement across Central and Eastern Europe
We are proud to announce the start of SYNERGY, officially “Synergy of practices to counter civic apathy among young people in Central and Eastern Europe”, a new Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the field of Youth project coordinated by us, the Youth Association from Transylvania, and implemented together with partners from Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.
These six civil society organisations will work with young people in both EU Member States and the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood in order to address one of the region’s most pressing challenges: growing civic apathy among young people who feel disconnected from democratic processes, community life and public decision-making. SYNERGY was created as a direct response to these realities, with the overall aim of strengthening the capacity of youth organisations to counter civic apathy and to promote active civic engagement among young people at local level.
During its implementation, SYNERGY will map, analyse and document existing practices from the sicx partners that help counter civic apathy and foster civic engagement among young people. These practices will be explored in depth through six international study visits hosted by the project partners, giving participants the chance to observe methods directly in their original context and discuss them critically with peers and local stakeholders. The project will then move into a large testing phase in all six countries, where at least 18 practices will be adapted and implemented locally, reaching at least 1200 young people and 300 stakeholders. The results will be consolidated and shared through a best practices publication, 18 adaptation videos, and national and international dissemination events.
A strong focus of the project is placed on non-formal education, youth empowerment and stakeholder cooperation. SYNERGY will pay special attention to young people from rural and remote areas, minority communities and other groups facing fewer opportunities. By identifying effective practices, testing them in new contexts and making the results available in six languages, the project will strengthen the partner organisations and will create practical resources that can be used by youth workers, educators, local authorities and other organisations across the region and beyond.
The first official online kick-off meeting of the partnership will take place on the 15th of January, followed by an in-person meeting in Chişinău, Moldova, at the start of February, where partners will review the work plan, align expectations, agree on monitoring and communication procedures, and prepare the upcoming study visits. This marks the beginning of a two-year cooperation process focused on building stronger, more resilient youth organisations and creating better opportunities for young people to participate actively in their communities.
We are excited to begin this journey together with our partners and to contribute to a region in which more young people feel heard, empowered and ready to shape the future of their communities.
