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Description
The TechBintZI project addresses the need to stimulate civic engagement and raise civic awareness and democratic culture among young people in Fierbinti Targ, Ialomita County, a small urban community lacking opportunities for development and civic involvement for young people. The project targets 200 young people who will become active citizens and will be able to mobilize their colleagues to eliminate the existing social and cultural barriers in the local community, by consolidating an informal group of students and a Local Youth Council structure. Over the course of 24 months, young people will gain valuable skills and attitudes in the area of civic engagement and human rights, thus becoming agents of positive change for the rest of their lives. The results of the project are: establishing an informal group of 30 young people from the Fierbinti Targ Technological High School and the structure of the Local Youth Council that can act on behalf of and for the benefit of students, arranging and equipping a meeting and working space for young people, conducting an information campaign among high school students, implementing two leadership and communication programs, implementing an educational program on civil rights and human rights, a monthly vlog made by young people that will contribute both to developing their media skills and improving the image of the city Ferbinti Targ, strongly prejudiced by the comedy series Las Fierbinti. The intervention is designed so that at the end of it the community will continue the project and take it to the next level, to this goal will contribute the partnership between Fierbinti Targ Technological High School, a local NGO - Balkan Development Support Association, which will strengthen a real dialogue between students and the school leadership, local authorities and community, using the model implemented by the third partner, the ACS Community Support Association from Piatra Neamt through the Local Youth Council.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the civic inactivity of young people, a concern at both European and national levels. According to the European Commission''s 2018 communication on youth engagement, disadvantaged young people are less active citizens and have lower trust in institutions. In Fierbinti-Targ, civic engagement is alarmingly low—only 8.44% of young people aged 18-24 voted in the 2020 local elections, compared to the national average of 25.9%.
This lack of engagement correlates with low education levels (a 22.95% high school graduation rate in 2019-2020) and socio-economic barriers, including limited access to resources and support. Fierbinti-Targ also lacks cultural, sports, and volunteer infrastructure, offering few opportunities for youth development.
The project began with the formation of an informal youth group, selecting 30 high school students to participate in a 16-hour leadership and communication training program. Over the course of 25 months, the group attended 12 workshops focused on civic rights, democracy, and media literacy. Additionally, "Living Library" events were organized to encourage critical thinking and civic engagement. A youth hub was established in the local high school, serving as a meeting and activity space. In this hub, the students conducted elections for the positions of president, vice-president, and counselors of the Local Youth Council, which was tasked with implementing youth-led initiatives. These initiatives included environmental clean-ups, elderly support activities, and tree planting. To further amplify youth voices, the group created 12 vlogs highlighting community realities.
The project empowered 30 high school students with leadership and communication skills, fostering their personal and civic development. By participating in workshops and "Living Library" events, students gained a deeper understanding of civic rights, democracy, and critical thinking, strengthening their ability to engage as active citizens. The establishment of the youth hub provided a dedicated space for collaboration and leadership activities, promoting a sense of ownership and responsibility among the participants. The Local Youth Council''s initiatives demonstrated the students'' commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability, benefiting both their community and the environment.