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Description
The project aims to increase the ability of the youth to make their voices heard on urgent issues for them and their community and to get actively involved through a public speaking competition - Let’s Talk about YOU (th) ! The need for young people to be actively involved in the community is very high, and the lack of a platform in which to feel heard and encouraged can lead to apathy towards involvement in the communities they belong to. They can become passive citizens without trust in the democratic system. The project consists of a unique mechanism in Romania - the public speech competition Let’s Talk about YOU (th)! where young people make their voices heard on community issues and, most importantly, identify realistic solutions for themselves, community members and public administration. The format of the competition challenges students to reflect on their role in the community, discovering the responsibilities of public administration in order to successfully identify a realistic solution to the identified problem. The project will be implemented in 6 high schools in Mizil, Gaesti, Drobeta Turnu Severin, Buzau, Constanta and Galati where we will work with 12 teachers trained by EFOR to implement a speech competition based on the common methodology. The winning students at the local level will participate in a summer camp where we will organize the national level of the competition. They will work together to understand the issues in depth and implement project aimed at solving the problem in their community. With the support of EFOR and teachers, students will implement the projects in communities. The methodology and the practical experience of the project implementation will allow the teachers to replicate the speech competition after the end of the project, without the substantial involvement of EFOR. The ToT for teachers will facilitate the possibility for them to train other teachers, therefore, the involvement of other schools, ensuring sustainability.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the lack of platforms for youth to voice their concerns and actively solve community issues. Youth participation in Romania had decreased, and the pandemic exacerbated the problem, highlighting the need for innovative and digital ways to engage young people.
The Let’s Talk About YOU(th)! program was implemented in six Romanian high schools, engaging 155 students through public speaking competitions, workshops, and a summer camp. Students then developed and implemented 24 community-focused initiatives on topics like bullying, mental health, and food waste, impacting over 400 youth. The final conference involved 76 participants, including key public and civil society representatives, and highlighted the impact of the program on both students and teachers.
The project empowered youth to become active citizens and provided them with practical tools for engagement, creating a sustainable model for future involvement. Its long-term impact will be seen in continued youth participation and the potential for nationwide expansion of the program.