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Description
The Romanian rural environment needs local leaders; it needs young people from the community to benefit from multidisciplinary, non-formal and experiential training, to create a favorable context for education and development, models and long-term support. The project will increase the degree of civic education and community involvement of children and young people from the communes of Arges (Domnesti, Corbi, Pietrosani and Nucsoara). The problems of children and young people in these rural communities are related to the strictly formal education program and are based only on compulsory curricula, reduced access to information sources, shortage of modern media and ignorance of how they can be actively involved in economic and social life and the politics of the community they belong to. The CRESC project was designed and will be implemented based on the win-win strategy. The need, the problem and the beneficiaries were identified especially through direct observations and empirical research carried out "on the grassroots". The range of problems and unmet needs of young people in rural areas in terms of education and civic involvement is diverse, and the CRESC project will contribute to the partial solution of some of these problems, offering integrated activities that will include training, information and involvement of children and young people in civic education activities, social innovation, sustainable development and environmental protection. For sustainable development, it is necessary to involve every citizen, especially young people, in community problems, in finding solutions and making decisions to solve these problems. The importance of civic involvement has often been demonstrated throughout history, and in rural Romania the power of civic involvement in community life can be seen: we still have villages where people live as in the Middle Ages, but we also have villages that compete with European ones.
Summary of project results
Rural communities in Romania urgently need increased civic engagement, sustainable economic growth, and integrated development focused on education, environmental protection, and resource preservation. In Arges County, challenges include low youth involvement in community life, an education system failing to prepare active, responsible citizens, and a lack of young leaders to inspire civic engagement and development.
The CRESC project was carried out in a community in Argeș County, targeting children and young people from rural communes. It involved innovative activities, non-formal civic training sessions, and practical applications focused on environmental protection. As part of the project, the CRESC Center and the Sustainable Rural Development Laboratory were established within Domnesti Technological High School. These facilities provided students with modern computers and communication tools, as well as a dedicated space for meetings and collaboration. Two editions of The Voice of Argeșean Youth magazine were produced within this space. Additionally, civic training sessions were held in the high school’s study spaces, engaging over 175 students. The project also organized a greening initiative where more than 150 volunteers cleaned a nearby river, and water quality measurements from local fountains were conducted. Furthermore, students were involved in activities that allowed them to experience managing local town halls.
The project contributed to the personal development of students from four municipalities in Arges County, enhancing their skills and opportunities through access to modern technology and resources. The creation of a dedicated space for communication and collaboration fostered civic engagement and interaction among the young participants. Through the publication of The Voice of Argesean Youth, students were given a platform to express their ideas and contribute to the community’s dialogue. The civic training sessions helped cultivate a sense of responsibility and civic awareness among the students, while the greening activities and water quality measurements promoted environmental consciousness and tangible improvements in the local environment. Students'' involvement in town hall management provided them with valuable leadership and administrative experience, further strengthening their civic and practical skills.