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Description
Civic competences provide the basis for responsible and community-minded citizens. In Covasna county, the need for projects targeting civic education is high due to lack of activities in this field, the predominance of organizations in the cultural sector exceeding the rate of 50% compared to the national level. Therefore, it is very important to provide the young people and children from this region the opportunity to develop civic skills that will contribute to building strong communities and the well-being of other citizens.
The project aims to increase civic engagement in the community, civic development and leadership skills among 75 young people from 3 cities in Covasna County (Sfantul Gheorghe, Covasna, Targul Secuiesc) through educational activities, awareness campaigns. The project starts with a campaign that aims to involve young people from the 3 cities. Thus, 35 mentors will support the 75 young people in the process of individual development Media literacy activities will result in 10 educational short films and 9 published press articles in order to promote and make the young people voices heard. To certify their civic spirit, 12 projects will be carried out starting from the needs identified by the beneficiaries. Moreover, 110 people aged 14-35 will be aware of the role of civic engagement, being included in civil society activities. Around 400 people will benefit from awareness campaigns implemented during the 24 months project.
The role of the Icelandic partner is important because it will bring the expertise needed to encourage the civic involvement and volunteering of young people.
The project will create the specific context to encourage young people to get involved in the community, to identify problems and to carry out volunteer activities. It is built to master the methods and to create the necessary premises for the development of the civic spirit at the level of the society from Covasna county.
Summary of project results
The project was initiated starting from the need to offer young people and children from Covasna county opportunities to develop civic skills that contribute to building strong communities and the well-being of other citizens.
The activities and results achieved included, among others: the training of educational mentors, the implementation of an individual development program for 75 young participants engaged in personal sessions in three essential areas: initiative, perseverance, and civic responsibility. 10 educational short films were
produced. Partnerships were created with three local media partners to facilitate the publication of a competition for young people. Youth articles on civic responsibility, civic engagement, volunteering, and media literacy were evaluated and published in these newspapers. Three leadership camps were organized for young people and educational mentors and three community actions were conducted. At the end of 2022, an awards gala was held to recognize young people''s achievements, along with a photo exhibition about the project’s implementation. Within the project, workshops were organized to facilitate experience exchange and thematic sessions on leadership and civic engagement, with active involvement from the partner organization in Iceland. Two fundraising processes were implemented, targeting companies and citizens, and study visits to successful organizations were conducted in order to adopt best practices.
The project had a significant impact on young people and local communities, developing their personal and civic skills and strengthening the
organizational capacity of the association.
Summary of bilateral results
SEEDS brought added value through their expertise in organizing and implementing volunteering activities and civic involvement of young people. The exchange of experience and the workshops were key elements in development of leadership skills and civic involvement of young people and mentors withinthe project.