On September 13, 2024, the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) organized the second capacity-building training from the AVANTE course, part of the project “Youth leaders at the table”. The event brought together 10 leaders from 5 rural communities, trained in community mobilization and leadership.
The training was structured into two interactive sessions. The first session addressed the importance of community mobilization and civic activism among youth, emphasizing specific steps through which young people can bring about positive changes in their communities. Through a practical exercise, participants learned how to better understand the needs of young people in the community and act effectively to address those needs. When asked how to mobilize young people in an impactful way, participants responded that engaging activities, relaxing environments, exchange visits between other communities, offering volunteer certificates to the most active youth, and increasing communication about youth activities on social media were necessary.
“I noticed that in our community, things are preserved only when everyone gets involved. Only then people realize and understand that what was achieved is important and valuable. This way, the community takes responsibility and gets involved.” – Nicoleta Marcoci, community facilitator, Gribova, Drochia district.
The second session focused on leadership in the community, where young people discovered what it means to be a leader of an initiative group, the responsibilities that come with this role, and how to collaborate effectively to organize successful local activities and initiatives.
“This is the first time I have participated in such training. It was an impressive experience for me. With the knowledge and tools gained during the training, I can now run for the upcoming local elections :)” – Georgeta Popa, youth leader, Ciuciuleni, Hincesti district.
Through such activities, iRi aims to develop the essential skills of young people for active involvement in rural communities, encouraging collaboration and promoting changes at the local level.
For more photos from the event, you can visit the Facebook page of the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi).
This activity is part of the “Youth leaders at the table” implemented by the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) and local partners with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Comunitatea Mea program, implemented by IREX.