After 6 months of online discussions and numerous zoom sessions within “Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)”, the Institute for rural Initiatives (iRi) finally met face to face with its local partners. Respecting the conditions imposed by the authorities, and in a friendly atmosphere, the 15 partner NGOs talked about the achievements of the initiative groups in the first half of 2020, the challenges they faced, and what we could do better and more targeted for 30 communities where iRi implements the program.
“One of the challenges we faced was to gain the community trust, which was very reticent that the initiative group can change something in the community, but through our initiatives, we proved that we are able to change things in the community, and young people are motivated to get involved.” – Alina Tugui, program coordinator, NGO Bastina, Riscani district.
“Young people were afraid to meet face to face with LPA representatives and talk about youth problems identified in the community, but the knowledge gained at the sessions organized within the Youth Leadership Academy on various topics, helped young people to put into practice communication techniques with community decision makers, how to make decisions at local level and how to use successful leadership practices. Following these sessions, young people succeeded to meet with the mayor and discuss about the collaboration with the local initiative group in supporting youth actions.” – Irina Ureche, director of NGO Future Generation, Balti.
“For us, the biggest challenge was attracting young people from the community and cultivating the civic spirit online and to maintain it for a long time. It is a longer process that we work continuously together with young people.” – Elena Mina, director of NGO Moms in Action (MIA), ATU Gagauzia.
During fika time, representatives of the 15 NGOs shared their successful practices in implementing the project at local level for the period January-August 2020.
“At leadership and community mobilization sessions within Youth Leadership Academy we invited as experts from Romania to exchange good practices with the initiative groups from 2 rural communities that we mentor in YEP program.” – Veronica Garbuz, program coordinator, NGO Mostenitorii, Balti.
“One of our successful practices is our experience of interaction with local entrepreneurs and stakeholders that help us to involve them in implementing community activities.” – Arcadie Baciu, director NGO Satus Primus STUDIORUM, Anenii Noi district.
“In order to change the mentality and the perception of thinking to achieve something in the community, we need to involve the community citizens.” – Ruslan Stanga, executive director iRi.
In the second part of the day we discussed the future plans of the local partners. After the meeting in Chisinau, the 15 local NGOs, together with the 30 initiative groups, will work to create a community vision with opportunities for youth. Developing the vision is a practical exercise resulting from data analysis of the surveys completed by 1500 young people from 30 partner communities. The initiative groups from 30 communities will invite LPA representatives, community stakeholders and will develop a vision of a competitive community for young people.
Between September and October 2020, the initiative groups, together with local partners, will develop an action plan for young people, and in November the initiative groups will present it to the Local Council.
“With an action plan, you will be well organized. Mayors can request more money for the local budget based on the request of your activities.” – Tatiana Costev, iRi co-executive director.
On this occasion, iRi team thanked the local partners for their courage, responsibility, valuable work and desire to change things at local level despite the pandemic situation.
The activity is part of “Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)”, implemented by the Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi), in partnership with Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP), Ohio, USA with the financial support of U.S. Department of State.
For more photos from the event, please visit the iRi Facebook page: