On 15 March, students from ‘Ion Creangă’ Lyceum in Fălești, and on 22 March, students from ‘Pan Halippa’ Lyceum in Edineț participated in special training sessions on decision-making and critical thinking, organised by EU4Youth on Youth Engagement and Empowerment project. The aim was to address challenges faced by young people and promote creative problem-solving.

In Fălești, a group of 20 students engaged in a thorough analysis of community issues. Initially, they believed that youth marginalisation in decision-making, lack of job opportunities, and limited recreational areas were the main concerns. However, a survey of 92 students revealed different priorities: the absence of recreational spaces, increasing violence, and substance abuse.

To tackle these issues, participants formed four groups and proposed solutions. Notably, they suggested establishing an open-air cinema to address the lack of recreational areas, a simple yet effective idea. This proposal gained support for presentation to the Fălești Local Council.

Similarly, in Edineț, over 20 young individuals identified various community challenges, including educational and recreational deficiencies, stray animal populations, urban sanitation issues, and public transportation inadequacies. In response, they proposed organizing a city park cleanup day to enhance community well-being.

These collaborative efforts demonstrate the commitment of young people in Fălești and Edineț to finding solutions to local problems and fostering positive change. Through these training sessions, they are empowered to become active agents of progress, contributing to a better future for all.

The action is part of a series of training sessions implemented by the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ project, co-funded by the European Union and the government of the Federal Republic of Germany, in partnership with Europe Café within the ‘European Year of Skills’.