Federatia YMCA Romania

What about a special training focused on leaders and volunteers from the whole Balkan area? What about new tehnics and strategies that would help the participants, their organizations and their communities?

Together with partners from 17 countries from the Balkan area and also other regions from Europe we have planned a 7 day intensive training in Romania in the end of July 2010. The project has been submited to Youth in Action Programme financed by European Union.

The result of the application are going to be public in the end of march 2010 but we are very optimistic and we are looking forward for this training.

What about your oppinion? What do you think is important to have in such kind of training? Here is the right place to talk about it.

Marius I. Pop

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When I wrote the project I didn’t imagine what the outcome would be. I had in mind the need for a place where young people can come, work together and develop skills. I had the model of the Y4U center in Baia Mare and I had the ideas gathered from the different partners. I knew that what we all wish was to bring people form different countries, with experience in running youth center activities or with a desire of opening such centers, and together to generate new ideas for activities and new partnerships for future collaboration. 

I started the study visit with curiosity of what will happen and each day I had more to discover and learn from the experience of all those involved. It was truly learning by doing all the way. From the organizing team I learned about organization, growth and professionalism; from the participants I learned about motivation, dedication, openness and creativity, while the guests brought a glimpse of wisdom and expertise.

During the seven days of activities I worked a lot and learned even more. I experienced both tensions which we managed to solve with the team and success when I received the feedback of the participants. I opened my eyes and ears to see and hear and be inspired. We got to know each other and find out more about our organizations; we worked and shared ideas in “Open Space”, we discussed with guests from media, city hall, school inspectorate; we experiences different cultures; we visited youth centers and areas of Maramures; we interviewed people on the streets about the needs of young people and we left with new ideas.

The end was not the end but actually the beginning. I believe we achieved what we intended and even more and we left with a promise for future collaboration and a lot of new friends. I already start to see the next steps in obtaining a new space for a Youth Center and developing the activities for young people. There is a lot of work to do on the direction that we started, and what I wish is to keep the contact and exploit at maximum the outcomes of the project.  It’s not too late for YOU(th), but there is not time to waste either.

With enthusiasm,

Alexa Bulboaca

YMCA Romania

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"It`s not too late for you(th)!" has started as an idea one year ago, when we have thought that youth centres are a priority for young people and also for authorities.

Unfortunatelly, our first application has been approved but due to lack of founds, not financed. Then the original plan of the event has changed from october 2009 to february 2010.

16 partners from 14 countries attended to the event from 6th of february 2010 for a whole week. Through workshops, role play, exercises, open discutions all 40 participants got a new image about youth centres, NGO work, activities and good practices.

On the other hand, we have got new insights from so many participants from so many countries. Due to our knowledge this study visit held in Baia Mare was the biggest event as number of countries involved and for this I would like to thank all of you again.

Marius Pop / YMCA Romania

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