Teams of adolescents and youth from 13 districts across Moldova, supported by teachers, local authorities, businesses, youth workers, parents, and the broader community, implemented 16 community initiatives. These projects aimed to address local issues and create new opportunities for young people through the sixth edition of the YouCreate program.
Each team received grants of $2,000 or $1,600 to execute their projects. They also learned how to engage community stakeholders to amplify their impact and achieve their goals.
At this year's edition, 70 institutions—including town halls, schools, cultural centers, libraries, and district councils—joined forces with YouCreate participants. Additionally, 18 local businesses provided resources and financial support. The teams raised an additional 158,000 MDL, which they invested in events, project implementation, space improvement, purchases, and travel.
In Răculești village, Criuleni district, youth created a community HUB in the schoolyard, a space for hosting events, workshops, movie nights, and concerts. The project, valued at 70,000 MDL, received significant support from local authorities, covering more than half the costs. "Adults worked hand in hand with us to bring this space to life. The HUB has become the meeting point for youth in our community and is a valuable investment in our growth," shared Ionela Burciu, a student from Răculești.
The YouCreate program is a platform for local youth engagement and participation. Seventy percent of initiatives are implemented in rural areas where development opportunities for young people are limited.
Through YouCreate, youth develop practical leadership skills, collaborate in teams, and implement projects that address real community needs. The program fosters intergenerational dialogue, strengthening relationships between young people and adults and creating a collaborative environment where youth voices are heard.
In Nisporeni, youth organized the city's first festival—Offline Fest 2024—bringing music, dance, and art together to unite the community. Iris Fărâmă, a student organizer, described her experience: "I learned how to plan large-scale events and build effective collaborations with local authorities. Seeing young local talents gain confidence on stage was the most rewarding part. We hope this festival becomes a tradition."
In Florești, YouCreate enabled an extraordinary initiative: youth staged a play by Soroca-based actor Petre Popa. The students chose the play "Arta în ritm" and dedicated their summer vacation to rehearsals, eventually performing it for their peers in town. "Through this performance, young people conveyed a strong message about dreams and ambition. They fully committed to bringing this play to life, inspiring their peers who came to watch them," noted Adriana Daguța, former coordinator of the Florești Youth Center.
YouCreate 2024 teams carried out 222 activities addressing youth interest topics, including assertive communication, ecology, health education, personal development, leadership, and social cohesion.
The YouCreate program is implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with Terre des hommes Moldova and the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău under the "Joint Fund for Strengthening Youth Participation and Developing Youth Centers in the Republic of Moldova." The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Education and Research, the National Agency for Youth, and the Swiss Government.
