Cahul District Youth Center: A Promoter of Youth Engagement

The Regional Center for Community Development continues its interviews with organizations providing youth and non-formal education services. This time, the team of the Cahul District Youth Center talks about the various activities they organize for young people. Learn more by reading the full article.

When was the District Youth Center founded and what is its mission?
The Cahul District Youth Center was established on December 21, 2017, by the decision of the Cahul District Council, with the mission of facilitating the personal development of young people, promoting volunteering, and offering diverse opportunities for youth.

What types of services does the center provide for young people?
The center provides information and outreach services, personal and vocational development activities, as well as initiatives for integrating young people into the community.

How many members does the center’s team have, and what are their main roles?
The team of the Cahul Youth Center consists of three members: manager Eugen Braga and specialists Iulia Cașineanu and Natalia Pîrciu.

Are there current team members who were volunteers at the center? How does previous volunteer experience influence their work today?
Iulia Cașineanu was a volunteer and now works as a youth specialist at the Center. She told us: “My experience as a volunteer at the Youth Center was a real milestone in my journey. Participating in event organization and project writing gave me valuable experience in the field in which I now work. This involvement also helped me better understand young people’s needs and the weaknesses of our current activities, allowing me to find ways to improve.”

How is non-formal education integrated into the center’s activities, and what impact does it have on volunteers and beneficiaries?
We are delighted to have received positive feedback from young people regarding non-formal education. They feel free and open to share their ideas. They gain confidence in their own abilities, and by listening to and supporting them, we give them a voice, making them feel empowered.

Can you tell us about a recent successful project or activity?
Within the UNFPA program, we received a minibus called “Traveling Center”, which helps us reach more remote areas in the southern region, such as Leova and Taraclia, where we organize activities related to gender-based and financial violence, among others.

Another successful project is the Talent and Humor Contest (TVC), which returned in 2023 with the participation of high schools from Cahul Municipality. This year, on April 27, the contest was organized with the participation of high schools from the entire Cahul district. Organizing these activities was a challenging process, but both participants and spectators greatly appreciated the event.

An important event in 2024 was the District Youth Forum, which also included young people from Galați and Brăila counties. The event brought together about 170 participants.

How many volunteers does the center have, and what are the opportunities for them?
The center has 20 volunteers aged between 16 and 22, actively involved in organizing events and proposing new activities. The main opportunities for them are personal and professional development. Through volunteering, they can gain work experience that can be included in their CV. By organizing events and interacting with different people, they develop communication and teamwork skills, as well as self-confidence. Volunteering also opens doors to programs and opportunities such as Erasmus.

What are the main challenges you face, and how do you try to address them?
The biggest challenge is the very busy schedules of volunteers, as they often have internships or exams, and we do not want to overburden them. Therefore, we try to adapt our program to theirs, even if this means working overtime.

How do you fund the center’s activities and programs?
The activities are financed through a budget approved by the council, and we are glad that this budget has increased significantly this year.

How do you measure the impact of your activities on beneficiaries?
The impact is measured through a combination of feedback questionnaires and verbal evaluations. For example, in the second half of 2023, we registered approximately 2,000 beneficiaries of our programs and events.

What are the future plans of the center, and what new initiatives are you planning?
Future plans include renovating the center, and in terms of activities, we aim to increase civic activism and get involved in creating other youth centers in the region.

How do you collaborate with other organizations and institutions in the community?
Our center collaborates with various community organizations, including A.O. “AZI”, CSPT “AGAPE”, MilleniuM, IRI, and others, as well as educational institutions in the southern region. These partnerships allow us to develop projects and organize events that benefit our community.

What suggestions do you have for improving cooperation between the youth center and the community?
Conducting periodic surveys and questionnaires is one suggestion to find out what young people need and what is missing for them.

What advice would you offer to young people who wish to get involved in the center’s activities?
On the outer wall of the center, there is a phrase written: “чего стоишь? иди к нам” (What are you waiting for? Come join us). This is our advice – join us!

What message would you like to convey to young people?
Not to stop on their path toward achieving their goals, to be brave, and to turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth and learning. We encourage them to invest in themselves now so they can later invest in others. Be active, creative, and volunteer, because your involvement can make a significant difference in the community.

The District Youth Center is located at: 35 Republicii St., Cahul
Email: centruldetineretcahul.2022@gmail.com
Phone: 0299 8-23-22

This interview was conducted by the Regional Center for Community Development within the local initiative “Promoting Youth Services and Non-Formal Education in Cahul.” The initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), within the regional project “Strengthening Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries.”

Project partner: CONTACT Center.