MoveZone – A Youth Initiative in Cahul That Continues to Bring People Together.

Investments in communities demonstrate their value when the results of a project continue to be used and developed by the people for whom they were created. One such example is "MoveZone", a sports facility established on the grounds of Dimitrie Cantemir Theoretical Lyceum in Cahul Municipality, which continues to bring together children and young people from the local community, including refugees and migrants.

The initiative was developed by the "Liceenii" (High School Students) initiative group from Cahul Municipality and was selected as the winning proposal during the Participatory Budgeting Hackathon, organised by the Regional Center for Community Development (CRDC) as part of the project "Local Mechanisms for the Inclusion and Protection of Migrants and Refugees in Cahul".

The young people's idea became a reality through the involvement of CRDC and the financial contribution of Cahul Municipality City Hall, which covered approximately half of the costs of developing the sports facility. The space was officially inaugurated on 25 September 2026.

From a Youth-Led Idea to a Space for the Entire Community

The "MoveZone" initiative was driven by young people's desire to have an accessible, safe and welcoming place where they could practise sports, socialise and spend their free time together.

Today, this space continues to fulfil its purpose. The "Liceenii" initiative group continues to make active use of the sports facility, helping to maintain an environment where children and young people from different countries can interact and build relationships.

Beyond sporting activities, "MoveZone" serves as a meeting place for people with different experiences, cultures and life stories. Sport becomes a common language through which cultural and linguistic barriers can be more easily overcome and friendships can develop naturally.

Investing in People – An Investment That Continues to Deliver Results

For CRDC, the development of "MoveZone" represented more than the creation of sports infrastructure. It was also an investment in young people's initiative, sense of responsibility and ability to contribute to the development of their community.

Through the Participatory Budgeting Hackathon, young people had the opportunity to identify needs, propose solutions and participate in selecting the initiatives that would receive funding.

The fact that the facility continues to be used after its inauguration demonstrates the importance of involving beneficiaries in identifying and implementing solutions for their own communities.

At the same time, the initiative contributes to promoting social cohesion in Cahul Municipality by providing children and young people from the host community, as well as those from refugee and migrant families, with opportunities to interact in a shared environment.

Projects Come to an End, but Change Must Continue

The Regional Center for Community Development continues to promote an approach in which community members are not merely beneficiaries of interventions but become active participants in developing and sustaining the results achieved.

The "MoveZone" experience confirms that youth-led initiatives can generate lasting results when they are supported by trust, resources and the involvement of local partners.

"We continue to invest in people because we believe in their ideas and potential. We hope that this trust will be mutual and that the people we support will, in turn, continue to stand alongside us in sharing our values and mission. MoveZone is an example of how an investment does not end when an activity is completed, but continues through the way the community makes use of it," is the message of the Regional Center for Community Development.

Through such initiatives, CRDC reaffirms its commitment to supporting civic participation, inclusion and social cohesion, contributing to the development of communities where everyone, regardless of their country of origin, feels accepted and has the opportunity to participate.

This project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union, contracted by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility. The content is the sole responsibility of the Regional Center for Community Development and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.