About the Project 

The "Preparing Young People for EU Integration" project aims to strengthen democratic values and support the European integration of the Republic of Moldova by empowering young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to become active citizens and leaders in their communities. The Project is implemented in partnership with the CONTACT Centre (www.contact.md) with financial support of the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs of Germany (BfAA).

The project places a particular focus on young people from rural areas, where access to civic education and information about the European Union is often limited. Through training, international exchange, practical initiatives, and public awareness activities, participants will gain a deeper understanding of democracy, European values, civic participation, anti-corruption, sustainability, and the role of civil society.

Project Objective

The project seeks to reinforce democratic values and contribute to Moldova's European integration by increasing young people's knowledge of democracy, civic engagement, and the European Union, while encouraging them to become active contributors to their local communities.

Key Activities

The project will implement the following activities:

• Organise six regional training workshops for young people aged 16–30 on democracy, European integration, civic participation, anti-corruption, climate change, sustainability, and the role of civil society.
• Conduct four international online workshops with German experts and peers, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and intercultural dialogue.
• Organise one Youth Hackathon, where participants will develop innovative ideas to address community challenges.
• Award 10 mini-grants (approximately €1,500 each) to youth-led initiatives promoting democratic development, European integration, anti-corruption, and civic participation in rural communities.
• Implement a public awareness campaign to amplify project messages, showcase youth initiatives, and engage citizens in discussions about democratic values and EU integration.
• Hold a final exchange workshop and closing conference to present project results, facilitate networking, and share lessons learned.
• Develop and publish a practical guide on EU integration in an accessible and user-friendly format.

Expected Results

By the end of the project:

• 90 young people will participate in six regional training workshops.
• Around 200 young people will join four international online workshops.
• 20 youth teams will develop project ideas during the Hackathon, with 10 initiatives receiving financial support for implementation.
• More than 1,500 community members will be directly engaged through youth-led local initiatives.
• The awareness campaign is expected to reach up to 300,000 people, increasing public understanding of democratic values and Moldova's European integration process.

Target Groups

The project targets: 

• Young people aged 16–30, particularly those from rural communities;
• Youth organisations and informal initiative groups;
• Educational institutions;
• Local communities and citizens interested in democracy, civic participation, and European integration.