OPEN YOUTHWORK FOR OPEN SOCIETY
Give a chance to Informal Youth Centres

ROMANIA – Baia Mare
🏢 Youth Centre: Centrul de Tineret Baia Mare

OPERATOR:
Association for Development through Education, Informing and Support – D.E.I.S.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Located in Baia Mare, the capital of Maramureș County in northern Romania.

DATE OF OPENING:
2007

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
Partnership between a local authority and a local NGO

FUNDING:
The facility belongs to the Agency for Youth and Sport Maramureș and is operated by D.E.I.S. Some projects are funded by the agency.

AGE OF USERS:
14 to 35 years old

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders

USERS’ PROFILE:
Open to all young people aged 14–35, mostly aged 14–22 from Baia Mare and surrounding areas.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
D.E.I.S. aims to empower youth to make informed decisions for personal and community development.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:
Daily Activities (Mon–Fri, 2–8 PM):
– Hangout space, study area, hobby support
– Access to board games, support from youth workers
Specific Events:
– Board games, karaoke, movie nights, concerts
– Workshops, training, theatre classes

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION (0–10):
Not specified, but very high

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION:
Activities are designed by youth following consultations. They take leadership roles and organize events, with staff providing resources, support, and mentoring. The centre is seen as a safe, inclusive space.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:

• Daily activity room with furniture

• 2 laptops, Wi-Fi

• Music recording studio and rehearsal/media room

• Kitchen (fridge, microwave, coffee machine, etc.)

• Free counselling by youth workers

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL:
“All activities stem from youth input. They lead and create. We provide the framework, tools, and guidance. This is a judgment-free zone fostering acceptance and growth.”

YOUNGSTERS’ TESTIMONIALS:
Beatrix, 19: “The youth workers changed my life. I went from shy to youth leader and discovered my future.”
Jeanine, 18: “This is the safest place I know. I found my voice and passion for photography here.”

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: http://www.dsjmaramures.ro/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentrulDeTineretBaiaMare

ROMANIA – Izvoarele
🏢 Youth Centre: Curba de Cultură

OPERATOR:
Curba de Cultura Association

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
A local youth centre operating since 2013, created with the help of 25 local volunteers through a Youth in Action project. Serves rural youth in a 50 km radius area. One of the few private youth centres in Romania and likely the only one in a rural setting.

DATE OF OPENING:
05.09.2013

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
NGO, association

FUNDING:
80% from European-funded projects. The rest from self-generated revenue through consulting and training services.

AGE OF USERS:
13 to 24 years old

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders

USERS’ PROFILE:
Primarily youth aged 13–18 from economically disadvantaged rural backgrounds, often with one parent or guardian due to migration. Interests include socializing, music, photography, biking, and movies.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
To reduce the urban-rural gap by promoting development, participation, equality, and active citizenship among youth. Encourages diverse leisure time activities and youth involvement in decisions affecting them.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Peer-to-peer workshops on DIY, recycling, music, and digital design

• Cinema nights, clothes swaps, multicultural events

• Language exchange with international volunteers

• Structured training on leadership, communication, facilitation

• Leisure activities, board games, creative expression

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0–10):
6

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION:
Youth can drop in during open hours (Tue–Fri 14:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–19:00). Activities are youth-proposed, and they implement a variety of self-designed initiatives within a supportive framework.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:

• 4 full-time staff, 4 international volunteers, ~50 local volunteers

• Old house with office/activity rooms, guest space, garden, summer lounge

• Barn cinema in attic, woodworking workshop

• Over 70 board games, 2,000+ books, outdoor cinema equipment, music gear, office tools, 4 cars

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL:
“The atmosphere is unique. It’s a welcoming place for learning, creativity, and meeting people from different cultures. We support youth initiatives with resources and mentoring. It’s a life-changing space for many.”

YOUNGSTERS’ TESTIMONIALS:
Andrea: “It helps me grow and meet people from different cultures.”
Georgian: “I relax here, make friends, and feel inspired.”
Maria: “I feel safe and happy.”
Adriana: “It changes my routine and helps me learn informally.”
Daria: “It’s fun and helps me grow and help others.”

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: http://evs.curbadecultura.ro/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Curba-de-Cultur%C4%83-153846781406285/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curbadecultura/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoZBMuFnUN93TckaaRAKmtg/videos

ROMANIA – Reșița
🏢 Youth Centre: Mansarda Reșița

OPERATOR:
Caras-Severin County Youths and Sports Directorate

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Located in Reșița, near one of the county’s top high schools. The city is outside major commercial routes and has suffered economically since 1990. Most funds are directed to social issues, limiting investment in youth and education.

DATE OF OPENING:
01.12.2005

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
Public, regional entity

FUNDING:
Funded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (14,000 lei for projects, 4,000 lei for maintenance in 2019). The municipality offers the space free of charge and covers utilities. Volunteers support workshop delivery.

AGE OF USERS:
14 to 35 years old

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders

USERS’ PROFILE:
Mainly high school students seeking alternative activities. Some university students and employed youth also participate.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
To stimulate personal development through non-formal education programs. Offers a safe space for youth to practice skills, develop ideas, and manage projects.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Recycled art, handmade crafts, jewelry making

• Music therapy, indoor climbing, pottery

• Street animation and creative workshops

• Documentary film, photography, and guest talks

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION (0–10):
8

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION:
Youth are actively involved in workshops and activities. They can propose ideas and take on leadership within events and project teams.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:

• 3 PCs, 2 laptops, 2 printers (color and A3 copier)

• Foosball, billiards, electric pottery wheel

• 50+ musical instruments (djembe, maracas, guitars, etc.)

• WiFi amplifier, camera, steady cam, badge press

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: https://voluntariat-resina.ro/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centruldevoluntariat.resita/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centruldevoluntariatresita/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHROIL-T64E

ROMANIA – Târgu Frumos
🏢 Youth Centre: Youth Center of Târgu Frumos – A.C.T. House

OPERATOR:
SUPER TINERI (ASIRYS) Association

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Located in Târgu Frumos, a small town in Romania. Initially hosted in temporary spaces, now settled in a modern facility developed through persistent effort and external funding. Previously operated in public institutions, schools, and cafés.

DATE OF OPENING:
26.02.2009

FURTHER INFORMATION:
In 2015, with EEA Grants, they acquired materials and equipment. In 2023, they moved into a new permanent space called A.C.T. House.

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
NGO, association

FUNDING:
Recent years funded mostly through Erasmus+ and ESC projects. Additional support from the Start-Up Plus Programme.

AGE OF USERS:
10 to 35 years old

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders

USERS’ PROFILE:
Youth from rural areas with fewer opportunities. Participants include children, students, and young teachers interested in skill-building, Erasmus+, intercultural experiences, and workshops.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
To develop youth into leaders for positive change. Promotes non-formal education, volunteering, and active citizenship. Aims to inspire change in small communities and create safe, creative, productive environments.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Workshops: dance, photography, archaeology, gender equality, chess, guitar, English, Greek

• Digital education, intercultural events, non-formal sports

• Board games, event planning, and community engagement

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0–10):
8

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION:
Youth involvement is growing. While only 2–3 out of 10 youth create their own activities, the centre encourages long-term volunteer engagement and idea development.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:

• 40+ board games, art and office supplies, sports equipment

• Cameras, laptops, library (books requested by youth), tents

• Video projector, microphones, music system

• New centre includes: shower, professional kitchen, gym, theatre space

• Free access to a large sports room at a nearby school

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL:
“We are the only centre in the area. Despite limited local government support, we’ve built strong partnerships in nearby villages and schools. With a tiny budget, we achieved 370 events in one year involving 120 volunteers and 6,000 participants.”

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: www.supertineri.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASIRYS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supertineri/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/supertineri

SERBIA – Niš
🏢 Youth Centre: Indigo Community Centre

OPERATOR:
Group for Children and Youth “Indigo”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Located across the street from the Roma settlement “Crvena Zvezda” in Niš. Open to diverse individuals and initiatives contributing to child and community development.

DATE OF OPENING:
01.10.2013

FURTHER INFORMATION:
The centre promotes cooperation, networking, and community engagement through teamwork with institutions and local residents.

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
NGO, association

FUNDING:
Funded by donors including UNHCR, UNICEF, REF, Open Society Fund, H.E.Stepic Charity, among others.

AGE OF USERS:
10 to 35 years old

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders

USERS’ PROFILE:
Primarily children and youth, but also adults seeking computer or internet access, assistance, or a platform for initiatives. Parental meetings and mixed-generation workshops are also held.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
To involve diverse stakeholders in youth and community life, encouraging cooperative action and shared responsibility.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Homework assistance

• Psychosocial and educational workshops

• Solidarity-building and inclusive events

• Socializing activities for children and youth from different backgrounds

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0–10):
7

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION:
Children and youth are active in designing, implementing, and evaluating all activities at the centre.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:

• Internet room

• Kitchen with hot water

• Restroom

• Outdoor yard with swings, seesaw, benches, and tables

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: http://www.indigo.org.rs/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrupaZaDecuIMladeIndigo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gdmindigo/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCylpRadO8OQWEwFiYV_j8kA

SERBIA – Pančevo
🏢 Youth Centre: Klub Ljubitelja Igara i Fantastike D20

OPERATOR:
Dušan Kocoljevac

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Located in Pančevo, Serbia at Zmaj Jove Jovanovića 24. The rented space includes one large room, two smaller rooms, a kitchen, a toilet, and attic space for storage.

DATE OF OPENING:
11.11.2014

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
NGO, association

FUNDING:
Funded through membership fees and personal contributions by members.

AGE OF USERS:
16 to 35 years old

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders

USERS’ PROFILE:
Mainly high school seniors and university students.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
To provide an alternative, game-oriented space for youth to socialize and spend quality time. Aims to spread board gaming culture more broadly.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Regular gaming sessions and social gatherings

• Tournaments, movie screenings, miniature painting, and more

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0–10):
10

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION:
Fully self-managed by members. Every aspect of the club, from programming to maintenance, is handled by volunteers.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:

• Large board game collection

• Dedicated gaming and community space

• Storage attic and kitchen for events

SLOVENIA – Murska Sobota
🏢 Youth Centre: MIKK – Mladinski informativni in kulturni klub Murska Sobota

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
The youth center is located inside the Castle of Murska Sobota, which is located in the middle of the City park of Murska Sobota.

DATE OF OPENING:
21.12.1995

FURTHER INFORMATION:
The youth center has been established by the City municipality of Murska Sobota with the intention of providing a place for young people to express their ideas, creativity and fullfil the need for entertainment.
MIKK is also a strong proponent of alternative youth culture and is a very well known venue for live alternative music.

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
Public, municipality.

FUNDING:
Main source of funding is the City municipality of Murska Sobota. Activities of the youth centre are also cofunded by the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. MIKK`s music programme is funded by the Ministry of culture.

AGE OF USERS:
10 to 29 years old.

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders.

USERS’ PROFILE:
We are open to everyone. Most of our users are older schoolkids, highschoolers, students, employed and unemployed youngsters from the local area and the region of Pomurje. Our goal is to connect people from all types of backgrounds and environments.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
The mission of our youth centre is to offer equal opportunity to young people in the local community and region in the fields of nonformal education, access to culture, youth policy and entertainment.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:
Activities in our youth centre range from lectures, debates, round tables on interesting and current topics, live concerts of alternative music, gaming nights which include video games and board games, music workshops (you can learn how to play the drums, guitar or sing), art exhibitions in our small gallery, workshops for developing employment skills in the fields of audio engineering, film, photography, use of graphic design software (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) and video design and editing software (Adobe Premier, Adobe AfterEffects) or just sitting down and relaxing while drinking coffee in the lovely park.

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0 – not existing / 10 – full self-governed youth centre):
7

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
A yearly plan of activities is prepared by the employees with the help of a yearly survey amongst young people and request by the young people or youth organizations. Through the whole year, young people have the ability to express their ideas and realize them with the help of youth workers. They are also provided basic funding for the realization of the idea/project.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:
The House of Youth, as we named our premises in the center of Maribor, came to life in April 2018. Although our youth council has been living in these premises for almost 10 years, we thoroughly renovated the premises in 2017 and in 2018 we opened the doors to all youth organizations and young people. We were able to do this mainly thanks to the volunteers, as we did most of the renovation work ourselves. We will never forget how my team and I spent days, sometimes late at night, painting the rooms, moving and dismantling the furniture, coming up with ideas for what the individual rooms would look like and what was supposed to happen in the House of Youth (President Matic). Today, the Youth House is a modern gathering place for all young people, youth organizations, it hosts almost all major events of youth organizations (members of MMSM and others), we have arranged a support center for youth organizations (administration, production of promotional material, etc.). mainly regular activities. Every Wednesday we host psychological counseling for young people (organized by MC Indijanez), on Mondays young girls “colleagues” gather in the House of Youth (performed by the Nefiks Institute), we also offer teaching aids for young people, and various courses from foreign languages to multimedia workshops . I am proud that my team and I managed to turn the original idea of the House of Youth, as an open space for young people with various activities, into reality after almost two years and countless volunteer hours.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL:
Our facilities entail a gallery, lecture hall/workshop room, club room which contains a cafe and a fully outfitted stage with stage lighting and PA. Rest of the facilities contain office spaces, storage areas and a coworking place. In warmer months our activities are also carried out in the castle courtyard and the entailing city park.

YOUNGSTER TESTIMONIAL:
“I like to visit the house of youth because it offers The hall or lecture room, equipped with several chairs, a computer and a projector, its a multi-purpose living room, which we call simply a ‘living room’, intended for movie nights, playing board games, ‘brainstorming’ or just socializing. Because we really feel like at home. In the back room there are toilets and an ecological corner, a kitchen and an office.”

WEBSITE:
http://www.mikk.si/

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/mikk.ms

INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mikk_club/

YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYrl5-us6i8eodp-Rm_p8xg

SLOVENIA – Gornja Radgona
🏢 Youth Centre: Gornja Radgona Youth Center

OPERATOR:
Zavod Kultprotur

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Gornja Radgona, a town of fairs and sparkling wines, lies in northeastern Slovenia and borders neighboring Austria along the Mura River. Vineyards are planted in the municipality along the most beautiful slopes and ridges, which give the wine-growing region above Gornja Radgona a particularly beautiful appearance.

DATE OF OPENING:
01.02.2014

FURTHER INFORMATION:
The Gornja Radgona Youth Center participates in several national and international programs, intended primarily for youth organizations and informal youth groups.

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
Public, municipality.

FUNDING:
Gornja Radgona Youth Center was selected in a public tender of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport “Employment in the field of youth work in the youth sector” to co-finance the operation “Employment in the field of youth work in the youth sector – 1”, co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union from the European Social Fund. As part of the tender, we hired one youth worker.

AGE OF USERS:
15 to 35 years old.

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders.

USERS’ PROFILE:
In addition to MC employees, our volunteers also play an important role, as they have been involved in various fields within the activities of the youth center for a long time. A team of volunteers is currently actively working to help implement the annual program of the youth center. Volunteers defend the interests of individuals and various organized and unorganized groups of young people from whom they come. They represent a supporting and complementary pillar of operation in the youth center. Young people who work as volunteers also actively participate in most of the activities and events that we prepare in the youth center. Volunteering is of great importance for the development and for the future of the individual as a wider society. It contributes to the development of existing systems, to the development of values, solidarity, social and other progress of society, so it needs to be nurtured and properly valued.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
The Gornja Radgona Youth Center acts as a logistical and functional center for young people in the field of development, information, education and social, cultural activities, entertainment and social inclusion of young people and young at heart. We offer advice on mobility opportunities, non-formal education, training for youth work, assistance in applying for youth tenders, planning youth projects, assistance in planning and organizing events for young people, assistance in establishing and statutory activities of youth clubs, associations, the possibility of volunteering within the youth center (promotion, events), provision of information by the municipality and other local institutions on issues that affect the lives of young people in the local community.
Objective of the operation: The objective of the operation is to encourage and ensure greater employability of young people from the target group of young people in the public tender, which increases the chances of their employment after the operation and contributes to reducing youth unemployment.
The measure to achieve the goal is an incentive for the employment of a young person from the target group of young people in a public tender in the youth sector as a youth worker in the field of youth work.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:
In addition to MC employees, our volunteers also play an important role, as they have been involved in various fields within the activities of the youth center for a long time. A team of volunteers is currently actively working to help implement the annual program of the youth center.
We organise: workshops, concerts, lectures and seminars, cultural events, sporting events.
– informing the public (working with a computer: publications via the website, mailing lists, social networks, preparation of trailers, leaflets, posters, etc. promotional material).
– assistance in preparing the premises (for information, meetings and implementation of individual events).
– assistance in organizing events.
– activities in the field of informing young people and youth work, additional assistance in the implementation of annual program activities.

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0 – not existing / 10 – full self-governed youth centre):
7

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
We believe that the organizations and associations that, in addition to our youth center, mostly deal with young people (Student – Youth Club Klinka, Youth Council of Gornja Radgona, scouts, etc.) perform their mission very well and can be taken as an example by many municipalities. only in Pomurje, but also much wider. The results of many years of thoughtful and active work of individual organizations are clearly visible, as evidenced by the Strategy for Youth in the Municipality of Gornja Radgona 2017–2021, which was adopted last year and is already being successfully implemented. As a rule, young people connect mainly within the mentioned organizations and societies (we should not forget the older young people, who mostly gather in Kud Zrak, Kud Bunker, KGD Insane and the Tenzin Association), and the youth center itself offers them its program cooperation. premises and technical equipment for the purpose of meetings and realization of ideas and projects. We are also susceptible to informal or. officially unrelated groups of young people, as well as individuals who occasionally turn to us with some initiatives and suggestions. Of course, we try our best to help them as much as possible. One of our priority goals is to try to connect these “unorganized” young people, and at the same time actively involve them in the operation of the youth center.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:
The youth center offers space for various activities and performers. There is a club space (Concert and Conference Hall) of the youth center.
The spaces and rooms of the youth center can be used free of charge by: primary school youth, pupils, students and other young people up to the age of 30, non-governmental organizations, schools, kindergartens and individuals in the field for whose organization and implementation the youth center operates, and NGOs and individuals from the fields of culture, education, sports, social and other social activities namely for: for independent, educational, research, creative work and spending free time in the premises of the youth center, for the organization and implementation of its own program contents, within the annual work plan of the youth center, which are accessible to all interested users and visitors of the youth center (events, events) under the same conditions, for the organization and implementation of their own program content, which is free for users, for all non-commercial activities, use of premises exclusively for the operation of non-governmental organizations, meetings and other forms of association meetings for the purpose of operation of the organization.
The technical equipment of the Youth Center Gornja Radgona includes: demountable stage, stage lights,
speaker set: 2 bass, 2 satellites, 4 monitors, a pair of portable speakers, smaller and larger audio mixing desk, 3 microphones, drum microphones, associated audio cables, drum set (Mapex, without cymbals), drumsticks, mounted projector, possibility of projection on the wall or screen (SiOL TV connection, computer …), Laptop, beverage refrigerator under the counter, backstage beverage refrigerator, beverage cooler for sale (commercial sale), coffee machine, table tennis table, computer for public use, darts, men’s, women’s toilet, mixed toilet – “backstage”.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL:
“We are a really great team, so I am very satisfied when it comes to personnel matters. Especially now, when we are significantly strengthened in this area as well (three employees). When I came last September and took over the management of MC, I was the only worker, so I “breathed on my gills” for quite some time. However, if the MC wants to further develop and grow, additional job systematization will be needed in the very near future, as only some temporary forms of employment (public works, projects) that merely patch up the essentials cannot ensure truly continuous, quality and varied program, as Gornja Radgona wants and deserves.
If we touch our visitors, it is more and more obvious during the daily visit, as well as at individual events, and, as it was recently written to your media, that we are increasingly becoming an intergenerational center instead of a youth center. Which I find great. During the day, for example, children from a nearby primary school stay with us the most, and in the late afternoon and evening, and especially on weekends, the older generations predominate. It’s nice to feel the positively relaxed and connecting “rocker” spirit that branches within the club space itself with the immediate surroundings.”

YOUNGSTERS TESTIMONIALS:
“I visit my youth centre mostly so I can attend concerts with my friends, but I also enjoy going to the clothes exchange fair and donate toys or school suplies for kids in need.”
“Mainly almost everyday after class we hang out with classmates at the youth center, because its very nice and we can do a lot of different activities. We can also organise our own activities. Sometimes we also prepare some food and almost all the time we listen to music. The youth center is very connected to music and art and thats why I like to come almost every day.”

WEBSITE:
https://www.kultprotur.si/sl/mcgr

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/mcgornjaradgona

INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mc_gornjaradgona/

YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTWqiNCiezQ8T3ByujVZDJw

SLOVENIA – Ormož
🏢 Youth Centre: Youth Centre Ormož

OPERATOR:
Ljudska univerza Ormož

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Youth centre Ormož is based in a small town Ormož on the Croatian border. It lies in the east part of Slovenia. The town is surrounded by a rural environment, which is full of vineyards, since this is a wine-making region. There are also a lot of bigger farms around the town. The population of town Ormož is about 2000 people. The town has a rich history and beautiful nature. Today it is lacking more sophisticated institutions like theaters, but smaller organizations offer various events for youth and adults. Although Ormož is a town it is closely connected with nature.

DATE OF OPENING:
24.06.2004

FURTHER INFORMATION:
It was opened to prepare quality programs for youth, since prior to its opening there weren’t any available. Besides preparing events for youth, it also presented a meeting point for youth, a place to find help and information about any topics significant to young people. In 2015 it became an organizational unit of Ljudska univerza Ormož (Adult education centre Ormož), but the focused stayed the same as before. Nowadays it represents a connecting point for young and old to create and develop various activities, it offers informal education and training for youth and offers prevention topics.

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
Public body.

FUNDING:
The Youth center is co-financed by the Municipality Ormož, but it is not enough for our activities and work we do. For this reason we apply for different projects that are available. The main on is published by Office of Youth, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. We also apply for projects published by our national agency Movit, by the local Development Agency and many others.

AGE OF USERS:
15 to 29 years old.

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders.

USERS’ PROFILE:
Our Youth centre is available to all young people who want or need our services. The main focus is on youth from 15 to 29 years old, but we extend our work to reach to younger children and adults. Our youth are students, unemployed young people, local young farmers and entrepreneurs.
We work with local primary and secondary schools. We also work with Student club Ormož, Alternative Music Club, local Employment Agency and other organizations that work with young people.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
It represent a focus point where young people of all ages and views, without distinctions and exceptions, get a chance to create and develop various activities while they are also presented with an opportunity for involvement in preventive activities, non-formal education and youth training at the local level. Together with other institutions in the Municipality of Ormož, we strive to improve the quality of life of young people and we develop the following fields of youth work: the creative use of free time, non-formal education, youth mobility, volunteer work, active citizenship, informing and counseling. Our main activities are: coordination of youth activities and events, organization and implementation of school activities, organization and implementation of non-formal youth educational programs, organization and implementation of events of wider significance and obtaining funds for them, offering organizational and technical assistance to organizations that carry out youth activities, and gathering and providing information. Designed entirely on the needs of young people, we use exciting activities as a hook to engage individuals, using this opportunity to address serious issues, which helps facilitate personal, social and educational growth enabling them to reach their full potential in society. Our work builds resilience in young people as well as provides a safe place to engage in not only life changing experiences but fun, informative, social and educational opportunities.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:
We offer various activities and it is difficult to pinpoint to just one typical activity. We prepare and organize concerts, photo exhibitions, discussions, creative workshops, language workshops, travel lectures, trivia quizzes, sewing courses, art workshops, presentations of local farmers and entrepreneurs, festivals, preventive workshops for youth, modern technology workshops (3D printer, graphic tablet), opportunities for international and local volunteering.

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0 – not existing / 10 – full self-governed youth centre):
5

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
Based on our experiences there are a lot of young people who are interested in working with us and attending our activities, but on the other hand there are also many of them who never attend any of our activities. A lot of primary and secondary students attend our activities because we work with schools, otherwise they do not attend. On the other hand many of them come to our youth centre to have a place for socializing.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:
We are based in the castle. We have a big multi-purpose room, which is equipped with a small kitchen, computer and projector, desks and chairs (which can be removed based on the ongoing event) and sofas. The entire place is covered by free WI-FI connection. We also have a table tennis, table football, darts and many board games available.
We have an office for four youth workers which are equipped with desks, chairs, computers and printer.
We have a utility room where we store all materials needed for various workshops, speakers, sewing machines, panels for photo/drawing exhibitions and other things.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL:
1 “We are a small youth center and for this reason we have a more personal contact with all young people. Our activities are various and cater to the needs and ideas of young people. We have the opportunity to ask them what they want or need and we can provide this.”
2 “I work with the youth center as a volunteer. I like the diverse range of activities I can participate in. I like the relaxed atmosphere and varied activities. I always find some interesting activity for myself.”

YOUNGSTER TESTIMONIAL:
“After class we hang out with classmates at the youth center and wait until training. There is always something to eat in the kitchen. Sometimes we prepare warm sandwiches and something to snack on. Sometimes we do nothing, sometimes we play table football and listen to music.”

WEBSITE:
https://www.mco.si/

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/mcormoz

INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mcormoz/

YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYegnj7ERNmblWZsX9kPyfA/featured

SPAIN – Sabadell
🏢 Youth Centre: Espai Jove Can Rull

OPERATOR:
Taller d’Art, Cultura i Creació (TACC)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
The youth centre is located in the city of Sabadell, at the neighborhood of Can Rull. This is a working class neighborhood of around 20,000 inhabitants, where families from different backgrounds live. Our space is located in the community centre of Can Rull, a municipal facility that offers a wide number of services to the citizens of the neighborhood. There are different entities in the neighborhood, such as the school of functional diversity Xaloc, and they work in a network. They also run some inter-generational activities with the elderly people who go to the civic centre.

DATE OF OPENING:
14.12.2004

FURTHER INFORMATION:
The youth centre is located at the second floor of the civic center of Can Rull, a municipal facility where there is attention to the citizens and a meeting room for the elderly, an access connection point, an auditorium, and a place for different workshops. Also it is operated by us an NGO.

KIND OF ORGANIZATION:
NGO, Association.

FUNDING:
Main source of funding is the municipality. By means of a performance contract, they finance almost all costs of the youth centre, and with this budget, TACC pays the personnel costs and materials for activities. The building maintenance costs are covered as part of the municipal facility costs.

AGE OF USERS:
12 to 29 years old.

GENDER OF TARGET GROUP:
All genders.

USERS’ PROFILE:
Most of the young people who go to the youth centre are youth aged 12–18 years old, who are in high school and who belong to the geographic environment of the youth centre.
They are coming from different backgrounds: Moroccan, Senegalese, Roma community…, and also young people from social services. It is a working-class neighborhood, and there are many families with somewhat difficult economic situations. Some young people go to the youth centre because they don’t have WiFi at home.

MISSION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
The mission of the youth centre of Can Rull aims at:
– Bringing young people a model of leisure, culture and art with different tools and activities.
– Internationalizing the socio-educational activity of Can Rull, with the support of European volunteers in the dynamization of activities, and participation of the young people of the space in youth exchanges organized by TACC.
– Offering a proposal of activities designed by young people.
– Using art and culture as a tool for training and social inclusion.
– Offering and facilitating a meeting space for young people.
– English workshop (cineforum of films in English, debates, etc).
– Classic board game tournaments.
– Cineforum on different topics: feminism, racism, etc.
– Sport and free time activities (ping-pong, playstation).
– Different group dynamics.
– Geo-location activities, tournaments, gymkhanas, nature.
– Space for homework.
– Some artistic disciplines’ workshops (dance, painting, handicrafts…).

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES:
– Daily social and cultural activities
– Artistic workshops
– Homework support
– Cineforums
– Recreational games and tournaments
– Volunteering and mobility projects

SCALE OF PARTICIPATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION (0 – not existing / 10 – full self-governed youth centre):
8

DESCRIPTION ON THE PARTICIPATION/SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE YOUTH CENTRE:
Young people could design the activities they would like to do at the youth centre, and the youth workers facilitate them.
Currently, with the measures of the covid, the number of young people allowed daily in the youth centre is 10. Before the existence of the covid we had a capacity of 50 young people, which every day we met the full quota.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES:
The youth centre consists of a single room where everything needed to perform the different activities is centralized. Our facilities have:
– Computer space to make consultations or homework.
– Tables and chairs to be able to develop different activities.
– Ping-pong table.
– TV with playstation.
– International mobility advisories.
– Academic advisories.
– Labor advisories.
– Other types of advice.
– Chill-Out Sofas.
– Social networks and contact for any questions or queries.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL:
“It is important to know that the youth centre of Can Rull is in a neighborhood of Sabadell that is not very large in terms of inhabitants. This helps us to cover practically all the young people in the neighborhood and we can have a much more personalized attention. We believe that this is an important step in terms of a youth space, to be able to dedicate the necessary time to each moment and each young person. The link that exists between young people in the youth centre is very positive even though there are different young people, different ages and motivations, we always find the same link.”

YOUNGSTERS TESTIMONIALS:
“After all morning in high school, I come to the youth centre to have a good time with the people I know. The activities every day are different and I like that we can talk about everything while we do them. They are also always fun and entertaining and I would rather be here than in the park.” – Thalia, 14
“I come to the ‘espaijove’ because at home I don’t have Internet and I need to do my homework somewhere. When I finish, I take advantage of them and do the activities that I like the most, such as playing ping-pong or doing debates while watching some movies.” – Ayoue, 12

WEBSITE:
https://web.sabadell.cat/xarxa-d-espais-joves

FACEBOOK:
https://es-es.facebook.com/espai.jovecanrull

INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/espaijovecanrull/

DESIGNER
“Anna Landsberger” International Youth Centre – Roter Baum Berlin UG.

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Virtual informal.

AGE AND GENDER
From 14 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
The activity was carried out in order to have a wide range of activities for our youth centre “Anna Landsberger” also during the Corona pandemic. We wanted to offer different types of workshops online to make our activities as diverse as possible. In doing so, we also always made sure that the young people could interact with us.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
No, the activity is not prepared for any kind of target group. Make up should be for everyone, without the focus on gender, age or other criteria.

PREPARATION
In order to make a make up session, you will need a table and a mirror in front of you. Also, you will need a good lichting in the room, so the viewers can see your face proberly. Because it is supposed to be a live video via Instagram, you will have to record it with your phone. For the tools, you will need different kind of brushes, eyeshadow palletes, blushes, lipsticks and other.

DESCRIPTION
1) Prepare the table and mirror. Put your make up tools in front of you on the table, so you have easy access to everything. As already mentioned, you will have to adjust the light as well. Find a spot or a tripod to place your phone in front of you.
2) Start a live video via Instagram. Make it as interactive as possible. You can ask the viewers which colors or products to use. Also, you can do make up challenges, like painting your face in a funny way or doing your make up without the mirrors. The viewers should always be included in decision making.
3) During the process, you can answer questions in the comments or give some advices, if viewers are asking for them. Also, you should always put in words, what your steps are so the viewers can follow you easily.

EVALUATION
We have a Facebook group in which we communicate with the youngsters on a daily basis. We ask them, what kind of activities they want to do as well as asking them, what they liked or dislikes about previous activities.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
From 2018 to 2019 they reached their goal and thus were able to go on a ski trip to Czech Republic with the youth workers. After that, we asked them if they want to continue with the piggy bank, in which they all agreed on. This year, they once again collected enough money. The youngsters decided to do a sommer vacation this time in Croatia, which will take place in July 2020. Since 2018, the group of youngsters in our youth centre changed. But even the new visitors are very motivated and joined the project.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL
“Our youth centre is special, because the youth workers and the youngsters work in a big team. The youngsters are included in every decisions we make regarding the youth centre. We have regular meetings in which they can decide with us. Also, the youth workers are very passionate in creating a versatile content for the visitors of the youth centre. We try to keep them busy while learning in a nonformal way.”

WEBSITE
www.roter-baum-berlin.de
https://www.facebook.com/AnnaLandsbergerIJZ/
https://www.instagram.com/annalandsberger/

DESIGNER
Roter Baum Berlin UG through the project “Diver’R’city”.

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Non-formal.

AGE AND GENDER
15 to 27 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
Dive’R’city is a youth culture project of the social institution “Roter Baum Berlin”, which has been in existence for over ten years and enables young people to hold various open air events. The project was initiated by a holiday of our boss in Nizza, because he saw there how young people organized a youth culture event low-threshold and with little costs. The idea to implement this in Berlin was the foundation stone for the project.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
The project aims to help young people to stand up for their interests and to live out their youth culture. Especially in big cities and in times of gentrification it is all the more important to support young people in standing up for their freedom and interests.
The focus here is on every young person who wants to take advantage of this offer. There are deliberately no differences, because the offer is aimed at every young person.

PREPARATION
We support the young people in the run-up to their projects, help with the application for the respective location (application to the district green space office and public order office, as well as the environmental office), provide material (stage, music technology, toilets etc.) and funds for artists*innen & Co and help where we are brought. This happens in regular group meetings and a continuous group chat via social media channels. In addition, the respective event is advertised in advance on various channels and the respective immediate surroundings are informed. A constant contact between us employees and the participants is very important.

DESCRIPTION
The day before the respective event, everything is prepared and invited together so that everything can run smoothly on the day of the event. On the day of the event, the respective participants* meet in the morning at the event location to unload and set up everything. During this process, as well as during the event period and the dismantling, there are assigned responsibilities. (Stage construction and dismantling, technical support, artist support, catering, decoration, loading and unloading, contact persons, setting up and clearing away rubbish bins, ashtrays and toilets, etc.) Constant contact between employees and participants is also important and indispensable in this process. It is also important that there is a main person in charge who has an overview of everything and is the contact person for all departments. This person works with a checklist that has been developed in advance to be able to keep an overview.

EVALUATION
The evaluation of the respective event is first discussed among the employees and then evaluated together with the participants at a follow-up meeting. Here we discuss what went well, where there were complications and how these can be avoided at the next event. The wishes and needs of the participants are always taken into account.
For the team organizing the activity evaluation is done through an evaluation meeting after the activity, in which the preparations and implementation parts are discussed and evaluated, as well, the feedback from participants is discussed and moreover, based on the conclusions of the evaluation, further plans are made.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
The project is financially supported by the Youth Democracy Fund and the Musicboard Berlin.

YOUNGSTER TESTIMONIALS
“It was a great idea to be part of the DiveRcity project to create my own event. I learned a lot of new things and was able to consolidate many more competences. I was supported and helped when necessary, but I was never restricted or ignored. The moment when the DiveRcity event you have planned finally starts and the long preparatory work and commitment finally pays off is unforgettable and not comparable. Along the way you get to know new people who share similar interests. With whom you can get together and work on further events. I would recommend everyone to visit a DiveRcity event once, because the vibe is simply made with heart and you can feel that.”

WEBSITE
https://www.facebook.com/DiveRCity.Jugendkultur/
https://www.instagram.com/divercity_open_airs/

DESIGNER
Palermo Youth Centre

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Informal

AGE AND GENDER
18 to 35 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
The activity was implemented during a period of heated political confrontation in Italy on the immigration issue. The aim of this activity was to inform and sensitize the participants about inherent issues, trying to limit the instrumentalization of the media in order to reveal the real social problem.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
No, every youngster is welcomed to join.

PREPARATION
The first thing to prepare is the place where the short films have to be showed, so chairs and the projector. In addition its possible prepare some brochure with a brief description of each short film and a poster of the event.

DESCRIPTION
After defining the details of the event with the exodos association, our partner in this activity, we produced a poster and several brochures to advertise the event inside the youth center, we prepared a post for facebook and instagram for visibility on social media. The cardholder verbally informed the members at the entrance of the organized event. When the day arrived, we prepared the sessions to welcome the participants and allow them to view the short film projected outside the villa trabia venue.
At the end of the screening, a debate started between the participants, the directon and the main actor regarding the topics covered by the short film.

EVALUATION
Following the activity, the director and the main actor explained the reasons that had prompted them to shoot the short films, telling their emotions. This resulted in a debate on the topics dealt with which allowed participants to gain greater awareness on the issue of immigration thanks to the sharing of best practices. our staff inevitably participates in all our activities, thus becoming their topics of debate and daily conversation between us, allowing us to learn something new every day.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
Yes, PYC and Exodus.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL
“The great peculiarity of our association is the aggregation that is created between the members with activities of all kinds, from taking care of the membership center itself to organizing cultural and environmental events, such as the cleaning of our second summer venue or the participation in events such as gay pride.” Chiara, 19, youth worker.

YOUNGSTER TESTIMONIALS
“I think cinema is the form of communication that manages to reach as many people as possible, managing to extrapolate the central point of a question so that it is easier to think about it. it was what the business was able to do, especially thanks to the presence of those who thought and made the short film.” Antonio, 25, university student.
“It was very moving. participating in this activity allowed me to see the issue from the point of view of the individual human being. know some realities behind the phenomenon of immigration, thanks to the participation of the director who told some anecdotes of the filming.” Sofia, 24.

WEBSITE
https://www.facebook.com/PalermoYouthCentre/

DESIGNER
Group of Sicilian students.

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Informal

AGE AND GENDER
15 to 30 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
The activity was implemented in order to discuss young brain-drain and the reasons why a lot of students are forced to move to continue their studies. The idea is to imagine a different model for the development of the city which sees major participation of young people.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
The activity was addressed to everybody, but especially to university students and immigrants because they are really damaged by the few opportunities and resources of the city and, very often forced to leave Sicily even if they would prefer to remain.

PREPARATION
We invite guests, advertised the event through the creation of posts on our social media, rented an audio-conference system with microphones, prepared the workshop and prepared something to eat in order to offer dinner to the participants.

DESCRIPTION
Structure of the activity:
– Introduction.
– Special guests speeches.
– Open discussion.
– Conclusions and entertaining.
After the introduction where the topic is presented, we all listen to our special guests’ speeches about brain-drain, immigration and the different opportunities for the city. Usually, we invited testimonials from social associations such as “ARCI”, “Mediterranea”, “Casa Nostra”, but a lot of other groups take part in the discussion. During the meeting both university students, immigrants and city workers compare and discuss their lifestyle and their everyday problems, but also their expectations about their future and hopes. So the workshop focuses on discussions and debates thanks to our participants and guests at the event. As a further contribution, during the debate, we usually show presentations, docufilms or introduce contents from articles or books. In the end, we use to join a multi-ethnic dinner with Sicilian Mediterranean dishes. Sometimes, there are young bands entertaining people with their music or young people doing demonstrations of street art.
I think is a very great opportunity for our city because we compare different kind of lifestyles and situations that are all linked to immigration and the obligation to move and leave the hometown.

EVALUATION
Usually, the evaluation is an informal process based on direct feedback and colloquial of participants.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
It was a self financed activity.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL
“Our youth centre is special because there, people can be themselves, express passions, spend time with friends, but above have the opportunity to make something great to improve the city.”

YOUNGSTER TESTIMONIALS
“This activity made me think about how different situations can be all linked by something and I was able to discuss with others and express my opinion.”
“I loved this activity! I had the opportunity to listen to a lot of people telling their stories and hopes, so I reflected on the meaning of my life and how I am blessed to find myself among them.”

WEBSITE
https://www.facebook.com/circoloAUT/

DESIGNER
Brasov Youth Centre & Volunteer Centre

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Non-formal.

AGE AND GENDER
14 to 24 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
Within the Brasov Youth Centre we are focusing on non formal education activities. “BIG TAM TAM” is a very good example of a sum of little projects (all the ideas coming from the youngsters) touching a wide range of interest areas/ topics in very simple/ basic ways.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
The activity is open to anyone coming to the Youth Centre, according to their interests/ likes.
PREPARATION
BIG TAM TAM consists of various trainings and workshops. According to the topic, first we need a trainer/ facilitator and each person decides on the number of participants, needed materials and the room from the youth center he/she will use.
For example: Clay Houses Workshop – the facilitator is a South Korean living in Brasov, we decide with him about the length and frequency of the workshop. Let’s say 2 months, every Friday. He tells us how much clay does he needs and we buy it, and then he start preparing the workshop with videos for the participants, designs for the little houses, colors and so on.

DESCRIPTION
1) Launch some topics for the trainings and workshop. Let the young people answer during one month, at the end of the month see the results, including topics that they are proposing.
2) Decide about 4-5 topics, no more and find the trainers or facilitators. Meet with them and establish with each the forseen learning outcomes.
3) Decide with each trainer/ facilitator about the number of participants, frequency of meetings, needed materials. Establish a schedule (4 or 5 days per week, each time other activity).
4) Launch the activity (social media, web page) and wait for people to subscribe.
5) Have a pilot phase. In our case we had the pilot 2 months at the end of 2018.
6) Start the workshops and trainings and adapt to the participants. 7) Meet once per month with the trainers/ facilitators for evaluations.
8) At the end of each training and workshop have an evaluation with the participants.

Big Tam Tam – pilot phase – November / December 2018 – Brasov Youth Centre – 4 meetings for each topic, 6 trainers/ facilitators, 10 persons/ group.
Topics: Personal Development,  Financial Education, Leadership, Communication, Project Management,  Road Education for Bicycle,  Phone Photography, Video Animation, Clay Houses

Big Tam Tam 2019 – January/ December 2019 – Brasov Youth Centre – 6 trainers/ facilitators, aprox. 10 persons/ group.
Topics: Financial Education (4 meetings), Project Management (4 meetings), Phone Photography (4 meetings), Video Animation (12 meetings), Clay Houses (8 meetings), Conversational English (10 meetings).

EVALUATION
With the participants – for each training/ workshop there is a 1 minute informal evaluation at the end of each session, then every time is needed in order for the trainer to adapt to the specific needs of the specific group and at the end of each training or workshop – a small project or task to fulfill and a formal evaluation, including one on the paper (multiple choice and open questions). With the trainers/ facilitators – every time is needed with each person, once per month with all (so we can adapt the schedules, needs in term of materials, make changes if needed) and in the end of each training or workshop we have a discussion with each person to know if we will continue with another group on the same topic or not.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
DJST Brasov (Ministry of Youth and Sport)

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL
“The idea of this activity was brought to my attention by the Volunteer Center members: they thought about an activity that has a loud name, drawing attention to the Youth Centre and with emphasis on showing youngsters what non formal education stands for. I think the activity was a success both in 2018 and 2019 and we will continue in 2020. We worked mainly with volunteer trainers / facilitators and with a lot of creativity within a small budget.” Catalina Tanase

WEBSITE
https://www.facebook.com/centruldetineretbrasov/

DESIGNER
Association for Development through Education, Informing and Support – D.E.I.S.

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Informal

AGE AND GENDER
14 to 35 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
Our young volunteers made us aware of the few opportunities they have to talk about their emotions. Having attended another world cafe tackling similar themes as PicniCafe, they came up with the idea of organizing it at our youth centre. Also, discussing with other young people from the community we noticed that few young people are aware of the impact youth workers can have on their development and, generally, what is a youth worker.
Therefore, the goal of PicniCafe was to create a context for the emotional development of young people. Our objectives were:
1. Rising awareness about youth workers among young people.
2. Creating a context in which young people can talk about the problems they face.
3. Developing communication competencies for 2 members of our PR and communication team.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
Our activity was prepared for all young people aged between 14 and 35 from Baia Mare or the county of Maramureșs.

PREPARATION
Needed materials: markers, papers, snacks, hot drinks (coffee, tea), juices, water.
Human resources: 5 youth workers.
Special requirements: blankets and pillows.
Due to the fact that PicniCafe is a world cafe organized as a picnic, the activity takes place outdoors. Therefore, space needs to be cleaned of any garbage, the grass needs to be cut and the ground should be dry. A corner with snacks and drinks is also required. Also, for best results, it is advised that space be in a relatively quiet area with no intense traffic of loud noises nearby.
DESCRIPTION
Before the day of the activity:
1. Choosing the 5 topics that will be discussed (ex: school problems, dreams for the future, etc.).
2. Preparing an efficient advertising campaign in social media to reach as many young people as possible.
3. Choosing 5 youth workers to facilitate the discussion.
4. Contacting the 5 youth workers and establishing the date and time of the activity.
5. Choosing 5 volunteers to assist the youth workers at the World Cafe.
6. Creating a Facebook event and starting the advertising campaign.
7. Keeping an eye on the weather forecast and thinking of alternative plans in case the weather is not favourable for the activity.

On the day of the activity:
8. Arranging the space with blankets and pillow and the snack/coffee corner.
9. Welcoming the participants and dividing them in an equal way on each topic.
10. Explaining the activity to all participants.
11. Discussions start at each blanket. The assisting volunteer takes notes while the youth worker facilitates the discussion. After 10 minutes each team goes on to the next topic. 5-minute breaks are taken every 20 minutes.
12. After all teams discussed all topics, a longer break is taken (10 – 15 minutes) while volunteers rearrange the space.
13. The assisting volunteers present the ideas and conclusions of the discussion at their blanket.

After the activity:
14. Youth workers discuss the conclusions.
15. Sharing the conclusions on social media and maybe taking the results into account when planning future youth activities.

EVALUATION
During PicniCafe, participants were encouraged to leave anonymous feedback on colourful pieces of paper that our volunteers hung on the trees. Also, youth workers asked for direct feedback at the end of the activity.
After the activity, the team had a meeting dedicated to evaluating PicniCafe and for processing the learning experience of the volunteers.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
Yes, by the Agency for Youth and Sport Maramures (representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Youth and Sport in the county of Maramures)

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL
“One of the most important aspects of our youth centre is the fact that we involve young people as much as possible in every activity or decision. All the activities that take place in the youth centre are the result of the previous consultation with young people regarding their needs. Also, most of the activities and projects are designed and organized by young people, with the support of youth workers. To be more specific, we take care of the administrative aspects, we offer them the resources available, the general context and the counselling they need, and they have the freedom of designing and organizing the activity in whatever way they feel would best suit their needs. They take leadership positions and work in different teams, they learn from each other and we offer them support in their learning process after these experiences.
What we also consider important, especially because is something that young people coming to the youth centre have mentioned several times, is the fact that this a safe place where they feel like they can be themselves without being judged. This is a place where people agree to accept and understand each other, and a place where they learn to see beyond looks and behaviours.
Both of these elements met in the PicniCafe event.”

YOUNGSTER TESTIMONIALS
“I believe that PicniCafe is benefic for the young participants and generally Baia Mare. It was the first time I took part in an activity of this type and I feel that it helped me become a more open person and get used to talking to other people about my problems.” Mihai Riglea, 15
“I came to PicniCafe alone, with no expectations. I remember that the first topic we discussed was “future plans”. I had the opportunity to talk openly with people who were truly listening to what I had to say – not only the youth workers but other young people who finished high school or university. I was surprised by the diversity. There were high school students, but also university students and young people who started earning their living.” Raul Horgos, 17

WEBSITE
www.facebook.com/CentrulDeTineretBaiaMare

DESIGNER
Group for Children and Youth “Indigo” (Serbia).

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Non-formal.

AGE AND GENDER
10 to 18 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
Around 65% of Roma children in Serbia complete primary education. Roma children, to a large degree, do not speak Serbian at home, so their inclusion in the education and social system is even more difficult. Their parents often neither have the time nor the means and motivation to support their children’s education, although this is the only way out of the vicious circle of intergenerational transmission of poverty for this community. Roma children are often involved in child labour at an early age, thus losing the opportunity to obtain any education and break the poverty circle. A significant number of Roma children accompany their parents for seasonal work or to go abroad, which causes temporary or permanent drop-out from the education system. Roma girls younger than 18 are often married to boys chosen by their parents, which prevents them from continuing education. Thus, Roma children need a lot of additional support to continue education.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
The activity was prepared for Roma and other marginalised children.

PREPARATION
Since our main activity includes homework and studying assistance, our educators prepare the learning materials in accordance to the school curriculum of the children. In their work with the children they use the Internet on the computers in the Community Center, notebooks, pens, colouring pens, colouring books and different didactic materials and educational board games, available in the center.

DESCRIPTION
The support is provided to the children in two groups, in line with the epidemiological situation and the instructions of the competent authorities. One group consists of the children from I to IV grade and another group consists of the children from V to VIII grade. The educator forms small studying groups, consisting of the children of the same or similar grades and assigns tasks to the volunteers. Some children sometimes work individually with a volunteer, in line with their needs. The focus is on achieving independence of the children in doing homework and studying, as the educators and volunteers work on developing their studying skills, researching skills, Internet and IT skills, etc. The peer support is also encouraged, so that the children develop a sense of solidarity and confidence.
Every Friday, in both groups, we organise workshops or other non-formal learning activities that are recreational and fully engage the children and volunteers in the choice of themes and preparation of the activity. These activities can be quizzes, lessons of Romani language held by the children for the volunteers, psychosocial workshops on the themes that are important for the development of the children, their emotional state, social and communication skills. These events can also be an opportunity for getting to know the children better, recognising their talents, interests and strengths, and further planning based on the participation of the children. Finally, this is an opportunity for the volunteers to get the practical experience of planning, implementing and assessing the effects of an activity with the children.

EVALUATION
The main monitoring and evaluation tool is the progress the children achieved in school. We regularly obtain the information from the school, so that we can plan further interventions with the parents and school teachers. The volunteers are also involved, as they evaluate their personal and professional development due to the involvement in the programme by filling out the input and output questionnaires.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
Yes, by the H. Stepic CEE Charity, Roma Education Fund and other donors.

WEBSITE
https://www.facebook.com/GrupaZaDecuIMladeIndigo/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCylpRadO8OQWEwFiYV_j8kA
https://www.instagram.com/gdmindigo/

DESIGNER
MIKK Murska Sobota (Youth Centre, Slovenia).

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Non-Formal

AGE AND GENDER
15 to 35 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
After conducting yearly surveys among youth, we have detected a need for a relaxed nonstructured activity with the focus on socialising and meeting new friends using board games, video games and table football.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
The activity is intended to be fully inclusive, so there is no specific target group.

PREPARATION
Needed materials depend on the focus of the activity. For basic use you need a few card game decks, a few board games and/or a table football. For the videogame part a gaming console and a projector or TV is recommended. It is also a bonus if a local game store/society is included in preparation, since they can carry part of the financial burden

DESCRIPTION
There are 3 types of activities:
-Board game night,
-Videogame night,
-Table football tournament.

Depending on your capabilities you can choose either of them or combine them for maximum effect. The underlying goal of the activities is to connect young people by using a medium of relatable and fun activities to induce a sense of belonging and a possible opportunity for further development.

All three activities also offer possibilites for development of certain skills and can promote entrepreneurship. For example: board game nights can inspire youngsters into creating their own board games, videogames can bring young people together, raise their competetive spirit and drive them to E-sports, which is becoming a big deal in the whole world, with potential for becoming a full time job. Table football is the least impactful of the trio, but it can allow for many opportunities for social gathering and can also be a competetive sport with amateur and even proffesional leagues and tournaments around the world. All these activities can include a wide variety of young people and with no need for athletic prowess.

EVALUATION
The evaluation process with participants involves interviews and short questionaires about suitability of a certain activity and interest for further development.
Evaluation among staff relates mostly to the number of participants and summary of participants reactions.

WAS FUNDED? BY WHOM?
Activity is funded by ourselves, MIKK Murska Sobota.

WEBSITE
http://www.mikk.si/
https://www.facebook.com/mikk.ms
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYrl5-us6i8eodp-Rm_p8xg

DESIGNER
Mestni Mladinski Svet Maribor (Youth Centre)

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Non-Formal

AGE AND GENDER
15 to 30 years old. All genders.

CONTEXTUALIZATION
Who are the “Mladiborčani”? These are young volunteers who care about Maribor and will therefore take matters into their own hands. “Mladiborčani” strive for changes in city.
In 2018, the Maribor City Youth Council launched the “Mladiborčani” project, which became the central volunteer project for young people in Maribor. Thus, in 2018 they carried out the first volunteer action on the Old Bridge – they cleaned it of rubbish, graffiti and remnants of stickers from the fence, removed weeds along the curbs and symbolically painted part of the fence of the Main Bridge.

IS IT FOR AN SPECIFIC TARGET GROUP?
With the desire for the sustainability of the project, we wanted to establish a base of young volunteers who will collect volunteer hours at various campaigns and will also be rewarded with symbolic sponsorship awards for their efforts. In this way, they became part of the “Mladiborčani” community, and their affiliation among young people have also been strengthened by receiving a membership card and a “Mladiborčan ‘sn” bracelet.

PREPARATION
For the activity we need different materials. Our youth center offers many equipment for various workshops. With support of the government, different projects and our municipality we also buy material that is needed for the campaigns and events.

DESCRIPTION
The project became permanent and was continued in the coming months with a number of campaigns around the city also in 2019 and 2020. At the same time, all young people who would like to help, public companies, as well as sponsors, are invited to participate so that the implementation of many campaigns can succeed also in the future. The main activity should be implemented by the idea of volunteers and staff, find a problem and a great name for the activity. Next step is to organise it, to make a plan and divide the work. Than start to promote the idea and the activity. Make a great team that will help you and realise the activity. What is left is just to pick a date and implement the activity in a specific place.

EVALUATION
Day after the activity we meet at our youth center and we talk about the activity or the event. We maily speak how to improve future events and we also talk about all good things that happened during the activity, because we want to motivate our volunteers and workers to be better in our future activities.

YOUTH WORKER TESTIMONIAL
“Our youth center is special because its like second home to our users. Our living room became like a second home for our volunteers and for our staff. It is also a nice center for meeting with friends and making a lot of workshops and spending some quality free time.”

YOUNGSTER TESTIMONIALS
“I am happy that I can visit youth house almost every day. Also I am very happy to be part of the team as a volunteer and help our town with some activities and events. The activity “Mladiborčani” was a great experience and also it contributed that many young people joined our project and also to our NGO as volunteers.”
“The activity brought me new connections and new friends, I am very happy that I was part of this experience. I hope that after this covid-19 we will be able to make new and more amazing projects!”