NEWS

Annual Report – 2023

2023 was a year of reconnection for ARYAS NGO. Although the effects of the pandemic were still present in our communities, we responded by focusing on initiatives that brought people together and rebuilt trust and participation. We strengthened our presence at both local and international level, supported youth through inclusive and accessible activities, and adapted our methods to address emerging needs. This report outlines our key actions in 2023, reflecting a year of resilience, meaningful engagement, and renewed investment in our community.

2023 in numbers

Voices of impact

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Young People involved in International Programs

Youth Workers Empowered Through Training Programs

International Projects implemented as coordinators and partners

Countries Connected Across Projects

International organisations involved in our projects

Coordinated Projects and Key Contributions

In 2023, ARYAS NGO took the lead in coordinating a number of meaningful Erasmus+ projects and actively contributed as a key partner in several others. This report highlights the initiatives where our role was central or particularly relevant. However, our involvement extended beyond these, with consistent engagement in the local community as well.

SEED2STEM – Cooperation partnerships in youth

SEED2STEM, a 32-month Erasmus+ project launched in 2023, aims to connect agriculture with STEM education to support innovation and sustainability in youth work. In its first year, the project focused on research, building the AGRO STEM curriculum, and developing the online platform. Partners also defined the structure for upcoming learning activities. These actions prepared the ground for pilot testing and practical implementation starting in 2024.

Enviro-digital Youth Project – Small Scale Partnership in youth

Empowering Youth through Digital Skills and Environmental Awareness is a 24-month Erasmus+ Small-scale Partnership in Youth that we launched, together with our partners, in 2023. The project aims to develop digital skills among young people while increasing their understanding of environmental challenges. In the first year, we focused on designing the methodology, developing educational materials, and preparing local activities. These steps laid the foundation for the implementation phase, which will continue in 2024.

EU 101 – Youth participation activities

In 2023, we finished EU101, a project designed to counter rising Euroscepticism and misinformation about the European Union, especially among young people from Central and Eastern Europe. Together with partners from Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia, we addressed the growing gap in EU knowledge and trust by implementing targeted educational activities. The project included a week-long mobility in Romania, where 40 participants learned about the EU’s structure, values, and role in civic life through interactive workshops and cultural visits. A short visit to Brussels followed, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with European institutions and decision-makers. Finally, local follow-up events allowed participants to share their experiences and promote European values to over 150 young people in their home communities.

CWYPP – Youth Exchange

In March 2023, we coordinated CWYPP – Climate Watch: A Youth Photography Program for Environmental Advocacy, a youth exchange designed to engage young people from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds in environmental advocacy through photography. Together with our international partners, we equipped participants with basic photography skills and guided them in using visual storytelling to highlight the importance of preserving natural habitats. Participants took part in workshops, field visits, and creative assignments, resulting in five impactful photo stories addressing themes such as pollution, emotional responses to environmental issues, and the resilience of nature. The final outputs, including the public exhibition Nature’s Triumph, combined images, poetry, and environmental messages to raise awareness in their communities. Beyond technical skills, the project strengthened communication, teamwork, and critical thinking, while promoting environmental responsibility and intercultural exchange.

Administrația tinerilor – Solidarity project

We implemented Administrația Tinerilor (Youth Administration), a 12-month solidarity project based in Curtea de Argeș, aiming to improve young people’s understanding of public administration and increase their civic participation. The project addressed the lack of accessible and clear information on local governance by using non-formal education methods and hands-on experiences. We worked with local youth through workshops on public institutions such as the city hall, local council, county council, and prefecture. Participants explored real challenges in their community, interacted directly with public officials, and took part in job shadowing at Albeștii de Argeș Town Hall. They also co-created a printed and digital brochure explaining the basics of public administration. Through this project, over 200 young people gained essential knowledge and practical tools for becoming more active and informed citizens. The initiative strengthened civic competences and opened up direct dialogue between youth and local authorities.

EYEEA – Training Course

We implemented EYEEA – Eco-Youth Empowerment Through Education and Action, a professional development activity hosted in Side, Turkey. Together with other European youth organizations, we worked on integrating ecological education into youth work and building tools for sustainability-focused engagement. Throughout the week, we joined structured workshops, collaborative sessions, and group discussions that focused on sustainable development, environmental awareness, and green practices in youth work. One key outcome was the design of a prototype for nonformal.center, a digital platform for sharing tools and methods related to ecology in youth education. The project allowed us to connect with youth workers from across Europe, exchange practices, and contribute to creating a long-term network focused on ecological action in the youth sector.

ALERT – Youth Exchange

In November 2023, we organized ALERT, a youth exchange focused on disaster preparedness. Together with partners from Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Poland, and Turkey, we brought together young people to develop practical knowledge and response strategies for natural disasters, a topic of growing importance due to climate change. The project combined workshops on disaster risks and safety protocols with practical simulations, first aid training with the Red Cross, and group work on creating local response plans. Participants also engaged in team-building and cultural exchange, enhancing their communication and collaboration skills. The project outcomes included visual awareness materials such as “Stay Flood Safe” and “Your Landscape Escape Plan,” as well as increased confidence and competence among participants to act as peer educators on disaster resilience in their communities.