Needs analysis

In view of the current application, we analyzed the needs of the target group in the rural communities in Harghita County, the needs of the 7 young people in the project team and the needs of our organization. Following this analysis, we have identified the common and complementary needs that we can address through a participation project. The project initiative is of 7 young people (members of the project team) who share the common need for involvement in society. They are motivated to bring about change for the better and to provide other young people with opportunities to participate. 

The aim of the project

Awareness of European rights and increasing the level of civic participation among young people in Harghita County who face fewer opportunities in the 9 high schools in rural areas and in Bălan (former mining locality). 

Objectives

O1: Empowering 321 young people facing fewer opportunities in Harghita County to get involved in youth participation activities, to develop transversal key competences by getting involved in the project and to become active citizens of the disadvantaged rural or urban communities they come from;

O2: Developing key competences among the 7 young people in the project team and empowering them in working with young people;

O3: Developing the organizational capacity to promote active citizenship among young people facing fewer opportunities;

O4: Raise the awareness of decision-makers at county and national level about the need for involvement in order to ensure equal opportunities and increase the level of participation in society of young people facing fewer opportunities in rural or urban disadvantaged areas. By carrying out our project, we contribute in particular to the achievement of the Youth Objectives of the EU Youth Strategy:

O6: Rural Youth Development: Through our project we contribute to "Creating the conditions that allow young people from rural areas to fulfill their potential". At the same time, by using the YouthPass process, we contribute to "Guaranteeing the recognition and validation of the competences acquired through (...) volunteering and non-formal education".

O9: Space and Participation for All: Our project is expressly aimed at "Providing friendly information for young people, relevant and understandable to them, developed with and for them, in order to facilitate their participation". Moreover, through all our activities we contribute to "Strengthening the democratic participation of young people and their autonomy, as well as providing spaces dedicated to young people in all spheres of society." 

Target Groups

Target group 1: The 11 young people part of the project team, are organized as an informal group, and are involved in all stages of the project: design, implementation, including final reporting and follow-up. They are between the ages of 20 and 22 and are motivated to carry out this project.  The 11 young people are the initiators of this project and they will also implement and evaluate it. They are coordinated by Dan Vîlcan, (youth worker with 10 years of experience in the field), coordination perfectly aligned with the E+ quality standards. 

Target group 2: The 407 young people who face reduced opportunities (cultural and educational differences, geographical, economic, social obstacles and discrimination) aged between 15 and 19 years from the 9 high schools in the rural area of Harghita County and the high school of Bălan (formerly mining locality). This target group was chosen by including in the project all the high schools from the rural area from Harghita County, and the high school from Bălan disadvantaged town, a former mining locality. 

This project involved, through its 11 events and mobility activities, a total of 407 young people (86 more than initially planned in the application, which was 321), who faced limited opportunities, especially of a geographical nature. They came from 9 high schools in rural areas of Harghita County and from the town of Bălan (a former mining locality). For these young people, the impact and benefits of this project exceeded both our expectations and theirs.

Benefits acquired during the project:

The main benefit of this project for the participating young people was providing quality learning contexts for all. Thus, the project responded to the need of young people from rural areas to understand their rights and be empowered to actively participate in the social life of their communities or the communities they will interact with in the future.

Through all project activities, the goal was to foster positive attitudes among young people regarding civic participation. To achieve this, activities focused on information, engagement, and participation were carried out.

The vast majority of young participants in the events and mobility:

• Became aware of the most important rights they have as European citizens;

• Developed positive and proactive attitudes towards participating in the social life of their community;

• Gained communication skills and overcame the fear of interacting with decision-makers;

• Managed to identify societal problems and articulate them through structured dialogue.

Benefits for the informal group, which initially consisted of 7 young people and
expanded to 11 during the project:

• The young people developed self-esteem, confidence in their own abilities, and demonstrated that their actions matter.

Learning outcomes for the youth team involved in the project:

• Acquired key competencies in youth work;

• Developed leadership and entrepreneurial skills;

• Became more empathetic towards the needs of other young people from different communities;

• Strengthened endurance and perseverance through continuous involvement in all phases of this 24-month project;

• Improved communication skills by facilitating events and mobility activities, as well as through ongoing interaction with decision-makers.

Benefits for our organization:

• Increased capacity in working with young people from rural areas facing limited opportunities and fostering their engagement in society.

• The project contributed to our organization’s strategy for inclusion and empowerment of youth with fewer opportunities. Additionally, it enhanced our organization’s visibility.

• We interacted and strengthened collaboration with 55 decision-makers at local, regional, and national levels.

Beyond the positive impact on the 407 young participants, the 11 youth team members, and our organization, this project also generated a positive impact in the 11 communities where events were organized. It contributed to increasing the visibility of rural communities and highlighting their needs through participatory activities.

Moreover, in the case of the former mining town of Bălan, the project drew the attention of county and national decision-makers to the importance of ensuring equal opportunities and unrestricted access to quality education for young people in this community.

Tangible results:

The project’s tangible outcomes (10 Calls to Action in EN, HU, and RO, the Call to Action for young people from rural and small urban areas in EN, HU, and RO, 13 promotional videos, 5 media appearances, as well as the project website: https://www.yesngo.eu/activities/know-your-rights) have been uploaded to the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform (https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/), making them accessible to all interested parties.

• Our project provided quality learning contexts and real opportunities for personal and social development to young people in the county who face limited opportunities.

• The young participants became more aware of their rights as European citizens and developed proactive attitudes toward engaging in community life.

• They improved their communication skills, overcoming fears related to interacting with decision-makers, and acquired the key competencies mentioned earlier.

• They enhanced their ability to identify and articulate relevant social issues, using structured dialogue as a tool for change.

In the medium and long term, the project contributed to changing young people's mindset regarding civic engagement, reducing passive attitudes, and encouraging active participation in society.

The project also had an impact on the communities from which the young participants came. By disseminating results and engaging in local activities, they became role models for other young people and contributed to developing an active civic spirit in their communities. Local decision-makers became more aware of the need for youth involvement in community decisions.

In the long term, the project has supported the development of a generation of more responsible young people, aware of their rights and obligations, capable of taking initiatives and becoming active agents of social change. Through the YouthPass process, the acquired competencies were recognized and certified, giving participants an advantage in their future educational and professional paths.

Impact on the Informal Youth Group:

• The young people improved their key competencies in youth work, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

• They gained greater self-confidence, increasing their self-esteem and belief that their actions can generate change.

• They developed perseverance and endurance by managing responsibilities within a long-term project.

• They became more empathetic toward the needs of other groups from different communities, fostering a spirit of solidarity and inclusion.

• They acquired advanced communication skills through event facilitation and interaction with decision-makers.

• They strengthened their interest in active participation in society and supporting other young people with fewer opportunities.

• The experience provided some participants with a clear direction toward a career in the legal and social fields.

• Their involvement in this project was a valuable practical learning opportunity, preparing them for future impactful initiatives.

• Through this experience, the young people became promoters of non-formal education and international mobility, encouraging others to participate in such projects.

• The project improved the employability of the young people involved. 

Impact on Participating Organizations

Our Organization:

• Developed new partnerships with important state institutions.

• Continued collaboration with decision-makers at the local and county levels.

• Enhanced its experience in coordinating participatory projects.

• Gained two new competent employees from the project team.

• Strengthened its expertise in working with young people facing limited opportunities, especially geographical obstacles.

• Developed methods and procedures to empower young people from rural areas to make their voices heard.

Informal Partners:

The main impact on the municipalities, high schools, and county- and national-level institutions we collaborated with was that they had the opportunity to meet young people, learn about their needs, interests, and visions for the future. Interaction with our young participants legitimized these institutions' activities, as they exist to serve citizens. Through this project, these institutions became aware of young citizens' perspectives, the challenges they face, and their constructive proposals for solutions.

Target Group (Young People from Communities)

Dissemination events, open to all interested community members, provided them with the opportunity to learn about ways young people can engage in society. They interacted with peers involved in the project and realized that there are ways to overcome geographical isolation, participate in society, and develop their civic competence.

Impact on Decision-Makers

Decision-makers had the opportunity to meet young people who often remain invisible, hidden behind numbers or statistics sent from local administrations to the government.