The international day of youth is celebrated worldwide on August 12th. Concordia social projects takes this day as an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of active youth participation- especially in countries in Eastern and Southeast Europe, where poverty determines the lives of many families. With innovative programs such as youth clubs, the youth council and the children’s parliament, Concordia creates safe spaces for young people in which they develop self -confidence, responsibility and perspectives – and thus can break out of the vicious cycle of generational poverty.
Concordia – protection, education and opportunities for children and adolescents
Concordia social projects is an internationally active, independent aid organization based in Vienna, which works for children, young people and families in difficult life situations in the project countries in Romania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova and Kosovo. The aim of the organization is to enable disadvantaged young people to make a self -determined life – through protection, education and active integration into social processes.
“For us, youth work means taking children and young people seriously – with their opinions, worries, but also with their strength to change things,” emphasizes Bernhard Drumel, Managing Director of Concordia Social projects. “Especially in a country like the Republic of Moldova, where many young people are on their own, our programs offer support, orientation and real participation.”
Youth clubs: closement, education and self -efficacy
Concordia currently runs so -called “Youth Clubs” in 5 out of 10 multifunctional centers in Moldova, which offer young people between the ages of 14 and 20 a protected space for personal development, professional orientation, financial education and volunteer work. In workshops on rhetoric, media literacy, mental health or in the form of job coaching, they are empowered to take responsibility for their lives and their community. Cross -generational activities – such as visits to senior citizens – also promote social skills and strengthen social cohesion.
Children’s parliament and youth council: democracy from an early age
A special feature of the Concordia work is the children’s parliament in the Republic of Moldova, which is established in all 11 day centers. Here elected children and adolescents represent the interests of their peers, get to know democratic structures and actively contribute to the design of the programs. This format is supplemented by the youth council, which gives young people the opportunity to influence youth policy at local, national and international level.
Appeal to politics: enable participation – also in Austria
In the face of social crises, it is crucial to open up rooms for participation at an early stage, DRUMEL emphasizes: “Investments in youth programs that are not only employment therapy are needed, but also enable real participation – in Moldau as well as here in Austria. This is the only way to create social cohesion and a future perspective.”
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Concordia social projects is an international and independent aid organization founded in 1991, which supports and accompanies children, young people, young people and families in need in the project countries in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldau, Kosovo and Austria on their way to a self -determined life. The focus is on strengthening and compliance with children’s rights. The overarching goal of the work of Concordia is to support children and families to break through the cycle cycle and enable a self -determined life. The organization is represented with bases in Austria (Vienna), Germany (Stuttgart) and Switzerland (train) and finances its work through donations. https://concordia.or.at