Youth centers in the Republic of Moldova will benefit from an annual investment of 4.5 million lei
Youth centers across the country will receive an annual investment of 4.5 million lei. This funding will be used to develop a modern network of facilities, diversify activities, and train specialists in the field. At least two new youth centers are set to open this year. Today, the Ministry of Education and Research, in collaboration with the National Youth Agency, launched the Government Program for Youth Centers Development for 2025-2030.
The "CRAT" center in Balti municipality has provided various opportunities for young people over its 20 years of operation, according to the head of the institution, Nonna Mihalcean. She emphasizes that these centers are not just places for young people to meet; they are instrumental in building entire communities.
"When a young person visits a youth center, they have a great opportunity to explore their needs, interests, and passions through participation in interest clubs, summer schools, training sessions, and other services that the youth center offers daily to meet the needs and interests of young individuals," she explained.
Alex Petrov, the Director of the National Youth Agency, highlighted that the Government Program for the Development of Youth Centers over the next five years will focus on several key components.
"The program consists of four components. The first component is dedicated to local public authorities that wish to develop their youth centers, whether they are district or local centers, with varying funding amounts. The second component focuses on enhancing the skills of youth workers, and establishing certain standards to ensure quality interaction with young people. The third component addresses the technical and material needs of youth centers; for instance, if a center wants to open an astronomy club but lacks a telescope, we will provide the telescope and train youth workers on how to engage young people in astronomy-related activities. The fourth component specifically targets the modernization of youth services."
Currently, there are 73 youth centers operating in the country, according to Dan Perciun, the Minister of Education and Research. He noted that the new program is designed for young people aged 14 to 35.
"We start with a budget of 4.5 million lei for this year. Of this, 3 million lei will be allocated for the development of human resources within these centers and training programs for youth workers. Another 500,000 lei will be used to improve the infrastructure of the centers, 500,000 lei will go toward establishing new centers, and 500,000 lei will be directed to expanding the programs available for young people. The centers will benefit from the modernization and diversification of services. Additionally, local public authorities will receive support for creating new centers. This year, we hope to inaugurate at least two new centers, which would be an extraordinary achievement."
According to officials, the Government Program for the Youth Centers Development for 2025-2030 is a significant step in strengthening the youth sector in the Republic of Moldova and providing valuable opportunities for the younger generation. This program is supported by the United Nations Population Fund and the National Youth Agency.
