Bălți – Youth Capital 2026: one year of development support
The municipality of Bălți was designated as the Youth Capital for 2026. For one year, Bălți will receive support for developing youth policies, including methodological and logistical assistance to implement various activities. The focus will be on engaging activists, volunteers, and other residents who are eager to contribute to community development. The budget allocated for this initiative is four million lei.
The youth of Bălţi are proactive and engaged, which led them to win a competition organized by the Ministry of Education. As a result, this year, Bălţi has been designated the Youth Capital.
"A city should offer as many opportunities as possible for young people, including various competitions and festive events. Young people need to write projects, continuously apply for them, and hopefully, win and implement these initiatives. Efficient collaboration between the mayor, local authorities, and the youth is essential for good ideas to be effectively realized,” stated student Ionela Chiriac.
Corina Popa, a representative of the Association Union for Equity and Health, added, “Bălţi is a city filled with active young people who are eager for change. Today, they gathered to learn about the new opportunities provided by organizations that implement services for the youth. Young people embody change and desire transformation.”
The Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun, emphasized that the title of Youth Capital will support the youth in Bălţi, foster collaboration, and attract additional funding. He stated, “The level of activity of youth organizations in the region and the willingness of local partners have played a critical role. We must acknowledge the City Hall's involvement, including its commitment to co-finance and actively participate in these activities. Bălţi is also a significant university center, and these factors, together with the presence of youth activities, contributed to this decision.”
The director of the National Youth Agency expressed enthusiasm about the initiatives for students: “We have many activities planned. We look forward to participating in the first National Conference of Student Self-Government Structures in Moldova, which will be held here in Bălţi. The municipality provides grants for students, student councils, and youth NGOs. We aim to discuss activities related to the involvement of districts in northern Moldova. Our goal is to transform and solidify Bălţi as a hub for youth policies in the Republic of Moldova.”
The national program "Youth Capital" was launched in 2011 to promote the active involvement of young people in community life by supporting educational, cultural, and civic initiatives across the Republic of Moldova.
