Start-up for the Centre for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities

The “Start-up for the Centre for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities” project was implemented by the Centre for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy.

The problem addressed by the project: The grant supported a young initiative in the field of youth leadership—the Centre for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities. At the time the project was launched, the organisation did not yet meet the requirements for standard donor funding, but it had significant potential for development and impact.

In the Republic of Moldova, young people from ethnic and national minorities, particularly in the regions of Taraclia, Gagauzia, Basarabeasca and Cahul, face limited opportunities to participate in public and political life. A lack of knowledge about their rights, weak civic activism, limited access to educational programmes and the absence of platforms for dialogue with public authorities lead to social and political passivity.

In addition, at the beginning of the project there was no strong and specialised organisation capable of working systematically with ethnic minorities, promoting their participation and acting as an intermediary between communities and state institutions.

The objective of the project was to support the institutional development of the Centre for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities as a sustainable organisation and to increase the civic and social engagement of young people from ethnic minorities through educational, practical and dialogue-based tools.

The following key activities were implemented במסגרת the project:

  • educational and information trainings on civic participation, communication skills, media education, work in the non-governmental sector, developing personal initiatives, integration into Moldovan society, project management and social activism;

  • study visits to Chișinău to meet representatives of public institutions, including Parliament, the Ministry of Education and the Agency for Interethnic Relations, helping participants better understand how state institutions function and strengthening the connection between young people and public authorities;

  • a Summer School on Minority Rights, providing in-depth training, leadership development and mentoring support;

  • support for and implementation of civic initiatives in Taraclia, Gagauzia, Basarabeasca and Cahul, developed by project participants with the support of experts and mentors;

  • the organisation and implementation of the 2024 National Forum of Ethnic Minorities, with the participation of civic activists, media representatives, regional and national authorities and representatives of ethnic communities.

This project became a key stage in the development of the Centre for Civic Initiatives for National Minorities as one of the important organisations in the Republic of Moldova working with ethnic communities.

As a result of the project:

  • a sustainable team and institutional foundation for the organisation were established;

  • the Centre began systematic work in regions with compact minority populations, including Gagauzia, Taraclia, Basarabeasca and Cahul;

  • a network of young leaders and activists from ethnic communities involved in civic activities was created;

  • the first regional initiatives aimed at community development were implemented;

  • cooperation was established with state institutions, including Parliament, ministries and the Agency for Interethnic Relations;

  • the Centre established itself as an important platform for dialogue between ethnic minorities and the state;

  • the National Forum of Ethnic Minorities was successfully organised and became an important platform for discussing policies related to interethnic relations.

Through this project, the organisation gained recognition from international donors and partners, which later enabled it to attract funding from organisations such as the European Union, People in Need, Swiss Cooperation, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and others.

The Centre moved from the stage of a start-up initiative to becoming a sustainable and professional organisation implementing comprehensive projects in the fields of minority rights, social cohesion, media education and civic participation.

The project demonstrated that investing in the institutional development of local initiatives and working with young people from ethnic minorities can create a long-term impact by contributing to the formation of a new generation of leaders, strengthening civil society and advancing democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova.