EU4Youth: 100 young people from Gagauzia, Taraclia, and Basarabeasca gather for Leadership Academy project closing event

On 28 May, 100 young people from Gagauzia, Taraclia and Basarabeasca gathered in the Moldovan capital Chișinău for the closing event of the Leadership Academy project organised by the Civic Initiatives Centre for National Minorities, with support from the ‘EU4Youth: Engagement and Empowerment’ project. The initiative was dedicated to empowering youth from Moldova’s ethnic minority communities.

The final event marked the conclusion of a six-month journey focused on leadership, civic engagement, and European values. Participants benefited from training, educational visits to the Moldovan Parliament, and guidance in developing local initiatives.

The event was opened by EU Ambassador Jānis Mažeiks, who engaged in dialogue with the beneficiaries of the Leadership Academy.

A key highlight of the event was the interactive discussion session, where participants raised questions on the EU’s youth priorities for 2025–2027, the development of local youth platforms, and the role of ethnic minorities in Moldova’s European integration journey.

The event was organised by the Civic Initiatives for National Minorities NGO, a grant beneficiary of the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ project, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ.