European Caravan: A free space for discussion and information on EU reforms
Published: Oct 1, 2024 Reading time: 2 minutes
Building an informed society is not just a necessity but a shared responsibility. Only through education, transparency and active engagement can we face challenges and protect our fundamental democratic values.
To involve citizens in the decision-making processes and promote dialogue between communities and public authorities, People in Need Moldova, with the financial support of the European Union, is implementing several activities through the Moldova ASSIST project. Through this project, we are strengthening CSO capacities at the regional level. These capacities support joint initiatives for conflict prevention and mediation; they also increase collaboration between local communities and civil society actors. For example, the AO Regional Center for Community Development (CRDC) is participating in the project through the launch of the European Caravan.
The Caravan is a proactive way of fostering dialogue and debate on European Union reforms in Moldova. Over two weeks, the CRDC team travelled to 5 locations in the south of the country: Hîrtop, Leova, Cantemir, Larga Nouă and Badicul Moldovenesc, where they met representatives of local public authorities, teachers, employees of cultural institutions, high school students, and community members.
The meetings aroused great interest, especially among young people, who demonstrated advanced skills and competencies in community development. More than 100 participants were informed about notable regional development projects funded by the European Union through myth-busting games about the EU integration process. They had the opportunity to discover the multiple advantages of Moldova's accession to the European Union in the context of the upcoming referendum on October 20, 2024.
The European Caravan was an opportunity for people of different age groups living in the south of the country to express their opinions and reservations about the democratic processes in our country and an event of social cohesion and involvement of civil society actors in the process of the European integration process.
The European Caravan is part of the information campaign realised by AO CRDC within the "Moldova ASSIST: improving access to quality public services and social cohesion" project, funded by the European Union and implemented by People in Need Moldova.
