FLEX Alumni Projects

Alumni Projects

Between October 17 and 31, 2020, FLEX Alumni Romania hosted the YES! Camp, an online program aimed at engaging young people aged 14 to 17 in community involvement. The initiative sought to inspire and empower future local activists from nine communities in southern, northern, and western Romania.

Driven by the need to equip young people with the tools to make a difference in their communities, YES! Camp helped participants identify local issues and address them through grassroots projects. The program focused on three main pillars: local advocacy, digital advocacy, and media literacy.

The camp was conducted through a series of webinars, and all costs were fully covered, thanks to sponsorship from the U.S. Embassy in Romania.

Young people from Iași, Piatra Neamț, and Vaslui (Moldova region), Alexandria, Târgoviște, and Caracal (South region), as well as Arad, Satu Mare, and Oradea (West region), were invited to apply. Through YES! Camp, participants gained valuable knowledge about advocacy, active participation, and tackling social issues in their local communities.

Girl UP! Camp: A National Initiative for Empowering Young Women in Romania

From August 12 to 18 2019, the Pădureni Recreation Center in Covasna County hosted the second edition of Girl UP! Camp, a national camp designed for young women aged 16 to 19. The project aimed to provide a safe space where participants could learn about women’s rights, self-defense techniques, and personal development.

The camp offered an extensive range of courses, including the history of feminism, gender stereotypes, sexual harassment, revenge porn, consent, as well as sessions on leadership, personal branding, and self-defense techniques. Other relevant topics such as legal education, media literacy, civic engagement, and the importance of voting were also discussed.

This initiative was first launched by a group of 7 FLEX alumni inspired by the values they acquired during their 10-month exchange program in the United States. The first edition highlighted the pressing need for such projects in Romania and the importance of creating safe spaces for young women. This experience encouraged the organizers to return with an even more structured second edition.

Community Heroes

Community Heroes Camp: An Initiative for Youth Passionate About Community and Medicine

From October 28 to 30, 2022, the FLEX Alumni Romania community organized the Community Heroes Camp, a project aimed at high school students aged 15 to 17. The camp was designed for young people passionate about community involvement or medicine, offering them the opportunity to learn how to be prepared for emergency situations where lives may be at risk.

The camp’s activities included workshops on first aid, hygiene, and hands-on sessions led by qualified trainers, as well as teambuilding activities that helped foster teamwork and collaboration among participants.

Academy of Sustainable Development

Academy for Sustainable Development: Education and Inspiration for Youth Interested in International Relations

From October 20 to 22, 2023, the Tei Cultural and Sports Complex hosted the annual edition of the Academy for Sustainable Development, an event designed for university students and young adults aged 18 and above who are passionate about international relations and sustainable development.

The program was divided into four educational sessions, each addressing key aspects of international relations. Participants had the opportunity to engage in institutional visits and meet with representatives, offering them practical insights and a deeper understanding of the topics discussed.

The event provided a valuable educational platform, blending theoretical knowledge with hands-on experiences, and creating opportunities for participants to develop skills and knowledge relevant to their future careers.

Social Entrepreneurship Workshop Cluj-Napoca

The FLEX Alumni Social Entrepreneurship Workshop in 2022 in Romania was an initiative designed to empower alumni of the FLEX Program to become community leaders and social innovators. Targeting young people who had participated in the FLEX exchange program, the workshop provided training on social entrepreneurship, project planning, and sustainability strategies. Through interactive sessions, networking opportunities, and mentorship, participants gained the skills and resources to identify community needs and develop impactful projects. The workshop brought together alumni from a diverse range of countries, including Poland, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine, enriching the experience with cross-cultural collaboration and perspectives. Supported by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by American Councils for International Education, the workshop aimed to inspire FLEX alumni to drive meaningful change in their local communities by turning innovative ideas into sustainable initiatives.

FLEX Ability Workshop - Poland 2024

From May 9 to May 12, 2024, 57 FLEX alumni from Azerbaijan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine, along with one FLEX Abroad alumnus, gathered in Warsaw, Poland for the FLEX-Ability Workshop on Leadership 2024. The workshop, led by trainer Si Norton, focused on personal leadership development and divided participants into five groups guided by alumni mentors.

During the workshop, participants explored their purpose, values, goals, and direction while working on their “journeys”—creative projects that illustrated their past, present, and envisioned future, as well as the steps to achieve their goals. The completed projects were showcased in a gallery, reflecting the unique stories and aspirations of the attendees.

In addition to the sessions, participants enjoyed a cultural dance night, where delegates from each country taught a traditional dance to the group and performed together. Another memorable moment was a city tour of Warsaw, guided by local alumni volunteers, which added a cultural and historical dimension to the experience.

International Education Week with Moldova and Poland

During International Education Week in 2024, the FLEX Alumni community from Romania collaborated with counterparts from Poland and Moldova to organize six online workshops. 500 students gained valuable insights into youth-oriented opportunities in

the United States and Europe (DiscoverEU, Erasmus+, YYGS). Romania primarily organized three workshops, one about Erasmus+ where they invited the Vice President of the European Parliament, Nicolae Stefanuta, one about Essay Writing and college admissions, and one about universities in Romania and Moldova. 9 former Flex students who participated in these programs delivered speeches and provided step-by-step explanations of their experiences. All events were held virtually in English, with ample time allocated for questions and answers. The information provided was highly regarded and considered valuable by participants.