Context
Câmpina, a city with an important industrial and cultural tradition, faces challenges in the field of education and youth. Although there are well-rated schools, their infrastructure requires modernization. Many young people choose to leave for larger university centers, which leads to the phenomenon of depopulation. The lack of local employment and professional development opportunities contributes to this trend. The low involvement of young people in community life and the limited number of extracurricular activities affect social cohesion.
"Pentru Câmpina Europeană" started in the spring of 2021, after several teachers and young people from Câmpina began to get involved in the GEYC Community, as well as in the mobilities proposed within the community, and wanted to create a more favorable context for youth right in their municipality.
Since then we have:
- Brought 100.000 EUR+ in local activities and mobilities for the youth of Câmpina;
- Involved European Solidarity Corps 50+ volunteers in the city of Câmpina from;
- 15 difference countries, including Austria, Belgia, Cehia, France, Germania, Grecia, Italia, Jordan, Luxembourg, Portugalia, Slovacia, Spania, Serbia, Turcia, Ungaria;
- Gathered 300+ members from the city into the GEYC community.
To finalize the protocol of collaboration, we wanted to bring one last important activity for the youth & youth workers in this city with a relevant history in both industry & arts, which is why we organized the YOUth Art Festival: STEAM Edition.
YOUth Art Festival: STEAM Edition
The third edition of the festival, namely the YOUth Art Festival: STEAM Edition was focused on equipping young people with real world skills related to Science, Technology, Arts, Engineering, & Maths in an interactive and attractive setting, through multiple stations and events during the festival. Our goals with this edition of the festival have been to:
- Showcasing non-formal ways of learning about STEM through art-integrative methodologies
- Putting into use the abilities and knowledge young people get during classes through activities such as the STEAM Trivia
- Promoting (sustainable) arts and creativity
- Expose young people to useful real-world skills, such as safely operating an electrical panel through mock-up puzzles during the Escape Room
- Promote local partners who work in STEAM, such as the local robotics team (Team Undefined)
Key activities during the festival
During the 2025 YOUth Art Festival: STEAM Edition, participants were able to enjoy a number of STEAM related activities, including:
| Regional STEAM Education Roundtable involving 50+ young people & youth workers | Arts Station – Practicing arts such as painting, sustainable art, sticker making and dry clay. | STEAM Thematical Escape Room |
| An adventours treasure hunt involving STEAM knowledge and history of the city | STEAM Trivia | Board games & dancing |
| Programming robots with the help of the local robotics team | EU quizz with the help of the European Parliament Romanian Liaison office | Radio Station - Learning about radio world-wide |
Results & testimonials
We are proud to have shared our passion for STEAM with 235+ participants across the 3-day festival.
In total, we were able to promote the festival in 7 local schools & high-schools, having involved 15 European Solidarity Corps volunteers, multiple regional parteners, as well as the local robotics team and the European Parliament Romanian Liaison office
The participants who joined were able to win 40 prizes from 2 locals partners.
Here is what young people who attended the festival had to say about the experience:
" It's very nice. I've made a lot of new friends. It was very cool and interesting." (Teodora L, student)
" Câmpina is a small town where opportunities for young people are not attractive, which is why students from the two Câmpina high schools where I teach stick to every activity brought by GEYC to the community. The simple fact that young people can be part of the GEYC online community, regardless of the village they live in, greatly expands their horizon of opportunities. Thank you very much GEYC for existing." (Georgiana M, teacher and member of the General Assembly of GEYC Associates)
" It gave us an opportunity to spread STEAM among our community, both to youngsters and also to older people. It's a good opportunity to enjoy ourselves and also learn" (Ilinca S, member of Team Undefined)
" It was a great experience. The Escape Room had a STEAM theme and it was just amazing. Really enjoyable." (Rareș L, student)
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