Between 26th October and 1st November 2025, the city of Bordeaux, France, hosted the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum - GSEF 2025, one of the most important international gatherings dedicated to the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). The Forum brought together 10,800 participants from 907 cities and 109 countries, including representatives of local authorities, civil society, youth organisations, cooperatives, social enterprises, international institutions, and academia.
Under the central message that “The Social and Solidarity Economy is a project of social transformation”, GSEF 2025 addressed the major global challenges of our time: growing inequalities, climate crisis, conflicts, democratic backsliding, and social fragmentation. The Forum highlighted that SSE represents a long-term, resilient and people-centered economic model, capable of promoting peace, cooperation, social justice, inclusion, and sustainable development.
The Bordeaux GSEF 2025 Declaration
At the end of the Forum, the participants adopted the Bordeaux GSEF 2025 Declaration, a powerful international statement reaffirming that:
- The Social and Solidarity Economy is a stabilising and democratic force, strengthening social cohesion and reducing inequalities;
- It plays a key role in the just ecological transition, treating resources as common goods to be renewed rather than exploited;
- It contributes to economic democracy, citizen participation, and collective well-being;
- It is a vital actor for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and for rebuilding trust in democratic systems.
The Declaration calls on the United Nations, the European Union, national governments and local authorities to:
- Develop strong legal, fiscal and financial frameworks for SSE;
- Support citizen-led initiatives and fair public procurement;
- Strengthen partnerships between cities and SSE actors;
- Ensure inclusive participation, especially of young people and underrepresented groups, in SSE governance and decision-making;
- Promote education, research, and international cooperation in the field of Social and Solidarity Economy.
You can read the full Declaration here.
The Romanian Delegation at GSEF 2025
Romania was represented at GSEF 2025 by a group of 2 teachers and 4 students from “Vladimir Streinu” National College, Găești: Rodica Diaconescu – accompanying teacher, Elena Ștefania Popescu – accompanying teacher, Denis Ștefan Zadara, Andrei-Victor Iordache, Teodora-Justina Ioniță and Daria-Georgiana Alexe,
Throughout the mobility, the Romanian participants took part in:
- Intercultural training sessions,
- Advocacy and civic participation workshops,
- International debates and thematic panels,
- Multimedia co-creation activities,
- And the official sessions of the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum.
Through direct interaction with youth from all over the world, decision-makers, and professionals in the field of social economy, the students strengthened:
- Their civic and democratic competences,
- Their intercultural communication skills,
- Their sense of European and global citizenship,
- And their confidence to take part in international dialogue and advocacy.
Local dissemination activities in Găești (2–10 December 2025)
In order to multiply the impact of this international experience, the Romanian group organised a series of local dissemination activities at “Vladimir Streinu” National College, Găești, between 2 and 10 December 2025.
During these sessions, the students and teachers shared with their colleagues and the school community:
- The main messages of the Bordeaux GSEF 2025 Declaration,
- What the Social and Solidarity Economy means in practice,
- How young people can contribute to social change through civic participation,
- Their personal learning experiences from an international context.
The dissemination activities included presentations, interactive discussions, visual materials and reflections, encouraging other students to become active in community life, European projects, and youth initiatives.
Participation in GSEF 2025 Bordeaux represented a transformative educational and civic experience for the Romanian delegation. It demonstrated concretely that young people are not just beneficiaries of public policies, but can be active contributors to social transformation and democratic processes.
Through the joint efforts of GEYC and the “Vladimir Streinu” National College, Găești, this project contributes to strengthening youth participation, promoting the values of the Social and Solidarity Economy, and reinforcing the European dimension of education and civic engagement.
