Meeting overview & participants
The online meeting convened representatives from diverse organizations across Romania (Center for Civic Resources, CPDIS Association, D.G.T. Association, Diaspora Solidarity Group, Pro Time-R Educational Association, The Romanian Association for Baltic and Nordic Studies and GEYC), each bringing unique expertise in areas such as intercultural dialogue, youth education, civic engagement, rural development, and peace-building initiatives. The participants engaged in constructive discussions that set the tone for revitalized network collaboration.Key outcomes
Steering Committee established: A Steering Committee was formally created to serve as an advisory body. The committee members expressed interest in contributing to network strategic direction. The committee's mission is to guide network revitalization, analyze member organizations, promote ALF values, evaluate new membership applications, and ensure organizational alignment with the foundation's principles.
GEYC's strategic plan presented: GEYC outlined its comprehensive plan for the coming months, focusing on:
- Network revitalization: Contacting all existing member organizations to reconfirm their active participation and update contact information
- Expertise mapping: Developing a comprehensive database of organizational capabilities to facilitate peer-to-peer support and collaborative opportunities
- Learning & best practices: Creating a knowledge-sharing space through training programs tailored to member needs
- Community building: Organizing both online and in-person network events
- Project development support: Encouraging members to identify synergies and develop joint initiatives beyond foundation-funded programs
- Developing a more dynamic digital presence, through the participation of all members and co-creation of the materials
The meeting included an interactive brainstorming session where members shared their vision for the network. Some of the ideas shared were:
- Focusing on co-creating intercultural exchange programs, (re-)connecting with youth specialists and non-formal education experts in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as peace-building initiatives.
- Resource optimization: Accessing diverse funding sources beyond Anna Lindh Foundation grants
- Knowledge dissemination: Creating better mechanisms for members to share relevant expertise and activities through the newsletter and the other communication platforms
Members articulated their interest in: project writing and development skills, strategic partnership building, institutional collaboration techniques, and sustainability strategies for community programs. The group emphasized that network strength lies in pooling the collective expertise of all member organizations, learning should flow multidirectionally, not solely from network leadership.
Next steps & timeline
- May 2026: Completion of organizational data updates
- June 2026: First in-person network meeting in Bucharest
- Ongoing: Regular online meetings on thematic topics, facilitated by interested member organizations
The enthusiasm displayed during the meeting, combined with concrete plans and committed leadership from the Steering Committee, signals a promising future for the network, one built on shared values, mutual support, and collective action toward meaningful social change.