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VISIONBOOK FOR YOUTH@CLUJ-NAPOCA 2015 (EUROPEAN YOUTH CAPITAL)

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INTRO

Dear Reader,

Being Europe’s Youth Capital in 2015 is an honour, but it is also a challenge. Cluj-Napoca

took this challenge in its aim to become the most livable and youthful city and youth

destination in Central and Southeastern Europe with sharing as its guiding principle.

This VisionBook is the basic document, the proposed ideology for our programme.

Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 was born as a bid for earning this title, with an already working

shared approach. The Municipality of Cluj-Napoca accepted the challenge proposed by a small

group of people from the local civil society, and took it to a further level. The non-

governmental and public sector worked together, shared responsibilities, gathered and

empowered the youth sector from our city, and brought together public institutions and NGOs

from local, regional, national and European level to support this bid. This is how this aim, this

challenge became a shared objective.

As in 2012 with our bid, we are again in a preparation phase, this time working to prepare

and implement what we envisioned. This VisionBook is the product of the contribution of

several dozen youth NGO’s, leaders and experts in this field.

We invite all interested parties, stakeholders from the public, non-governmental and private

sectors, from Europe, from Romania, from the region of Transylvania and from Cluj to join this

common journey and to envision a brighter Europe for the young generation.

One more thing. This might be a vision for only the European Youth Capital in 2015, but what

we work on and who we involve in this process are the future leaders of the European society.

What we do in 2015 will be the shared work, power and joy in a shared cultural

environment and space for our shared vision of Europe in 2040. Today’s youth will be

2040’s public figures, entrepreneurs, managers, leaders.

This VisionBook is a Beta, as IT experts would call it, meaning that we wish to invite

you to contribute to its final version until 15 June 2014. The final format should be one of

many contributors, stakeholders of this European Youth Capital.

Let’s SHARE this journey.

Emil BOC

Mayor

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SHARE VisionBook

CONTENTS

1. Why SHARE? ......................................................................................................................................... 5

1.1. Our Vision Is… ............................................................................................................................... 5

SHARE means... ......................................................................................................................................... 5

Our Motto Is… ........................................................................................................................................... 5

2. Why do we SHARE? ............................................................................................................................... 6

2.1. Cluj-Napoca ................................................................................................................................... 6

2.2. Romania ........................................................................................................................................ 7

2.3. Europe and the EU ........................................................................................................................ 7

3. What do we SHARE? ............................................................................................................................. 8

3.1. SHARE SPACE ................................................................................................................................ 8

3.2. SHARE CULTURE ............................................................................................................................ 8

3.3. SHARE WORK ................................................................................................................................ 9

3.4. SHARE POWER ............................................................................................................................ 10

3.5. SHARE JOY ................................................................................................................................... 10

3.6. SHARE VISION ............................................................................................................................. 11

4. How do we SHARE? ............................................................................................................................. 12

4.1. Focus on positive feelings and collaboration.............................................................................. 12

4.2. SHARING European ..................................................................................................................... 12

4.3. SHARING Responsibly ................................................................................................................. 13

4.4. How do we share? (Principles of Partnership) ........................................................................... 14

5. Where do we SHARE? ......................................................................................................................... 15

SHARE in Cluj-Napoca ......................................................................................................................... 15

SHARE in the Region ........................................................................................................................... 15

SHARE in Romania .............................................................................................................................. 15

SHARE in Europe ................................................................................................................................. 15

SHARE with the World ........................................................................................................................ 15

SHARE Online ...................................................................................................................................... 15

6. Who shares? (stakeholders) ............................................................................................................... 16

6.1. In CLUJ-NAPOCA ......................................................................................................................... 16

People of Cluj-Napoca and Cluj County .............................................................................................. 16

The Local and regional Youth NGO Sector .......................................................................................... 16

General NGO ....................................................................................................................................... 16


Public sector ........................................................................................................................................ 16

Local business ...................................................................................................................................... 16

6.2. In ROMANIA ................................................................................................................................ 17

Romanian Youth .................................................................................................................................. 17

The Romanian Youth NGO Sector ....................................................................................................... 17

The Romanian NGO Sector .................................................................................................................. 17

The Government and the public sector .............................................................................................. 17

National business ................................................................................................................................ 17

6.3. in EUROPE.................................................................................................................................... 18

European youth ................................................................................................................................... 18

European Youth NGOs ........................................................................................................................ 18

European Municipal Establishments ................................................................................................... 18

European and Worldwide Business .................................................................................................... 18

The European Youth Forum ................................................................................................................ 18

7. What happens if we share? (LEGACY) ................................................................................................. 19

7.1. Legacy for People and Communities ................................................................................................ 19

General Legacy .................................................................................................................................... 19

Legacy for Cluj-Napoca ........................................................................................................................ 19

Legacy for Transylvania ....................................................................................................................... 20

Legacy for Romania ............................................................................................................................. 20

Legacy for Europe ................................................................................................................................ 21

Legacy for the World ........................................................................................................................... 21

7.2. Legacy for Organizations and Their Networks ................................................................................ 22

European Institutional ......................................................................................................................... 22

Romanian Institutional ........................................................................................................................ 22

Cluj-Napoca Institutional ..................................................................................................................... 23

8. What are we? ...................................................................................................................................... 28

8.1 What is the European Youth Capital? ............................................................................................... 28

8.2. What is Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015? ................................................................................................. 28

8.3. What is the SHARE Cluj-Napoca Federation? ................................................................................... 28

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1. Why SHARE?

1.1. Our Vision Is…

Our vision for Cluj-Napoca is to be the most livable and youthful city and youth destination in

Central and Southeastern Europe with sharing as its guiding principle.

Destination means the place to which someone or something is going or is being sent. In the

context of the European Youth Capital, Cluj-Napoca is a place where to go, where to be, where

to return, for a shorter or a longer period.

Youthful means young or acting young. In the context of the European Youth Capital a

youthful city is a youth-friendly city, with an urban spirit always focused on innovation,

creativity, empowerment and participation. A city with mojo.

SHARE means...

A Verb:

1. To have or use something at the same time as someone else.

2. To divide food, money, goods, etc. and give part of it to someone else.

3. If two or more people share an activity, they each do some of it.

4. If two or more people or things share a feeling, quality or experience, they both or all

have the same feeling, quality or experience.

5. To tell someone else about your thoughts, feelings, ideas, etc.

A Noun:

1. A part of something that has been divided between several people, which belongs to, is

owed to or has to be done by a particular person.

2. One of the equal parts into which the ownership of a company is divided and which can

be bought by members of the public.

Our Motto Is…

“SHARE” means for us a way of life, an open approach and a belief that shared use of

individual resources, creativity and youth participation can provide a boost to the

development of local, regional communities, to Romania and to Europe. Sharing means finding

the best combination of individual performance with the power given by all levels of the

community.


2. Why Do We Share?

The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative is a concept which earned the City of Cluj-Napoca the

European Youth Capital title. It was born and has grown in the general context which takes

into account the current reality of the city of Cluj-Napoca - the second largest city of Romania,

a new member state of the European Union and the second biggest country in Central and

Eastern Europe - and of Europe, as a continent and society, with the European Union as its

most consolidated transnational institution.

2.1. Cluj-Napoca

Cluj-Napoca is the second biggest city in Romania, one of the few growing cities regarding its

population. Cluj-Napoca is the regional center and economic powerhouse of Transylvania.

Cluj-Napoca is also proud to be called Kolozsvár and Klausenburg by part of its inhabitants

and very often we call it just Cluj. It is 2015’s European Youth Capital and it aims to become

European Capital of Culture in 2021. The city has a high number of students officially not

registered as inhabitants but living most of the year here. Because of this the real number of

inhabitants goes beyond 400,000 people, while the percentage of its young population is over

50 percent.

In the last 20 years the city has had a stable population, but 1/5 of the population has changed

in time. It is fair to say that Cluj is a really dynamic city. 16% of the population of Romania is

highly educated and in Cluj this percentage goes up to over 22%, with a strong growing trend.

However, this causes a problem of lack of craftsmen and professionals in different fields.

Manufacturing activity is still the most concentrated field of employment in the city, with over

20% of the number of employees working in this field.

Cluj-Napoca is the friendliest city towards foreigners, according to Eurostat. 96% of its

inhabitants feel good in this city, which ranks among the top quarter cities related to how easy

it is to find a job. Regarding administrative services, its ranking is 11th among surveyed cities.

Cluj-Napoca’s airport was used in 2013 by over 1 million travelers and its runway was

recently extended and modernized. This means wide body planes can also land which opens

up opportunities for a rising number of direct connections and a further increase in the

number of travelers.

Cluj-Napoca still is in a process of massive infrastructure development. It is not yet connected

to the European network of highways. However, the city’s identity is already defined by its

universities and its specific youthful character given by the high number of students.

Furthermore, the city has an innovative view on its own development, as the medium-term

strategy of Cluj-Napoca defines the city's development based on the quality of life of its

inhabitants, an original and innovative form of measurement in Romania.

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2.2. Romania

Romania is the member of the European Union being the largest member country in the South

Eastern European Region. Romania has an exit on the Black Sea, which underlines its

allegiance to the cooperation of countries in the Black Sea Region. Romania is on a renewed

path of economic growth. Youth unemployment is around the average of the European Union.

The country is witnessing a significant process of brain drain, as in several fields of activity

skilled young workforce decides to go and work abroad. The country's medium wage level

and economy output is still among the lowest ones in the European Union. However, Romania

is the birthplace of a lot of talents in different fields of activity, and still offers creative minds

and original ideas to the multicultural Europe.

Romania is among the countries crossed by the Danube-river. This offers a special

opportunity for cooperation with all countries involved in the EU’s Danube Strategy also in

the youth field.

Romania counts today 18 national minorities. Experiences, good practices and challenges

regarding the relationships of different ethnic groups within the country can offer a good

opportunity for reflection for the European community.

2.3. Europe and the EU

Europe is going through probably its most peaceful period of history. The levels of

cooperation between different nations and the level of interaction between different cultural

environments grew significantly.

However, Europe is still in a process to become a cohesive community. There is still a

powerful division between Eastern and Western Europe not just from economic, but also from

a cultural point of view. But through the wide membership of the Council of Europe and the

enlargement process of the European Union started in 2014 towards Eastern Europe has

resulted an increased number of cooperations, interactions, partnerships, not just at

government and business level but also among non-governmental organizations.

The European Union has already celebrated its 50th birthday, and it witnesses a permanent

enlargement process. Its newest member, Croatia, entered the EU in 2013 and several

countries are in the process of accession. The European Union became not just a single market

but also a particular form of integrated cooperation through projects and networks.

Mostly because of the economic crisis which emerged in 2008 there is a very high level of

youth unemployment in the European Union, some even speaking about a lost generation.

Although there is a rather large gap between the worse and the not so affected regions, the

problem could be considered a general one at European level. Through the European Youth

Capital title, Cluj can become a place recognized by European youth as one of the most

dynamic and progressive ones in all Europe.

Through the Eastern Partnership, Europe's opening to the East becomes broader and a wide

range of cooperations can emerge in the near future. As part of the Black Sea Cooperation

Region, Romania and Cluj-Napoca can play a role of a connection point towards other Eastern

European countries.


3. What Do We Share?

3.1. SHARE SPACE

We SHARE SPACE because space refers to the places built around us, man-made if we are

talking about built environments and natural if we are talking about everything else. As

history and biology make clear, major crises lead to either breakdown or breakthrough. What

we will try to do by sharing space is to show how youth can influence these two major

systems, man-made and natural, and transform this moment in time into a breakthrough.

QUALITY OF LIFE is a product not of isolation and disconnect but of the enjoyment of the

beauty and grace, the satisfactions and meanings of living in deeply aware connection with

place and community, nature and planet. This means that our approach will be an integrated

one in which all factors that define a safe and sustainable city, full of life and healthy citizens,

all of them become interconnected. Because young people have the highest mobility and are

always the early-adopters, we believe they will be the driving force of change in how we see

space in the city and outside.

We envision a city in which the main focus coincides with THE MAIN ATTRACTION: PEOPLE!

For us, urban space consists not only of buildings, but more importantly, everything in

between them. Regarding buildings, our attitude is one concerned with retrieving and

salvaging the existent built space and fully exploiting its potential. Concerning the life

between buildings, as mentioned before, we will focus more on quality of life, rather than on

standard of living. Social sustainability, safety, trust, democracy and freedom of expression

are key concepts which should describe our city as a place for meeting and encourage time

spent in public space.

We believe in a careful BALANCE BETWEEN QUALITY AND QUANTITY, both being relative

aspects. The natural space is an aspect which should be treated with the utmost respect and

social responsibility. In order to preserve the natural habitat, our actions will focus more on

raising awareness of the beauty and importance of our natural assets, as a source of

enjoyment, tourism and pride.

Small changes can have effect on a greater scale if they are made with an intelligent and

integrated approach. Finally, encouraging active participation in achieving goals of

preservation and growth is also a key part of our plan.

3.2. SHARE CULTURE

We SHARE Culture, because we understand culture as being a gateway and vehicle to connect

people and communities and can accelerate, catalyze, dynamize and activate social processes.

According to UNESCO, Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts,

morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a

member of society."

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Sharing culture is about how we do, we act, work, empower and think. The culture of

organizing work, family life and social interactions. It is the culture of the Everyday of the

Everyman. And we are confident about our culture: the Transylvanian way of organizing work

has been a national brand for the past 5 centuries.

Cluj can share inspiration and models with Europe. So long Western Europe has been the

place for inspiration and models for us in the Eastern Europe. It is the time now when

intellectuals, artists and producers in the “younger” Europe share the results of their twenty

years of reflection, experimenting and coping with transition and challenges with the bigger

Europe. The EU is facing today a serious reflection process, which is not just about economies

and structures, but first and foremost about models, trust in the value of “common”, and a sort

of redefinition of democracy itself. After all, having gone through crisis throughout our lives,

we have learnt to make change part of our daily life, and creativity our tool.

A city born at the junction between the Roman Empire and the barbarian world, then located

between the Western Catholic world and the Orthodox Byzantium, burnt by the Tatars and

rebuilt by the Germans, reformed by the Hungarians and besieged by the Turks, occupied by

the Austrians and influenced by Jews, Cluj as a multicultural Romanian city lies at the

crossroads of the West and the Balkan world. Furthermore it carries all the cultural

inheritance and genes transmitted by people that formed and transformed it throughout the

centuries, each of them enriching it and giving it a distinct flavor.

The people of Cluj are now facing the challenge of understanding the true meaning of being

“European" – a long process of learning and discovering, which is done together with all the

other inhabitants of the Eastern European countries, formerly separated by the Western pace

by the Iron Curtain. That our city is a fast learner has been proven by the fact that Cluj was

selected to become the European Youth Capital in 2015.

Young people are in this context pioneers. Through their increased mobility they learn to be

more diverse faster, and they can act as a power of change, of opening up in sharing this

European culture packed with local, regional and national specific cultures.

3.3. SHARE WORK

We SHARE Work because this represents what we do to build our society. Work refers to the

artefacts of human activity as well as the sum of skills, competencies and values derived from

education and experience. Education, formal or non-formal, career, individual skills and

collective approaches are also part of it. It summarizes what we do, as a person, a group, a

city, a region, a country or all of the European community.

The LEARNING ENVIRONMENT is the place where education, skill building, experiences at

individual and organizational level take place. We believe that the space of the city will

provide a great opportunity for individuals to explore their abilities and strengths. Therefore

each project has a learning component for the people and the organizations involved.

We are also committed to promoting non-formal education and to create a system of

recognition of the skills and competencies gained through activities and projects of the

European Youth Capital, implemented either by a central management or any partner

organization.


ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY is a growth priority since the European Youth Capital is an

opportunity to strengthen the systems of the organizations. We aim to generate development

for the organizations involved in the European Youth Capital in key areas such as: sustainable

financing mechanisms by building strong knowledge of fundraising, grant application and

partnership building, managing and strengthening the Leadership Pool within the

organizations by creating knowledge and framework for increased project generation,

management and leadership development, transition and takeover systems within youth

organizations in order to prevent knowledge loss and leadership gaps and to create an

environment of continuity in a field of activity with the challenge of continuous change.

This European Youth Capital encourages member and partner organizations to EXPERIMENT

and build new projects with long term reach, to develop meaningful partnerships across a

wide range of entities within the framework of the capital.

3.4. SHARE POWER

We SHARE Power because youth is the most dynamic age category, an innovator in driving

change. Power is relative. Youth power even more. It starts by changing perceptions. It might

continue in changing usual habits, ways of doing things, ways of taking care of each other. It

has an impact on how a society evolves, and how it defines its own quality of life and progress.

Power is about economic and social empowerment. Youngsters have to be encouraged with

different instruments, structures and mechanisms to take up the challenge, feel themselves

empowered and take action regarding their own future. Of course, all of this has to be done

together with other generations and having a general sense of mutual respect (the power of

caring for each other).

Power is also about the organized youth sector aiming to have a role in decision making,

structured dialogue regarding their own present and future. The will to assume a decisional

role and the actions taken in forming cities', regions', countries' and Europe's future

guarantees future generations capable of succeeding the lead generation of our days.

In Cluj's case, sharing power also means to add, to contribute to forming the country's and the

continent's future. When sharing power, we envision the capacity of Cluj-Napoca to be a place

and a driving force for one year in creating European policies and actions.

3.5. SHARE JOY

We SHARE Joy, because whatever we do, how we do it, how we envision the future, we

perceive the Present, this very moment and how we feel in this moment (the limit between

the past and the future) is of a high importance. Having joy means doing what we do in a more

efficient way.

Cluj-Napoca, as 2015's European Youth Capital is a place to SHARE Joy. There is a growing

quality of life here. Cluj is the friendliest city in Europe towards foreigners and furthermore, it

is one of the cities with the highest satisfaction regarding the perception of the city by its

inhabitants.

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Joy can take a lot of forms, there is individual and collective joy. Each person's perception of

joy is different, unique, it is influenced by the natural, built, or human surroundings. Focusing

on joy is also about focusing on our mental health and our capacity to be relaxed while still

being part of what we do and how we do it, individually and collectively.

SHARING Joy is one of the key instruments to create that world of positive feelings, a central

element of the European Youth Capital.

3.6. SHARE VISION

We SHARE VISION, because youth is the future of Europe and Cluj-Napoca wants to add its

part to the future of Europe. The middle of the second decade of the 21st century is the

moment the first youth generation all across Europe becomes a part of envisioning the future.

Eastern European integration is still in process after 12 new member states entered the

European Union.

What we envision today for Europe is what will become the reality governed by today's youth

(generation), which becomes the key leading generation until 2040. The concept of our

initiative is to build on this key factor and to induce a vision factor in more and more projects

of a youth initiative of this scale.

We believe the European Union is the key institutional form of continuing on the path of

building a single, consolidated, inclusive Europe. Basic liberties provided by the EU are

essential to the youth generation's needs, but they can be extended further.

In the process of envisioning Europe, we aim to create contacts and synergies with regions of

Europe which are not part of the European Union but are open for cooperation. We would

mention here the specific situation of Southeast Europe and the Black Sea Region.

SHARE Vision takes into account the objectives of Europe 2020 but also aims to look further,

setting ground for long term objectives formed by the European Community after 2020.

SHARE Vision means a set of policy proposals, methods and good practices that become part

of the youth movement across Europe. SHARE Vision means also a set of initiatives proposed

at European level for improving youth's conditions.

We aim to connect local, regional, national and European young people through their images

of the future. Inducing and promoting this image through their eyes towards key decision

makers today will help us build a better society for tomorrow.


4. How Do We Share?

4.1. Focus on positive feelings and collaboration

The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative is built around generating positive feelings and

connecting people through these feelings. Cluj-Napoca offers the general context for this

process. Thinking on positive feelings will be of capital importance in each and every action

within this initiative, however small or big that action is. Individuals will be encouraged and

empowered to express and share their positive feelings.

Collaboration (sharing) is the form through which positive feelings can be multiplied and

shared above the individual experience. Collaboration is quintessential in all strategies,

projects, platforms and specific activities of this initiative. Collaboration leads to better

understanding, mutual acceptance and an open society in general.

4.2. SHARING European

SHARE European is a call from us to act and build the European community taking into

account several key principles. We consider these principles as possible driving factors for

each of the projects, activities and events of the initiative organized by all involved partners.

The names of the principles are also calls for action. We believe these principles can be the

driving forces of building a stronger European society based on an exemplary behavior.

PARTICIPATE: this principle encourages and empowers the young generation to participate in

creative thinking, policy formation, decision making concerning their own future.

Participation means taking ownership, and this leads to responsibility in the future for one’s

own decisions. Furthermore, participative thinking enables different forms of co-creation by

participants. The collaborative approach in either the individual or the collective behavior is a

key element of a sustainable progress of society.

PARTNER: any activity, project built on some form of partnership creates original forms of

cooperation between organizations. This principle becomes even more powerful if it is based

on cooperation of actors from different fields of activity and of different sectors within our

society, such as the private, non-governmental and the public sector. As in the case of the

individual co-creation, the collaborative approach at institutional level is paramount for

achieving real progress at the level of the general society.

INNOVATE: All activities built on innovative ideas generate innovation themselves. Creativity

and innovation among youth generations contribute to a renewing dynamism of the European

society. This contributes to a sustainable development based on the evolution of society itself.

ADD VALUE: Every activity, project that considers the creation of added value means each

individual or institutional participant, partner has a clear gain by taking part in it. The results

of our programme become sustainable by having this added value approach.

THE OPEN SOURCE PRINCIPLE: In an open source environment, the results of our activities

can be multiplied, each possible stakeholder can benefit directly from the outputs of any given

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action, and access to these outputs is barrier-free. Opening up sources also adds to the general

collaborative approach of this youth initiative.

ENVISION: We envision the future if in our actions we take into account and contribute to the

long term vision of a city, a region, a country, a continent and the world and if the results of

such actions are a small part of the bigger picture. With this approach one young person of

today contributes to his/her own future on the long term. All of this leads to creating a

common European vision through the eyes of its youth generation.

IMAGE: What we do is not perceived without a proper attention given to its promotion. This is

a key principle mostly in the information society where the quantity of received information

by the individual is growing exponentially. Image is the key principle of quality presentation

of any action, internal process, activity, the results which were generated, and the multiplying

factors and opportunities. Every content-related activity of this youth initiative is essential,

but creating the activity’s image to the outer world is also paramount. Image is about not just

doing but also telling, in different forms of physical perception.

ACT MULTI: By its construction, past and present Europe is built around several multi-layers,

such as multilingvism, multiculturality, multiethnic communities. This is why one key

principle of the initiative encourages exchanges between participants belonging to different

groups. Europe and the European Union is by definition a unity with a wide range of

differences between communities with original, specific heritage, culture and behavior. The

positive influence of these communities on eachother creates an original form of social life in

Europe.

LEARN: One never stops learning, in formal and non-formal way, life itself is a learning

process. We encourage learning as a key principle to any project. The life of each participant

should be more valuable by experiencing and taking part into a specific activity and therefore

we are set to create an environment in which all individuals can learn and have the

opportunity to develop. Experience becomes value, learning opens new paths, it shapes the

individual and through individuals, the future of the European community.

4.3. SHARING Responsibly

We SHARE Responsibly, because the projects developed by public authorities and civil society

organizations within this program make use of meaningful human, time, financial and

sometimes environmental resources. Thus, these actors can play at least the same societal

role as businesses through their CSR policies.

Sharing Responsibly means being mindful on how we do things, plan and implement projects

and use our own limited resources in the best possible combination while protecting our

environment, being economically and socially responsible and acting with good governance.

Our strategy consists in raising, mobilizing and counseling NGOs to acquire social

responsibility principles before planning their projects. NGOs that aim to deliver projects

under the European Youth Capital will be offered a wide range of best practices Social

Responsibility management of the main events that The SHARE Federation will organize in

2014.


This activity will result in a more responsible NGO and public sector and it will contribute to

raise standards towards economic, social, environmental and good governance responsibility.

SHARING Responsibly will also produce a set of instruments and processes, such as the SR

Guideline, SR Label, SR Hub and the SR Engagement.

4.4. How do we share? (Principles of Partnership)

These principles define the general framework for institutional cooperation within The

Partnership for the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 (European Youth Capital) Initiative (the

Initiative). Individual and institutional cooperation represents the main form of community

sustainability of the Initiative, underlined also by its main motto, SHARE.

The Partnership is a form of bi- and multilateral cooperation through which each participating

organization, institution acknowledge in a mutual form the General and the Partnership

Principles of the Initiative and through which they contribute to the vision, mission and

objectives of the European Youth Capital. In the networking, partnering process, institutional

partnerships represent not just an instrument for promoting these General and Partnership

Principles towards wider audiences, but also an efficient way of using the various resources of

each participating organization in the process of achieving the goals of the initiative.

The Partnership considers involving the region around the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania and

the European community in the implementing process of the Initiative.

The partners involved in the Initiative assume its priorities, SHARE Space, SHARE Culture,

SHARE Work, SHARE Power, SHARE Joy, SHARE Vision, as they are defined in the VisionBook

and the General Principles. They also assume the horizontal priorities called SHARE

Responsibly and SHARE European in the implementing process of any projects within the

Initiative. The Partnership in the spirit of the European Youth Capital contributes to the

extension of fields of activity targeted by the project and the extension of target groups and

beneficiaries of the Initiative.

Regional participation is made possible through the regional priority called SHARE Region.

This enables the special participation of organizations and individuals from Transylvania in

this initiative, but also raises awareness about the region among target groups.

Partners take into account the guidelines of project quality assurance for the management of

the Initiative, among them the guidelines for the visual promotion as described in the Manual

for Visual Identity in the process of initiating and managing projects in the spirit of the

Initiative.

The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Office contributes to any activity or project implemented in

partnership in the spirit of the Initiative through logistic support, promotion, and professional

assistance in youth field, through activities which mobilize resources and through assistance

in applying the horizontal principles called SHARE European and SHARE Responsibly.

The Partnership is open to any organization and institution which agrees with these

principles, signs an institutional partnership agreement and initiates specific projects and

activities in the spirit of this Initiative.

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5. Where Do We Share?

From our point of view, the European Youth Capital 2015 is not physically linked to the city of

Cluj-Napoca, meaning not all projects and activities have to happen here. This programme is

rather connected to a spirit traced by this VisionBook. The European principles of the

programme also encourage a vast array of methods to connect to the spirit of sharing and the

world of creating positive feelings.

SHARE in Cluj-Napoca

We share in the city of Cluj-Napoca and European Youth Capital in 2015, as a vibrant, youthful

city with a vision of becoming the most attractive youth destinations in Central and

Southeastern Europe. Cluj-Napoca is 50+1 percent young. Within the city activities, projects

will happen not just in the city center but will involve all neighborhoods and communities.

SHARE in the Region

We share in the region, the surrounding Cluj County and the historic region of Transylvania, a

place with an original and valuable cultural heritage and a unique natural environment. An

Eastern Wonderland.

SHARE in Romania

We share in Romania, in a country with a very young democracy, but with an X, Y and

Millennial generation which had few interactions with the old communist regime, which is

why these generations have the chance to become the key drivers of development of the

Romanian society on the long term. 2015’s European Youth Capital is the first year long youth

title for Romania as such.

SHARE in Europe

We share also in Europe. We share thanks to the wide range network of the European Youth

Forum and its 100 member organizations, through the in-formation Network of European

Youth Capitals, to the twin cities of Cluj-Napoca and through Romania’s and its youth sector’s

ever-growing connections to Europe. We share in an ageing Europe facing a challenge of

losing one of its youth generations but extending its democratic values.

SHARE with the World

We share on our planet Earth, full of challenges at global, national, local and regional level, by

thinking together about issues such as climate change, poverty and globalization.

SHARE Online

Wherever this sharing happens, Cluj-Napoca as European Youth Capital is a spirit, a

connection point, a hub and a destination not just through physical presence but also through

a virtual world. This is why the European Youth Capital programme also happens online, and

the spirit of this programme is very much formed by a permanent virtual viral framework.

Becoming virtual, the European Youth Capital becomes more, its spirit, its results, impact and

legacy become barrier-free for anybody through a simple connection to the internet.


6. Who Shares?

“SHARE” means for us a way of life, an open approach and a belief that shared use of

individual resources, creativity, and participation of young people can bring a boost to the

development of local, regional and European communities. Sharing means finding the best

combination of individual performance with the power given by all levels of communities.

In this context, a wide range of individuals and organizations are invited to be those who

share.

6.1. In CLUJ-NAPOCA

People of Cluj-Napoca and Cluj County

Local youth represents 50+1% of inhabitants during the academic year. Because the unusual

proportion of students who come from other parts of Transylvania and Romania (and many

different countries all over the world), the city becomes a permanent mix of youth vitality

with a quickly assumed local identity. The youth generation enables a wide range of

businesses, institutions and is a key part of Cluj-Napoca's development.

The Local and regional Youth NGO Sector

Key stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative, through their

participation, through new connections with European and national level networks,

programmes and initiatives, through a large pool of non-formal learning processes, through

an original approach towards volunteering and through the newly enabled large scale crowd-

funding schemes are the main actors in this play. This sector will become professionalized,

and more consolidated in fulfilling its duty to complete formal human resources development

mechanisms.

General NGO

Cluj is characterized by an ever growing level of non-profit initiatives. The city is witnessing a

high level of bottom-up initiatives that already produce community level impact. The

Paintbrush Factory contemporary art initiative, the Participatory Budgeting Initiative or the

European Youth Capital 2015 title itself are just some examples, but their influence is

extending in the public space, within public policies. Cluj-Napoca is becoming a good example

of combining top-down and bottom-up solutions for urban prosperity.

Public sector

The public sector from Cluj-Napoca is going through a positive transformation with cross-

sectorial cooperation gaining a wider and wider range in the city's development and city level

initiatives. Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 is itself an original partnership of the local youth

(organizations) and public sector (municipality).

Local business

Local business is connected to the European Youth Capital through various ways. The

European Youth Capital means an increased level of tourism, it means an infusion of capital

through various projects and partnerships which is spent on products and services provided

also by the local business. Furthermore, the European Youth Capital is a very important tool

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for promoting already existing, already established or new, innovative events and for

acquiring a new pool of participants coming outside of the city.

6.2. In ROMANIA

Romanian Youth

It is the first European Youth Capital title in history for any Romanian establishment. As the

title is awarded through a European level competition, this title is an element of pride not just

for (young) people who identify themselves as "clujean", but for any young person from

Romania. Cluj's good connections with every region in the country do permit an easy

accessibility to any event, project within the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative.

Furthermore, as Cluj-Napoca doesn't want to act as just a physical space of the European

Youth Capital, Romanian young people can be participants and co-creators in their own home

surrounding.

The Romanian Youth NGO Sector

Through the projects, initiatives, learning and participatory mechanisms, the Romanian youth

NGO sector becomes not just a stakeholder, but also a direct beneficiary. As a temporary

venue (becoming a permanent one through the legacy of the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015

Initiative), Cluj-Napoca will offer extra means of reflection and debate on youth-related

policies, on the long-term "country project" of Romania and the role of the youth NGO sector

in assisting senior decision makers in forming a largely accepted vision for the country.

The Romanian NGO Sector

The Romanian NGO Sector is also a stakeholder in the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative

through a set of activities and projects at national level in connection with the spirit of the

European Youth Capital.

The Government and the public sector

There are positive developments regarding the general framework of youth policies and

legislation. However, there is still a significant need for a European infusion of youthful

thinking, of good practices in other parts of Europe, adaptable for Romanian realities and for a

long term thinking on youth as the key driving force of the country in 2040, 2050. The

recently adopted National Youth Strategy is a starting point for the 7-9 year period ahead, but

this has to be completed with a thoroughly planned deployment of specific projects on each

priority. Furthermore, the country is in a need for a Country Project, or a long term vision of

its geopolitical role as the biggest country in Central and Eastern (and/or Southeastern)

Europe after Poland, a Black Sea Region country, the second to last newest member of the EU

and a meeting point of Western and Eastern cultures and civilizations.

National business

The economy of Romania is on a slow recovery process when companies are considering

every decision at least twice. However, youth is also the most dynamic consumer sector. This

is why the private sector's direct involvement can be considered also from an added value

point of view. If the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative will produce a clear added value for

private companies, youth-related sponsorships and investment will increase in the future. The

European Youth Capital title will also enable an import of know-how in the field on integrated

management deployed in the non-governmental sector and a very much needed programme


management expertize in the form of good practices and specific consultancy. The European

Youth Capital will create the necessary means to import specific management technology

necessary today for having a high level management quality.

6.3. In EUROPE

European youth

European youth is one of the key stakeholders of the European Youth Capital programme in

2015. Actions, projects, event, exchange and learning activities, the growing number of

interactions and partnerships between organizations from Cluj and Europe, and between

European groups through Cluj, have the European young people as their final beneficiaries.

European youth can participate, take action even through projects and activities which are

not physically happening in Cluj-Napoca, but in other locations or the virtual world.

European Youth NGOs

European youth NGOs become connected to Cluj through clear activities.

As the general manager of the European Youth Capital title, The European Youth Forum has

also a very important role to facilitate interactions between Cluj-Napoca and its members

(national youth councils and European youth organizations). The European youth NGO sector

will find in Cluj-Napoca a favorable environment for enabling young people to participate,

take action, and be creative and to contribute through their vision, work and power to the

long term development of the European community.

European Municipal Establishments

All European cities, municipalities interested in investing in its youth in a special way and

considering youth generations as key pillars of the cities’ long term development are also

stakeholders of Cluj-Napoca's European Youth Capital programme. The original road taken by

the municipality in partnership with the youth sector can serve as a power of example.

Through partnerships, networking, exchanges, good practices of already experienced cities

can be brought to Cluj, while cities willing to take the road of youth investments can have a

direct access to a useful expertize. Twinned towns and other cities holding the European

Youth Capital title in the future are among the most interested stakeholders of this category.

European and Worldwide Business

The presence and partnership of international brands and companies in the Youth@Cluj-

Napoca 2015 Initiative and the added value created through these partnerships can become

good practices also on international level, the European youth sector and these multinationals

can benefit directly and indirectly from this cooperation. Good practices of cooperation can be

deployed in other parts of Europe as well.

The European Youth Forum

As a key stakeholder, the European Youth Forum acts as the genesis of the European Youth

Capital title, as the most legitimate organization and network for taking good practices

created by 2015's designated city and multiplying them. Furthermore, policy conclusions,

pledges and the results of policy-related initiatives can be vital inputs and instruments to

youth advocacy towards European institutions such as the European Commission, European

Parliament and the European Council, the Council of Europe, the Committee of Regions and

other institutions.

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7. What happens if we share? (LEGACY)

7.1. Legacy for People and Communities

General Legacy

Through sharing, the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative will contribute to the wellbeing of

the young person from Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania, Europe and the World through

the driving power of community-enabled solutions and, through the young person, the well-

being of the whole community. The individual and communities formed by individuals will

have a much clear sense about their own and their communities' future.

Through sharing, the voice of youth is better heard, and the young person is empowered to

take a bigger role in building Europe. This process is completed with an increased level of

happiness and joy of the present, the moment when the person contributes to this process of

building the European society.

Cluj-Napoca will head down the road of becoming a landmark of connecting individuals,

organizations and communities, an enabling environment for development on the European

map. A place where one likes to go, to be, to stay, to grow and from where one shares and

connects with the local, Transylvanian, Romanian, and European and worldwide

environment.

Legacy for Cluj-Napoca

Cluj can define itself as an important hub of youth-related events and is a youth policies

incubator and laboratory. Our vision for Cluj-Napoca is to be the most livable and youthful city

and youth destination in Central and Southeastern Europe with sharing as its guiding

principle.

Cluj-Napoca will gain a full proof Local Action Plan for Youth (Youth Strategy) in correlation

with the General Development Strategy for 2014-2020. This strategy will put in practice a

vision regarding how youth relates to space, culture, work, power, joy and vision, as

presented in this VisionBook.

Cluj-Napoca will take important steps in consolidating youth infrastructure, which enables the

physical space necessary for implementing specific projects in relation with a youth strategy.

It will also provide the framework for the development of virtual infrastructures that enable a

large scale management and monitoring of activities, and also mechanisms of attracting an

increased level of funding sources for youth-related activities in the city.

Act Multi, Learn, Open Source, Envision, Partner, Image, Innovate, Add Value, Participate

become driving principles not just for European and national, but for local level youth actions

as well.

All of this will lead to a cohesive local community with a permanent interaction of the center

and the periphery, of different ethnic groups with each other and of people of all generations.

The city is a performer in what it means youth entrepreneurship, being the first city in

Romania in 2013 regarding the number of companies opened by young people. This culture of


entrepreneurship will be strengthened by the resulting entrepreneurial initiatives. We aim for

100 entrepreneurship projects to emerge from the ideas of the capital covering a wide range

of domains, from business to independent or community projects, to social economy and

NGOs.

We want to permanently connect education to the external environment and to insert

entrepreneurial education, cultural education into the formal education. This will create a

culture of education that goes beyond the school environment and creates valuable skills and

competencies.

The Capital will provide the opportunity to create a hub for youth related research regarding

their interests, trends, education, and employment.

We will set the stepping stones for a city-wide online platform for volunteers that will merge

volunteering opportunities through mobile apps and clever scheduling so that anyone will be

able to volunteer based on their interests. This will tie in with a gamified system that will

track progress and link achievements to different leaderboards and badges. This system aims

to become the main volunteer connection platform in the city becoming an iconic piece of its

culture and lifestyle.

Legacy for Transylvania

Transylvania is a truly European region, defined not just by intriguing legends from the past

but also through its valuable natural and cultural heritage. Transylvania will be reconized by

young Europeans as one of the regions with the most balanced weather, a marvelous

combination of small urban and rural civilized spaces, still very much untouched natural

environment.

Transylvania consolidates its perception as an Eastern Wonderland, an even more attractive

tourist destination for people of any age from Europe and the world with Cluj-Napoca as one

of the key access points to this world.

Legacy for Romania

Using the high grade of visibility at European level, Romania becomes a friendly destination

for young people from all over Europe, adding modernity and a youthful spirit to already

existing historic myths.

Romania gains a set of original projects, ideas created in the context of the European Youth

Capital programme which can be multiplied in all parts of the country, some of them even

becoming national priorities. Participation in implementation becomes one cross-sectorial

either in a form of combining expertise and resources from different fields of activities and by

enabling public, profit-oriented and non-governmental interaction.

The structure of priorities in the Youth@Cluj-Napoca Initiative (space, culture, work, power,

joy and vision completed with responsibility, European thinking and a regional approach) can

be a guiding principle in forming youth policies on long term for the country and its regions.

Virtual collaboration becomes a form of generating youth-related policies, position papers

with youth leaders and experts interacting with a medium- and long-term approach.

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In particular, Romania gains through this initiative the concept and institutional structure for

the Romanian Youth Capital title, which will give a unique opportunity to cities all over the

country to take the path of youth empowerment in the urban development process. This will

enable a medium- and long-term responsibility among Romanian communities towards their

young generations. All of this will result in a boost for a prosperous society.

Legacy for Europe

Romania and Cluj-Napoca become a much more attractive destination for European youth

through the European Youth Capital title. This initiative will bring an increased visibility of

Cluj and awareness about the city and its current and possible future role in Europe. The city

will also assume a role in creating connections between EU countries and regions and the

Black Sea region. Through the European Youth Capital title, Cluj-Napoca will contribute for

the European integration aim and process of Moldova, based on the recent agreement

between our neighbor country and the European Union.

Cluj-Napoca will act as a driving force during 2015 in the process of consolidating the

Network of European Youth Capitals, an institution and network of former, current and future

cities with strong commitment towards their youth generations, and an instrument of

connecting cities through bi-, tri-, and multilateral cooperation via youth-oriented projects.

Through this initiative Cluj-Napoca will consolidate its role as a European youth venue, a true

destination of ever growing local, national and European events. The city will also serve as a

model on how to deal with the growing concern of youth unemployment and the 'lost

generation' through a set of innovative and creative initiatives connecting profit- and social

gain-oriented thinking.

Cluj-Napoca will serve as connection point, an enabling surrounding for European youth

policies, involving all stakeholders of this issue. The European Youth Capital will start, enable

and foster European level pledges on youth-related policies in several fields of activity and a

European citizen's initiative on non-formal education. Cluj-Napoca will act as a location for

promoting multicultural and multiethnic principles and intercultural dialogue among young

people and youth generations.

Not the least, through its open approach and method called 'SHARE European, and The

Partnership Model promoted through all actions and projects, Cluj-Napoca will offer Europe

an original development model based on sharing ideas, resources and favoring cooperation

against competition.

Ultimately, Europe gains in Cluj-Napoca a city with the commitment to become one of the

most youthful cities and youth destinations, a physical and spiritual place where it is tempting

to be, to meet culture and cultures, to work, to be empowered, to enjoy life and to think about

the future in a responsible and European way.

Legacy for the World

Through participation in international volunteering networks and through the various

exchanges between Cluj-Napoca and twin towns all around the globe, Cluj-Napoca will open

its sources of good practices, youth innovation and mobility and the will to contribute to the

peaceful and sustainable development of our planet.


7.2. Legacy for Organizations and Their Networks

European Institutional

Europe and the European Union

Europe and the European Union will gain a new actor and location within the European

community truly interested in youth policies and the future of Europe. Europe and the

European Union will gain a set of new and original initiatives, and also a new youth hub in its

interconnected community. Europe and the European Union will gain a responsible local

regional and national (youth) community interested in contributing to their general aims.

European Youth Sector

The European Youth sector identifies in Cluj-Napoca a city, a place, a nod, a community

committed to youth, a venue for youth-related events, a connection point between Western

and Eastern Europe, between the European Union and countries of Europe outside it. Not the

least, the European youth sector will receive a pool of young experts in different fields of

activity whose expertise will be of value in European youth organizations.

The European Youth Capital title

The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative, its VisionBook, the specific projects and activities

derived from this Initiative, the management and communication strategies used in 2013-

2015 and the envisioned impact monitoring process in 2016-2018 will contribute to the

general efforts of the European Youth Forum on the institutional consolidation and

recognition of the European Youth Capital among a growing scale of public, private and non-

governmental stakeholders.

The Network of European Youth Capitals

The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative and its coordinator, the SHARE Cluj-Napoca

Federation will have an important contribution to the formation and institutional

consolidation of the Network of European Youth Capitals, to the creation and implementation

of the strategic framework of this network in its initial period of existence. After year 2015,

Cluj will assume a role of dissemination within the network about the good practices and the

legacy of its European Youth Capital programme.

Romanian Institutional

The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative will contribute for the better legal framework

concerning youth and youth-related activities in Romania through a set of policy papers and

recommendations proposed as a result of meetings of youth and youth leaders with key

decision makers, and youth think tank platforms. These policies will set further good practices

completed by the existing ones that will lead to a better youth policy framework in Romania.

The Romanian youth NGO sector becomes more connected to European youth networks and

the number of partnerships, cross-border projects in which Romanian youth entities are

involved and where these NGOs take a coordinating role, increases. Furthermore, the number

and quality of Romanian youth initiatives also increase and become more respected. In short,

Romanian youth NGOs will be enabled to add more to the process of building the European

community.

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The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative will contribute to an increased legitimacy of the

Romanian Youth Council, as member of the European Youth Forum and as a key institution in

connecting the youth NGO sector with central and local authorities.

As a specific legacy, the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative will generate the necessary

activities, projects and partnerships that lead to the creation of the Romanian Youth Capital

title. The Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative will also generate the selection process for the

first Romanian Youth Capital City for 2017.

Cluj-Napoca Institutional

The Public Administration

The Public sector and especially the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca will gain an invaluable

experience in cooperation in its first year-long programme, with a trusted coordination

shared with the non-governmental youth sector from the city. This experience might be

considered also as a laboratory which permanently enables the large scale-event management

at city wide level, a vital resource for future major European and world titles and events. This

also enables a much broader connectivity of the city's institutions with the outside world, a

key step towards becoming a Gamma city of the world.

The Youth Sector and Its Connections

The special relation and partnership between the Municipality and the youth sector becomes

a permanent form of innovation, a part of the urban development processes. The European

Youth Capital consolidates a long-term cooperation mechanism. Cluj-Napoca will gain also an

institutional form of a Local Action Group of Youth, a tool for cooperation and joint planning

and implementing with the active participation of the local administration and the youth NGO

sector.

Enabled cross-sectorial cooperation remains in place for working towards achieving the long-

term vision and the middle term consolidated strategy on youth, governed by the established

and already operational Local Action Group of Youth. Furthermore, organized volunteering

and crowdfunding become key resources for the local youth sector.

The Private and Non-Governmental Sectors

The means of cooperation and partnership established in the process of preparing and

implementing the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative will serve as a good practice in

enhancing cooperation between the private and non-governmental sector in general and will

enable the continuation of initiatives born in this context on medium and long term.

The Partnership Model

The Partnership Model, the responsible and European principles become an additional good

practice in the bidding process of the city for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2021.

The methodology for project management and project quality assurance transforms into a

widely used good practice hereon, while the virtual and cloud instruments become widely

acknowledged as a driving force for development and innovation in other fields. Furthermore,

the European Youth Capital contributes to the building of a culture of partnership at city level,

a form of cooperation which enables a general, cross-sectorial, urban level development.


NOTES

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NOTES


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8. Who are we?

8.1 What is the European Youth Capital?

The ‘European Youth Capital’ (EYC) is the title awarded to a European city for the period of

one year, during which it is given the chance to showcase, through a multi-faceted

programme, its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development.

The EYC initiative encourages the implementation of new ideas and innovative projects, with

regard to active participation of young people in society, and seeks to present a role model for

the further development of youth policies in other European municipalities.

The title is awarded by the European Youth Forum through a competition of programmes

open for cities from 49 countries. The European Youth Forum is the platform of youth

organizations in Europe. Representing 99 youth organizations, both National Youth Councils

and International Non-Governmental Youth Organizations, we believe youth organizations

are the tool through which we empower, encourage, involve, represent, reach out and support

young people. The Youth Forum brings together tens of millions of young people from all over

Europe, organized in order to represent their common interests.

8.2. What is Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015?

Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 is the initiative proposed by the city of Cluj-Napoca in the bidding

process for the European Youth Capital title for 2015. The idea and the concept took birth in

the youth NGO sector of Cluj-Napoca and was assumed by the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca

through a Memorandum of Understanding for the initiative. Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 has its

concept build around 'SHARE' as its main message and it is the initiative that will be

implemented as the 2015's European Youth Capital Programme.

8.3. What is the SHARE Cluj-Napoca Federation?

The SHARE Cluj-Napoca Federation took birth based on the Memorandum of Understanding

for the Youth@Cluj-Napoca 2015 Initiative. The SHARE Federation was established by the

signing NGOs of the memorandum. Together with the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca, the SHARE

Cluj-Napoca Federation has the role of preparing and implementing the Youth@Cluj-Napoca

2015 Initiative based on the decision of the Cluj-Napoca’s Local Council on 22 June 2013.

Documents

Cluj2015 visionbook beta