ASOCIATIA ERHANGJA EGYESULET

The Asociatia "Erhangja" Egyesulet was founded in 2012, basically for mass-media activities. Since 2013 the NGO runs a media studio for its local newspaper (founded in 2009), online tv and online radio with the help of local young and adult volunteers. In 2014 the association applied for its first accreditation in organizing international youth projects because through the mass-media work the association gained a good view on youth life in the region. It became clear that young people lack opportunities to practice foreign languages or other knowledge they gained in school or university, to travel, to experience non-formal learning and intercultural environment. For these reasons the "Erhangja" Association aims: - to offer space and tools for young people of the community to realize their initiatives - to offer knowledge and tools to discover work in mass-media, especially for unemployed youth or school drop-outs (NEETs) - to promote youth opportunities on national and international level - to promote life-long learning These aims get shape in various local and international activities the association carries out. After the accreditation request was approved in 2014 the association started to apply for youth exchange programs, but also it kept the mass-media activity and combined it with international youth projects. Since then five Erasmus Plus youth exchanges, two Europe for Citizen twin-town meetings and one EVS volunteering project was carried out successfully. Since 2016, during summertime, the "Erhangja" Association carries out different camps for youth and children (media camp for youngsters interested in mass media work, etc.) Besides these, the association co-organizes a summer English language camp that lasts three weeks, it is led by a native speaker volunteer from the United States of Americaand more young volunteers join him/her to carry out language learning activities for kids of various age groups. Regarding cultural events, also in 2016 the association implemented its first Advent Bee, an event happening before Christmas for rediscovering old crafts (wood carving, making soup pasta, Waeving, felting, straw spinning, etc.) and fostering transgenerational dialogue between the experienced, elder craftsmen and the children and youth involved to leanr and enjoy. Besides these, we are co-organizers in the 3 weeks lasting Summer English language camp, during which a volunteer from United States of America carries out daily interactive language courses for kids. The target groups of our activities are: - Youth in general (15-30 years old) - Marginalized youth (unemployed, drop-outs, socially, culturally or economically disadvantaged) - Local community of Sacueni town and the microregion - Citizens who have an interest in, want to learn about or share their knowledge about media, community building, cultural heritage Thanks to the media activity the staff of the organization is having a close relationship with local community of Sacueni town and the five surrounding villages (Olosig, Cadea, Ciocaia, Cubulcut, Sânnicolau de Munte). The staff of the organization means the founder members, the adult volunteers who produce content for the media organs, and a small group of local youth who volunteer at the organization on a regular basis. These people meet on a weekly basis all together to discuss and delegate the various tasks regarding media production and the running projects' management.