COSI (Civic Orientation and Social Integration)

COSI (Civic Orientation and Social Inclusion) is a non-governmental and non-profit entity aiming to promote social inclusion of disadvantaged children, youth and adults and individuals with special needs. The NGO proposes to overcome social exclusion through social and civic areas. Regarding the social aspect of the activity, COSI supports and assists people in Bucharest and surrounding areas who face critical situations of marginalization, extreme poverty and social exclusion by providing necessary and highly required benefits/services (clothes, food, hygiene articles, materials of construction, guidances and councelling etc.) in order to enhance a dignifying level of life, re-integrate in society and/or educational system through humanitarian actions. Moreover, within the civic area of activity, COSI aims to develop awareness among the general population of Romania (especially youth) of important societal factors that are still obstacles to equal rights and non-discrimination values according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by promoting: human rights, transparency and good governance, participatory democracy, volunteering, active citizenship and inclusion, inter-cultural acceptance and tolerance; and combating racism and xenophobia, discrimination, social inequality, poverty and exclusion of any kind (including rural areas), gender inequality and gender-based violence through civic/educational events (workshops, seminars, trainings and debates) and raise awareness campaigns, Offline and Online. COSI is working towards introducing of inter-cultural, non-formal education in order to promote critical, open and creative thinking among Romanian NEET youth, develop a sense of belonging to the EU, through international mobility projects, especially within E+ program. Moreover, COSI is part of the National Coalition for the Rights of NEET youngsters, body which is dealing with policy makers at local/national and international level, exchanging good practices and successful methods among its members and with external bodies with the aim of increasing social integration and social reintegration of NEET youngsters. Nonetheless, our NGO provides labor market/educational counseling and support to NEET youth in Bucharest and surroundings, promotes opportunities for the target groups such as: volunteering programs abroad, entrepreneurship programs, trainings, internships and others. In practice, our NGO is celebrating the International Days of United Nations by conducting activities related to the topics of interest, making an impact on the community and the local disadvantaged individuals, especially NEET youngsters and raise awareness regarding different civic and social issues; hence, COSI is primarly acting as an UN national/local multyplier.