Young people from the World Bank’s Initiative “Youth Voices” Group suggest the strengthening of cooperation and organization of joint events with similar groups from other nine countries in the region

The Youth Voices Group is further getting actively involved in the review and monitoring of the projects implemented with the World Bank’s support in the Republic of Moldova. The group has had three working meetings over the last couple of months to touch upon education projects and those implemented by the Social Investment Fund, and it has set the priorities and activities to be carried out by youth as the next steps. Hence, the Youth Voices Group aimed at operating along the following priority lines: social inclusion of youth, strengthening of cooperation and inclusion of young people from Transnistria in youth activities accomplished on the left bank of the Dniester river, fighting of corruption – particularly within the education system, environment protection and global warming, and participation in the Country Partnership Strategy development.

Tuesday, on January 22^nd , the Youth Voices Group has experienced an interesting opportunity to talk to Mr. Maninder Gill (Sector Manager, Social Development), Ms. Gloria la Cava (Senior Social Scientist) and Ms. Melanie Marlet (World Bank Country Manager for Moldova). The topics raised by the youth targeted issues of group cooperation with other similar groups from the South-East and Central Europe. The young people came up with several suggestions, such as: regional events for experience sharing and information exchange between the youth from the region be organized, more funds be earmarked for the activities implemented by the Youth Voices Group, a regional meeting of Youth Voices groups be hosted in Moldova to debate the issues of developing social services for youth, and launch a blog of the Youth Voices initiative for information about the activities that all the groups participating in this project have been carrying out.

Mr. Maninder Gill  mentioned he was impressed by the ideas uttered by the youth from Moldova and encouraged the Group members to bear in mind at all times that now that they were members of the Youth Voices more than ever they should take actions to further the message delivered by that group of youth that they have been representing and who unlike them didn’t have the opportunity to speak up their views at such a level as did those who participated in the Youth Voices initiative.

Youth Voices Group webpage (in Romanian only): http://youthvoicegroup.wordpress.com/