From May to November 2024, the Inotek-Euroconnect project was implemented in Cahul, aiming to promote civic activism among the citizens of the southern region and to popularize the values of the European Union and the benefits of integration within society.

During these months of the project, several activities targeting different categories of people, especially youth and children, were implemented.

On International Children's Day, the Inotek Foundation transformed children's creativity into a celebration of European values through the Drawing Competition "The European Union Through the Eyes of Children". As part of a special program dedicated to June 1st, children, along with their parents and friends, brought their visions of the European Union to life, impressing passersby with their captivating and expressive ideas. The event brought smiles and inspiration, providing a platform for authentic expression and an opportunity to cultivate the European spirit among the new generation.

Children, along with their parents and friends, created colorful drawings on the asphalt, illustrating how they see the European Union. Inspired, the children drew elements such as flags, unity, peace, the sun, light, warmth, hearts, united people, and beautifully arranged homes.

Among the most important activities of the project is the EUvision StoryHack Hackathon, where 30 young people were trained to produce video stories in a storytelling format. The 10 video products about EU values were published on social media.

“We are grateful to the organizers for the opportunities provided. Although we already have some experience in the field, we learned new things, as there is always something to discover. We faced challenges related to time and initially divergent ideas, but we overcame these obstacles with patience, calmness, and good communication. It was an interactive experience, and I am convinced it won't be the last,” said Mevșa Olga, leader of the winning EUvision Storyhack team.

As part of the same project, 2 vox pops were produced titled “The Free Microphone – Every citizen of the municipality of Cahul has a voice. Everyone has the right to free expression”.People on the street were asked how they view the development path of the Republic of Moldova.

Another activity of the project was the Digital Drawing Competition "European Cahul", during which 23 ideas for renovating places in the municipality of Cahul were received. Participants addressed how infrastructure objects such as skate parks, bike parks, and outdoor pools can be arranged, as well as youth hubs and creative graffiti projects.

The winners of the competition were:

1st place: Smartphone
Maxim Oboroc, Adriana Novițchii, Sergiu Cudobețchi – Product: Eco-Transport

2nd Place: Portable Speakers
Dmitrii Caraguta, Alexandr Balas, Peotr Peroncov – Product: Graffiti IACH.

3rd Place: Smartwatches
Olga Rogozenco, Gurduza Dragalina, Ana Capraru – Product: Renovation of the Bridge near Fabrik Home.

“We participated in this competition, and for us, it was a beautiful and interesting challenge. Initially, we took it lightly as a game, because we didn’t think much about it; it was a spontaneous idea, and it was a surprise for us that we won. We are very grateful for the prizes and hope that we contributed somehow to the development of our little town,” said Gurduza Dragalina, one of the winners of the European Cahul competition.

In addition, training sessions were held on the theme “The results of the referendum depend on me”, with 12 hours of training and 50 participants, including youth and the general public – to increase awareness, critical thinking, and analysis of information sources. The project also included the training of Digital Ambassadors of the EU, who contributed to promoting European values in the community through social platforms.

During this period, over 300 people directly benefited from the activities carried out within the Inotek-Euroconnect project.

The project was implemented by the Inotek Foundation with financial support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The content is the responsibility of Inotek and does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.