CIVIC HIGHLANDS
Civic Highlands (Colinele Civice) is a project dedicated to increasing civic participation and strengthening community engagement in rural areas by developing the skills of young people and local stakeholders, creating participation mechanisms, and fostering dialogue between citizens and public authorities.
The project combines civic education, community engagement, media education, and biodiversity education, providing participants with practical opportunities to identify local issues and needs, propose solutions, and turn ideas into civic initiatives. A particular focus is placed on young people, who will be engaged through the Youth Parliament, civic micro-projects, consultations with local authorities, environmental education activities, and a citizen science programme for biodiversity monitoring.
The project is implemented by Fundația ADEPT Transilvania, in partnership with Asociația Vecinătatea Femeilor din Saschiz and Asociația Colinele Transilvaniei.
OBJECTIVES
OVERALL OBJECTIVE Encourage active participation and strengthen the capacity of communities to engage in civic life by developing skills, creating participation mechanisms for young people, and promoting collaboration between citizens, organisations, and public authorities. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES * Developing active participation skills – engaging community members in activities that strengthen their ability to identify local needs, communicate, collaborate, and participate in civic initiatives. * Creating a civic participation mechanism for young people – establishing a Youth Parliament, which will enable them to better understand participatory processes, identify issues affecting their communities, and contribute to developing solutions. Supporting youth-led civic initiatives will give young people the opportunity to turn identified ideas and needs into concrete actions for their communities. * Strengthening dialogue with public authorities by organising consultations with local authorities and contributing, through civic engagement, to the improvement of public measures. * Developing media education aimed at preventing and countering disinformation and fake news and improving media responsibility. * Increasing youth involvement in biodiversity conservation though environmental education activities, guided hikes and a citizen science educational programme, through which students will gain practical skills in biodiversity observation and monitoring.
IMPACT
1. Increasing Civic Participation in Communities and create concrete opportunities for community members to move from being merely informed to engaging in active participation and taking initiative. Through workshops, working sessions, community activities, and consultations, participants will acquire the tools needed to identify local issues, formulate proposals, and contribute to the development of their communities. 2. Engaging Youth in Community Life A core element of the project is the "Youth Parliament", designed as a practical mechanism for civic participation. Young people will be able to transform their ideas into concrete actions through consultations with local authorities. 3. Strengthening Civil Society and Local Collaboration The project seeks to build the capacity of organizations and foster collaboration among local civil society actors. 4. Environmental Education and Biodiversity An important aspect of the "Civic Highlands" project is linking civic participation with nature education and biodiversity conservation. Guided hikes and environmental education activities will be organized, alongside a "citizen science" program for monitoring biodiversity. The project encourages young people to become not just recipients of educational activities, but active participants in observing, understanding, and protecting nature. The project also places special emphasis on media literacy and access to reliable information.
EXPECTED RESULTS
* Establishment of a functional Youth Parliament, involving at least 80 students; * Implementation of 10 civic micro-projects, developed as initiatives addressing relevant challenges; * Organisation of 10 consultations with local authorities and contribution to the improvement of 3 public measures; * Mobilization of 200 volunteers through project-supported activities; * Engagement of more than 200 students from at least 10 schools in guided hikes and environmental education activities; * Training of 25 students in citizen science for biodiversity monitoring; * Development and use of 5 media education tools / resources; * Development of on online “Civic Highlands” Resource Centre; * Implementation of 3 public communication campaigns aimed at informing, engaging, and mobilizing communities, including a launch event, the Civic Highlands Gala, press releases, photo and video materials and the “Civic Highlands” Resource Centre.
General project infomation: Project title: Civic Highlands (Colinele Civice) Funded through: Civic Engagement Programme – Call 2, Small Grants Project duration: 01.09.2026 – 31.08.2028 (24 months) Applicant: Fundația ADEPT Transilvania Partners: Asociatia Vecinatatea Femeilor din Saschiz – Partner 1; Asociatia Colinele Transilvaniei – Partner 2 Budget: CHF 169,144.00
