Support for Youth Development Association

Support for Youth Development Association

Support for Youth Development Association (S4YD) was founded 17 December 2009 in Cluj-Napoca, being a NGO entirely dedicated to the youth development.

The goal of our association is to stimulate and support the active, civic and responsible participation of the young generation within the social, educational, cultural and economic aspects of the communities they live in.

The set of activities developed by our association point to concrete objectives such as the development and support granted to the counseling and training processes for the young people. By this, we aim to have a positive impact upon the personal and professional formation of the youth, as well as upon the sustainable development of the communities where these young people activate.

Regarding its organization and functioning, Support for Youth Development Association relies on the principles of responsible volunteering, self-motivation and self-determination, civic participation, involvement and cooperation, initiative, adaptability, follow-up, competence and competitiveness, respect and mutual support, democracy, transparency, equity, legality, sustainability, tolerance, multiculturalism, social dialog, non-discrimination and political non-affiliation.

In respect to its internal standards, as of October 2011 Support for Youth Development adhered to the principles and sustainable development indicators of SOCIETAL (http://www.societal.ro/ro/comunitate/profil/youthdevelopment).

Medium and long-term, Support for Youth Development’s aim is to set up in Cluj-Napoca a resource centre for young people and a space of civic interaction perceived as a powerful nucleus dedicated both to the youth development and to Cluj-Napoca community.

Currently, our association accounts for 8 full members, 22 active volunteers and over 30 back up people. Their expertise and experience in the fields of project management and programs involving youth, non-formal learning methods, coordination and leadership, communication and youth work ensure a quality management and high professional standards within the NGO environment. The principles of subsidiarity and mutual support between the board members and the active volunteers lay as foundations for the well-functioning of our association.

During 2 years of its activity (until January 2012) Support for Youth Development managed to:

run 6 big projects, all financed by the Youth in Action program of the European Commission, with a total budget of over 70,000 Euro;
coordinate 2 other projects, entirely funded from the association’s own resources;
involve over 160 young beneficiaries in its projects and programs;
enable over 200 young people to participate in an international experience based on non-formal learning (youth exchanges, conferences, training courses, seminars etc.) on the basis of the over 45 international partnerships that the organization concluded.

Starting with 29 July 2009, at the international level, Support for Youth Development Association is a member of IDA Network (International Development Alliance), a global network of associations oriented towards the civic society, young leaders and activists’ development, considering their involvement in the youth work. S4YD is branch of IDA Network in Romania.

We are supporting youth to develop the future!