About us
The Timis County Youth Foundation (FITT) is a youth-led NGO (ages 14–35), founded in Timișoara, in the western part of Romania.
WE ALL FITT IN
Since its establishment in 1990, based on Decree-Law No. 150/1990, FITT has been an umbrella organization for other youth organizations in the region. FITT has 29 youth organizations as members and owns and manages the Youth House in Timișoara, which holds the Quality Label for youth centers awarded by the Council of Europe. It is the only youth center in Romania with this accreditation and one of only 15 across Europe.
Even before Romania acceded to the European Cultural Convention (and to the Council of Europe), that Decree-Law set the limits for exercising the purpose of county youth foundations, indicating the values of the Council of Europe: “Youth foundations may not pursue purposes contrary to the rule of law, the principles of democracy, and the protection of fundamental human rights.” (Art. 3). Later, in 2002, Parliament (drawing inspiration from the Education Law in force at that time – No. 84/1995) outlined not only the limits of the purpose of youth foundations, but also its content, giving it a dual nature:
the design, organization, and financing of specific programs;- the training, education, and development of young people in the spirit of humanist traditions, democratic values, and the aspirations of Romanian society.
Youth policies
Romania is in the fortunate position of being one of the 11 states (out of the 50 that have acceded to the European Cultural Convention) that host such a certified center. As a result, compliance with the Recommendation, as well as the fulfillment of the guarantees assumed by the Council of Europe (of which our country is also a member), is not only desirable but also natural to be achieved, first and foremost, through the development of a culture of DIRECT and PERMANENT dialogue between the ministry and the certified center, represented by FITT.
Starting in 2016, we initiated a process of familiarizing the authorities with responsibilities in this field (youth public policies), which at times still face challenges in understanding not only the significance of validation by the Council of Europe through certification, but especially the capital of up-to-date information (policies, good practices, partnerships) that FITT continuously brings into the country. These challenges prevent some of them from recognizing FITT as a permanent invitee to discussions or a constant dialogue partner (although the arguments justifying such a decision are objective), risking the loss of opportunities to capitalize on the contribution FITT can bring to the development of the youth and youth-related sector at national level.
Therefore, considering that the quality standards (validated by the Council of Europe as being met by FITT) refer not only to infrastructure (the Youth House in Timișoara), but also to the team, activities, and the high level of analysis and complexity of public policy proposals for youth, and although this requires additional effort on our part, we continue tirelessly to contribute not only to fulfilling our mission, but also to supporting public authorities in becoming familiar with European policies and practices in our field of expertise.
FITT affiliation
FITT’s affiliation with other federative structures does not replace the prerogatives conferred by the Council of Europe’s Quality Label for Youth Centres.
FITT is a member of six European platforms and networks whose goals range from youth spaces and active citizenship to social innovation, the non-governmental sector, culture, and more, bringing us together with over 340 non-governmental organizations and public authorities from across Europe.
In addition to the European structures it has joined over time, FITT is a member of the supreme governing body of the National Youth Foundation. At the same time, FITT is also a member of the Timișoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture Association, a non-governmental organization of public utility that has brought us together with 47 other non-governmental organizations and public authorities from Timișoara.
But...
The Centre is a place where a diversity of stakeholders reflect on the implications of youth work for youth policies.- The Centre is engaged in direct advocacy for strong youth policies, in other words, for a stronger link between young people’s realities on the ground and the content of youth policies.
- The Centre regularly exchanges on youth policies with public authorities responsible for youth affairs.
Programs and activities
FITT implements programs and activities dedicated to young people, focusing on the promotion of human rights and active citizenship, the development of young people’s skills, and the promotion and encouragement of their participation.
Types of youth projects and activities implemented:
- Educational activities: human rights education, education for democratic citizenship, development of transversal skills, mental health, leadership, etc.;
- Participatory arts: activating and engaging young people through the arts;
- Sports and leisure activities: encouraging an active lifestyle and providing opportunities for socialization;
- Volunteering programs: international volunteers involved through the European Solidarity Corps and local volunteers engaged in regular activities;
- Youth exchanges and training courses: encouraging learning and exchanges between international groups of young people through the Erasmus+ program.
- The Youth House in Timișoara plays not only the role of a youth center, but also that of a cultural center.
Humanitarian Support
Taking into account FITT’s objectives, the desire to support the integration of Ukrainian young people into the local community came naturally. Thus, from March 2022 to the present, a transit center has been operating in support of Ukrainian youth; 15 Ukrainian citizens have been employed as youth workers, educational staff, and foreign language teachers; and initiatives led by Ukrainian leaders have been continuously supported.
These initiatives include a flash mob and a mural, as well as an activism-through-art training, all aimed at facilitating their integration into Timișoara. In addition, addressing the same target group, FITT has organized over 500 educational, artistic, cultural, sports, and leisure activities with the purpose of bringing Ukrainian and Romanian young people together.
Starting in 2023, an educational center for Ukrainian children has been set up within the Youth House (currently with over 40 beneficiaries), following the Ukrainian school curriculum, alongside non-formal and extracurricular activities for both Ukrainian and Romanian participants.
