News
Keep updated with our activities and news from the educational and social sector
23 - 27 September 2025
Lifelong learning – the Finnish model comes to Murfatlar! 🇫🇮
During a recent event attended by young people, teachers, seniors, and decision-makers, we learned about:
🔹 the high percentage of the population participating in lifelong learning
🔹 what makes the Finnish education system one of the best-performing in the world
Our guest—an expert from Finland—also had the chance to discover the beauty of Murfatlar and held discussions at the Town Hall regarding potential future collaborations.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event so special!
August 2025
Learning Without Borders!
We are delighted to welcome back the two participants who attended the “Rethinking Education in the AI Era” course in Greece 🇬🇷 this August, as well as the participant who took part in a job-shadowing activity at Pro European Education, an organization dedicated to adult education.
Over the course of a few days, they explored:
🤖 the role of artificial intelligence in education,
🧩 innovative teaching and inclusion methods,
🌐 the exchange of best practices with teachers and trainers from across Europe.
This experience served not only as professional development but also as a source of inspiration and an opportunity for international collaboration.
We thank them for their commitment and look forward to seeing how they will put what they have learned into practice, adding further value to our educational community!
16 March 2025
Spring Harmonies – music, talent, and inspiration! 🎶🌸 An intergenerational collaboration!
Magical moments at the Murfatlar Cultural Center, where talented young artists delighted us with exceptional performances! 🎻🎸 An afternoon filled with emotion, passion, and harmonious sounds—all made possible through a special intergenerational collaboration. The event was initiated by our organization’s active group of seniors—dedicated individuals who, through their participation in Erasmus mobility programs and projects, have brought new perspectives and inspiration to the community.
This marked the conclusion of the Erasmus+ youth participation project, “Voices of Change – A DIGIcratic Participation Initiative”—an experience that encouraged the active involvement of young people.
🙏 Special thanks to all the artists, coordinating teachers, and our partners—the “Adrian V. Rădulescu” Middle School in Murfatlar and the Murfatlar Theoretical High School—for their support in organizing this wonderful event! 🌟
💖 We are so glad we could come together, and we look forward to seeing you again for future projects!
20 January 2025
✨Technology Made Accessible to Everyone – Together for a Safer Digital Generation!
The Spark Youth Resource Center, alongside the seniors participating in our programs, hosted a special session: how to navigate the digital world safely!
🌟 What did we learn together?
🔹 How to set up a Google Wallet
🔹 How to use your banking app to pay bills quickly and securely
🔹 How to protect yourself from fraud and keep your personal data safe
Thank you to all the participants for your enthusiasm and openness! We are happy to be building a more connected and informed community together.
📢 Stay tuned for our upcoming activities!
Digital safety is for everyone, regardless of age!
12 December 2024
🎄✨ The magic of Christmas comes to life! ✨🎄
Today, we had the joy of spending precious time with our dear seniors, creating Christmas arrangements together—filled with color, light, and heart. 🕯️🎁❤️ Thank you for the inspiration, the patience, and the smiles that filled this special day!
We wish you all a Merry Christmas, full of love, good health, and special moments with your loved ones! 🎅✨🌟
May this holiday season bring light and hope into your homes and your hearts! 💖❄️🎶
🎁 Let’s spread the spirit of generosity and joy together! 🎁
01 December 2024
Happy Birthday, Romania!
Today, we celebrate together the beauty and pride of being Romanian!
❤️💛💙 Together with our dear seniors, we spent a wonderful day filled with mandalas and stories from the very soul of Romania.
Let us always keep our traditions alive, along with the joy of being Romanian!
A special shout-out goes to Mrs. Mariana Matei—an incredibly active member of the Spark Youth Resource Center—who continues to inspire others and bring positive energy to our community.
21 september 2024
Finta Veche – one step cleaner and greener! ✨🌍
🚮🌱 On Saturday, September 21, 2024, we enthusiastically mobilized and carried out a local cleanup drive in the village of Finta Veche! 💪 We collected waste, cleared away trash from an area near the village (in the Modrea section), and demonstrated that sustainability and recycling are part of our everyday lives!
This activity, carried out on National Cleanup Day 2024—”Let’s Do It, Romania!”—was a significant step in putting into practice everything we learned throughout our project, from proper recycling to living in a more eco-friendly way! 🌿🌍
🌟 Our project, “Bringing Sustainable Energy by Educating New Mindsets,” gave us the opportunity to make real changes and get involved in building a better future!
18 - 26 August 2024
Between August 18 and 26, 2024, I had the opportunity to participate in a course funded by the Erasmus+ program through the Spark Youth Resource Center, titled “Mindfulness and Embodiment in Education.”
The main goal of the course was to enrich professional activities through mindfulness methods and techniques, thereby supporting the participants’ well-being and mental health, as well as their efficiency and active participation. We developed the following competencies: Knowledge of mindfulness as a method and practice
✔️ Integration of mindfulness practices into daily life and work with learners
✔️ Access to a wide range of formal and non-formal practices & an e-course for educators 🎓
✔️ Deep personal reflection and embodiment practice 🧘♂️
✔️ The ability to apply mindfulness and embodiment practices for self-regulation 🌸
11 - 14 AUGUST 2024
A group of 20 enthusiastic young people from the town of Murfatlar recently participated in the **Democracy Academy** in Bicăcel, Lăzăreni, Oradea, organized by our partner, the **Experiment Teatru Clandestin Association**.
During these days filled with valuable lessons and memorable experiences (August 11–14) 📅, our young people learned how democracy works and the role of public institutions; they explored what a decision-maker is and how to become one, as well as the importance of elections 🗳️; they discovered models of civic engagement 🤝 and explored the beautiful city of Oradea 🌆. Staying at a rural guesthouse surrounded by nature and animals 🐄🌳, they had the chance to voice their fears, set ambitious goals 🎯, and make new lifelong friends 🤗. The intimate setting strengthened their collaboration and gave them the opportunity to get to know one another better, thereby fostering future civic collaborations among the youth of Murfatlar.
2 August 2024
Young people from Murfatlar participated in an educational lesson supported by the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament 🏛️, where they had the opportunity to propose legislative initiatives through a role-playing game.
They also visited Casa Europa, where they learned more about the institutions of the European Union and participated in a Kahoot contest 🇪🇺💡.
During the two days, we also explored the Cotroceni Museum 🏰, where we discovered the rich history of Romania. After these civic engagement lessons, we relaxed in the Botanical Garden 🌿 and studied the evolution of man and biodiversity, visiting the Antipa Museum 🦖.
This experience was not only educational, but also an inspirational journey into the heart of civic engagement and European values!
22 - 28 JUNE 2024
Renowned for their high life expectancy, the large number of centenarians and the concept of active aging, the Greeks offered our senior students valuable lessons in the Erasmus+ mobility, carried out between June 22-28, 2024, within the “Re-Youth. Intergenerational Society: Health and Engagement” Project – 2023-2-RO01-KA122-ADU-000177642.🏛️
During the 7 days spent in Greece, we participated in:
🏺 Greek cultural events, traditional shows and festivals, where we discovered the beauty of Greek culture.
🏃♂️ Physical exercises: We learned about the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle, specific to the Blue Zone, exceeding the proposed number of steps daily.
🌅 🧘♀️ Sunrise at the Aegean Sea: We spent moments of relaxation and contemplation by the seashore, enjoying spectacular views, exploring relaxation and mindfulness methods to improve emotional health..
🚶♀️ Unforgettable excursions: We visited the Bath of Zeus 🏛️, Mount Olympus 🏔️, Meteora 🏞️ and the island of Skiathos 🌴, together with young people from Erasmus+ projects.
🤝 We learned from our Greek partners how to adopt a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
14 - 22 June 2024
The visit of the 10 adults from Finta, Romania 🇷🇴 to Katerini, Greece 🇬🇷 has just ended. The Fintans spent a week in the Greek community on the shores of the Aegean Sea 🏖, where they experienced 🌞⛱ ⛰ ⛪️ 📖 and ♻️.
The Fintans left Finta on June 14 and returned on June 22, and their stay was not in vain.
In addition to these excursions, the Fintean group also visited a collection area 🗑 in the center of Paralia Katerini resort, where they also carried out a small greening action, led by the hosts’ representatives, as well as other cultural or religious monuments on the Olympus Riviera.
The 10 participants carried out learning activities in the field of sustainability and recycling, through non-formal education, carrying out individual or group activities on selective recycling, energy saving methods, public policies, etc. They also learned more about the European context, of which they are part, as well as about their partners in the local community of Katerini, Greece. Collaborative workshops were held, and they interacted with the group in Greece, carrying out transnational work activities, learning from each other about working methods, local realities, linguistic and cultural skills, etc.
The group of 10 adults from Finta return home with a beautiful experience, enriched with skills and knowledge about sustainability and recycling, about Greek culture and about their belonging to the European space.
All activities within the project “ADUCem Sustainable Energy, EDUCating new ways of thinking” are funded 💶 by the European Union 🇪🇺 through the Erasmus+ program and are carried out in partnership with Euro Education Services
22 MAY 2024
Today was about young people!
🗯Public presentation of the Project by students from the target group of the project “Vocile Chimbării- Initiative de Participare Democrață”, followed by the “Do you want to be an ACTIVE Citizen?” Contest, a contest with many attractive prizes, in partnership with the “Adrian V. RĂDULESCU” Middle School in Murfatlar.
During the contest, young people were able to win prizes that would help them be more sustainable and achieve the goals of their proposed projects, namely: a bicycle, a scooter and other eco-friendly prizes.
❤️Congratulations to all the winners and to all those who got involved!
We are always waiting for you close to us!
12 APRIL 2024
A workshop dedicated to the spirit of #SET2024, #SET, together with the young NGO SPARK MURFATLAR EU values, DISCOVEREU, ALL ABOUT EU INSTITUTIONS, discussions about WHY YOUNG PEOPLE DON’T GO TO THE VOTE, how we should vote (procedure), disinformation in the campaign, eurodesk, forms of participation, why a responsible citizen, quiz games and many materials offered to young people!
EURODESK ROMANIA AND THE INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, together with SET 2024! CONSTANTA COUNTY DIRECTION FOR SPORT AND YOUTH, local Eurodesk Romania information point!
2 - 6 APRIL 2024
In Finta, the Greek group visited the village of Finta Mare, the selective collection area 🗑 in the center of Finta Mare village, but also in the Bechinesti Sports Hall area, where they met with the group of adults from Finta Commune. Both groups interacted by discussing the issue of recycling and sustainability ♻️ (which is also a European priority 🇪🇺 ), discussed how the situation is addressed in their communities and exchanged experiences and culture through informal discussions.
In order to put into context the need for the project and why the 2 communities were chosen, the Greek group’s visit program also included a visit to the area of Bechinesti village (Vadul Vacilor) where a very large amount of waste is stored. They were also accompanied by part of the group of Romanian participants, so that they could also be put in contact with the local reality. Also together with the Greeks, brochures with information 📰 about recycling at the local level were distributed to the citizens of Finta commune.
1 march 2024
The Spark Youth Resource Center from Murfatlar, in collaboration with the House of Culture, the Murfatlar Public Library – Murfatlar City Hall, organized the digital „March Trinket” workshop, ending the “Activate Your Community” project !
Today, we had the privilege to meet and discuss how digitization can simplify our daily lives. 
From using language learning apps and reading news online, to managing funds and paying taxes in the digital environment, together we explored a wide range of digital tools and resources that can make our lives easier.
💡 We are inspired by the potential that digitization offers and are determined to continue to explore and educate ourselves to effectively use technology for the benefit of ourselves and our community.
21 - 27 January 2024
🌍✨ Between January 21-27, 2024, the Spark Youth Resource Center ran a Job Shadowing mobility in Taivalkoski, Finland, within the “Activate your Community!” project, funded by the Erasmus+ program, KA122 – Short-term mobility for adult education, 2022-2-RO01-KA122-ADU-000099337.
The two members of our organization attended various fascinating courses offered by the local adult education center in Taivalkoski, from a dance course for seniors to a course on making knives specific to the area. Our participants had the opportunity to be inspired by creation in the ceramics course for adults and to discover the beauty of music during the course dedicated to it.
Other interesting activities carried out were a visit to both the primary school, where they had the chance to interact with the students and teachers, and the secondary school, where they discovered more about the Finnish education system.
At the same time, through this Job Shadowing activity, our organization focused on developing managerial skills and strengthening collaboration with European partners in the field of adult education, in order to build relationships with professionals in the field of education and identify opportunities for future collaborative projects.
In their free time, they had incredible adventures! They explored a reindeer farm, learned about these amazing creatures and had a wonderful time in the middle of nature and the famous Nordic snow.
This experience was not only about professional learning, but also about genuine human connections and exploring the culture and beauty of the Finnish landscape.
December 2023
🌟 The SPARK Youth Resource Center shines again in the light of December 🌟
🎉 On December 5, International Volunteer Day, the SPARK Youth Resource Center proudly received the Diploma of Excellence for the Organization of the Year, offered by the County Directorate of Youth and Sports, representing a recognition of the efforts and continuous commitment to the community .
In the same event, our exceptional volunteers were also awarded! Carmen Balaban was awarded the title of “Volunteer of the Year”, and Andreea Alisia Bordeianu and the Senior Volunteer were in turn rewarded for their dedication.
🎄The “Winter Magic” show was not only an opportunity to reward excellence, but also an opportunity to bring joy and magic to the lives of those present. Voting of the children from the School “A.V. Rădulescu” Murfatlar filled the hall with an air of celebration and emotion, maintaining a warm and hopeful atmosphere.
Also, the president of our organization, Anamaria Burada, was awarded at the European Success Projects Gala in Constanta pre-university education, Edition I, 2023.
We are proud to be a part of such a dedicated and passionate community! Thank you to everyone involved, volunteers, partners and the community, for your unconditional support. Let’s continue to shine together and bring light into the lives of those around us! ✨💖 #SparkInAction #HeartVolunteering
20 December 2023
The SPARK Youth Resource Center continued the implementation of the “Voices of Democracy – DIGIcratic Participation Initiative” Project by carrying out step 2 of the “Citizenship Project”. Once again, 20 young people from the city of Murfatlar were actively involved in selecting a local problem from those identified by them in Step 1, a problem that needs to be solved through a local public policy.
The way they chose the problem was an interactive one, the young people being divided into groups, each group supporting their cause in front of the others. At the end, the members of each group voted on the local problem that the whole group will move forward with, towards solving it through a local public policy.
The activity was carried out with the Social Education teacher, Moise Ilie Cezar, who, through his vast experience, brought a great addition to the applied learning process for the young participants in the activity.
25 November 2023
🌱Saturday, November 25, 2023 SPARK Youth Resource Center held the Workshop for 20 adults on the topic of sustainability! 🌍
The event was held at Finta Sports Hall! 🌿
Event participants learned how to selectively sort effectively by forming interactive working groups, debated their responsibility towards the environment and how they can contribute to a more sustainable future. At the end, the event was concluded with a feedback session, where every voice counted and impressions were shared.
🤝 The event was carried out with the help of local partnerships (including the Finta Town Hall, which provided the venue for the event: the Bechinaști Sports Hall), and 3 local decision-makers were present among the participants (members of the local council and the vice-mayor of the locality) . By participating in the event, they facilitated direct communication between the people of the local community in Finta and some of their representatives: Ms. Local Councilor Târșoreanu Matilda, Mr. Local Councilor Stelian-Cristian Dican and Mr. Deputy Mayor Gheorghe Andronache.
Another outcome of the event was the brochure distributed in the community. Participants produced an informational brochure on sustainability and recycling, which will be distributed throughout the community.
This activity is part of the project “Bringing Sustainable Energy, Educating new ways of thinking”, funded by the European Union 🇪🇺, through the Erasmus+ program, together with our partner from Katerini, Greece 🇬🇷, Euro Education Services
#Sustainability #community #recycling #erasmus #AdultEducation🌿
November 2023
In November 2023, 20 young people between the ages of 13 and 15 from the city of Murfatlar actively participated in the start of the first stage of the “Citizen Project” program. This model of learning in the field of civic participation of young people is intended to facilitate the understanding of how public institutions work, the procedures by which decisions are made and the role that citizens have in a democratic society. This plan unfolds in 8 steps.
The first step was to understand the concept of public policy and how democracy works: institutions, laws, communities, etc. In a democratic society public policies include everything related to how public institutions manage various societal issues.
Also at this step, the young people debated the difference between a public policy and a solution to a problem offered by civil society, as well as the relationship between a community’s problems and public policies.
28 October - 03 november 2023
Between October 28 – November 3, 2023, the Spark Youth Resource Center organized the second mobility within the “Activate your Community!” project, financed by the Erasmus+ program, KA122 – Short-term mobility for adult education, 2022-2- RO01-KA122-ADU-000099337. The purpose of this mobility was to develop skills and provide educational opportunities for adults in our community.
15 October 2023
We have successfully completed the Launch Event of the project “BRINGING sustainable energy, EDUCATING new ways of thinking” from Finta! 🇷🇴
On Sunday, October 15, 2023, we held an event full of enthusiasm and inspiration at the Bilciurești Cultural Home! We were happy to be a part of this wonderful moment and want to share the positive energy with all the residents of our beautiful community.
La evenimentul de lansare de la Bilciurești, am dat startul învățării despre conceptele și practicile sustenabilității, initiind procesul printr-o sumară prezentare a contextului local, precum și a generalităților despre reciclare și sustenabilitate. Aceste concepte vor fi aprofundate în activitățile viitoare desfășurate în cadrul proiectului atât în comunitatea locală din Finta, precum și de către partenerul nostru din Grecia 
, Euro Education Services, în comunitatea locală din Katerini.
12 October 2023
EXPRIMARE, IMPLICARE, ACȚIUNE, INFORMARE/SPRIJINIRE… cuvinte cheie care sugerează PARTICIPAREA tinerilor la viaţa comunităţii!
🗣Împreună, prin proiectul “VOCILE SCHIMBĂRII – INIȚIATIVA DE PARTICIPARE”, finanţat prin Programul Erasmus+ 2023-1-RO01-KA154-YOU-000145135, ne propunem creșterea gradului de implicare al tinerilor în viața democratică și promovarea unei reprezentări mai eficiente a acestora în autoritățile publice locale.
Mulţumim Biroul Parlamentului European în România şi Biblioteca Publică Murfatlar – Primăria Oraşului Murfatlar pentru sprijinul adus în programele de dezvoltare comunitară!
september 2023
Anamaria Burada awarded "Honorary Citizen of the city of Murfatlar"
Sunday, 3 September 2023, our NGO’s President, Anamaria Burada, was awarded the “Honorary Citizen of the City of Murfatlar” prize, for her crucial contribution to local community education. Together with Ms. Burada, another 10 local people were awarded the recognition, for diverse domains of activity, such as education, healthcare, sport, culture, etc. This awarding session was part of “The Days of the City Murfatlar”.
Anamaria Burada declared: “It was an honor and a joy to receive the award of honorary citizen of the city of Murfatlar!
I thank the authorities for this recognition of my dedication to education for 26 years! Born and raised in Murfatlar, this award obliges me to do more!
I feel blessed to dedicate my life to shaping both the young minds and the adults I work with! Let’s not forget that great things are only achieved TOGETHER!
Let’s be inspiration for each other, collaborate and build a Murfatlar and a community for all!”
august - september
Between August 27-September 2, 2023, the Spark Youth Resource Center held the first mobility within the “Activate your Community!” project, financed by the Erasmus+ program, KA122 – Short-term mobility for adult education, 2022-2-RO01- KA122-ADU-000099337.
The project “Activate your community!” focuses on developing skills and providing educational opportunities for adults in our community, starting from the identified needs in terms of literacy and digitalization, as well as the low professionalization of practitioners in the provision of quality courses for adults.
august 2023
It is happening in Ploiesti – the Youth Capital of Romania 2024.
TinerE+SC brings to the same place more than 100 young people and youth organizations who for five days will think and write projects for young people financed by Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.
Our team participated from 20 August until 25 August 2023.
We hope this course will help our NGO to obtain the necessary tools and knowledge that will help us in applying for funding for KA2 project in the 04 October deadline. We identified a need among the young people from Constanta region, toghether with our possible international partner that shares same local issues. Also, we find this as an opportunity to test interactive methods that involve young people in a participatory way.
JUly 2023
Have you ever wondered what the “truth” will look like in 2040? 
The young volunteers participated in an interactive workshop: “capsule about truth and the future.”
Thus, a leap was made into the future and we built a vision of their future, starting from four scenarios: Error 404, A Brave New World, Keep Mad and Carry On and Ctrl+Shift+T.
Their ideas were genuine, creative, ingenious and applicable.
The activities were held at local library from Murfatlar City. This activity was an continuation of the Truth 2040 project, where our President, Anamaria Burada participated this year in Sinaia, being one the national mentor in the project. The purpose of this project, implemented by Young Initiative Association is to strengthen the role of NGOs (with a focus on NGOs) in implementing relevant actions to identify and combat harmful content, disinformation and discrimination, through an innovative, forward-looking methodology (Artifacts from the Future) detailing different possible scenarios on how it will be addressed The truth in 2040. NGOs will co-create interventions with young people for the desired 2040 scenario, supporting correct information and active positioning in the defense of human rights.
JUne 2023
In June we participated in the contracting meeting organized by ANPCDEFP in Bucharest. The aim of the conference was to provide information for granted projects regarding logistical, organizational, and financial topics.
Every year ANPCDEFP, the Romanian Agency which handles Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programs in Romania, organizes a follow up meeting for the NGOs that have been successfully applied for funding.
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