From November 3 to 12, the city of Sfântu Gheorghe hosted the international Erasmus+ training program titled “Say NO to Racism,” organized by the Association for Innovation in Adult Education. This program brought together 66 young people aged 18 to 30 from 11 countries: Georgia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Moldova, the Czech Republic, Armenia, Portugal, Azerbaijan, Romania, and Hungary. The StartUp HUB team provided logistical support for the project.
Throughout the ten-day program, participants had the opportunity to explore various forms of discrimination and the impact of social exclusion through interactive activities. The program was facilitated by Éva Grüman, who highlighted: “Preventing racism goes beyond accepting differences; it requires understanding that every word and action plays a role in creating a more just and inclusive world.”
A key component of the program was a visit to the local Roma community, where participants had the opportunity to interact directly with community members, gaining insight into their challenges and values. During school visits, they engaged in activities with Roma children, fostering social integration and breaking down prejudices. Additionally, the youth collaborated with staff from the Maltese Charity Service, who shared the organization’s efforts in promoting social inclusion.
Bahar Abulfat, a participant from Azerbaijan, shared, “Throughout the project, we created valuable presentations together and experienced intercultural diversity through integration and critical thinking development. It was an incredible opportunity for me to learn more about the Erasmus program and explore the cultural diversity of other countries. I genuinely enjoyed every moment of this project.”
A memorable highlight of the program was a lecture by Kaly Roland, a local musician from a minority background. Roland shared his personal journey, detailing how he built his career and the challenges he faced as an artist from a minority group. During the session, participants joined together to create a song focused on preventing racism—an activity that not only strengthened team cohesion but also offered an unforgettable experience, underscoring the importance of solidarity and equality.
At the end of the program, participants left not only with new knowledge and experiences but also with friendships and valuable cultural insights that will support them in their efforts to combat racism in their communities.
