Youth Hub – RAA Youth Center
Context
Youth Hub is an open space for adolescents, where they can come in daily to hang out, socialise, work, or join activities—without the pressure of a rigid schedule or formal structure.
The Hub functions as both a meeting point and a space for exploration, where young people are not just participants but active contributors. They bring ideas, test new formats, and take part in shaping and organising the activities themselves.
With a lively and welcoming atmosphere, the Hub is a place where adolescents learn, grow, and collaborate, supporting one another as they navigate their personal and future paths.
From emergency response to a diverse, multicultural space
Youth Hub was initially created as a safe space for refugee youth, offering support, connection, and a context where they could process difficult experiences, while also helping them adapt to a new community and rebuild a sense of normality.
Over time, it expanded to include Romanian youth, becoming an open space for all adolescents looking for a welcoming environment where they can explore their interests, try new things, and get involved in volunteering and community initiatives.
Youth Hub is the result of collaboration between Romanian Angel Appeal, international donors, and local partners who recognised the importance of investing in non-formal education, mental health, and civic engagement for young people.
Since its opening, the Hub has grown into a well-established space for adolescents in Bucharest, offering a mix of activities, workshops, and programmes that support the development of practical life skills and personal direction.
Today, its activities reach not only young people in Bucharest, but also at national level through initiatives such as MeRAAki and training programmes, as well as partnerships with schools and local organisations. At the same time, the Hub is connected internationally through Erasmus+ and other mobility opportunities.
Objectives
Why a youth centre?
The aim of Youth Hub is to provide young people with a safe, inclusive, and supportive space where they can explore, grow, and build skills for life. The Hub creates a context in which adolescents can better understand themselves, try new things, and become more confident in their role within their communities.
Youth Hub is built around two main components:
Non-formal education activities
Workshops and sessions are designed to help young people develop practical skills and competencies. Topics vary depending on their interests, but often focus on socio-emotional resilience, adaptability, communication, and active participation.
Open Youth Hub
Young people have access to the space and its resources on a daily basis, whether they want to join an activity or simply spend time in a safe and welcoming environment. The focus is on offering a place where time can be spent meaningfully, without pressure.
Main objectives
- Personal and professional development: Through workshops, trainings, and non-formal activities, young people build skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and emotional resilience.
- Mental health and wellbeing: The Hub supports emotional wellbeing by creating a space where young people feel safe to express themselves, and where topics such as emotions, stress, and relationships are openly explored.
- Civic engagement and community participation: Young people are encouraged to take initiative, get involved in volunteering, and contribute to their communities through projects and activities that reflect their ideas.
- Inclusion and diversity: Youth Hub is open to all young people, regardless of background, and promotes an environment based on respect, equity, and acceptance.
- International opportunities: Through programmes such as Erasmus+, young people can take part in international experiences that broaden their perspectives and connect them with peers from other countries.
Youth Hub aims to be a place where young people feel heard, supported, and encouraged to take ownership of their path.
Activities
What happens at the Hub?
Youth Hub is a space where young people can come daily to spend time, connect, and take part in activities. It’s a place where ideas can be explored, tested, and sometimes turned into something real.
Non-formal learning activities
The Hub hosts interactive workshops on a wide range of topics, depending on what young people are interested in. These can include communication, relationships, financial basics, critical thinking, or mental wellbeing. The focus is on learning by doing, in a way that feels relevant and easy to engage with.
Volunteering opportunities – MeRAAki
MeRAAki is the Hub’s volunteer community, where young people get involved in activities, events, and initiatives in their communities. Over time, some take on more active roles, contributing to the organisation of activities or facilitating sessions for other adolescents.
Mental health and emotional support
Youth Hub creates a space where young people feel safe to express themselves and talk openly. Topics such as emotions, stress, and relationships are part of everyday conversations and activities, not something separate or formal.
Social and cultural activities
From movie nights and creative sessions to informal gatherings and outdoor activities, the Hub is also a place where young people connect and spend time together.
International projects and mobility
Through Erasmus+ and other programmes, young people can take part in youth exchanges and international experiences. They can also get involved in supporting the activities organised by RAA and explore opportunities that match their interests.
Civic engagement and participation
The Hub encourages young people to take initiative and get involved in their communities. Whether through volunteering, small projects, or group initiatives, the focus is on participation that feels real and relevant to them.
Camps and learning experiences
Youth Hub also organises programmes such as urban camps, trips, or outdoor activities that combine learning with practical experiences, teamwork, and exploration.
Results
What is the impact?
Since its launch, Youth Hub has reached over 2,100 young people, both Romanian and Ukrainian, becoming a consistent space for connection, learning, and support.
Impact on young people
- Development of personal and social skills: Through non-formal activities, young people have strengthened skills such as communication, collaboration, and initiative. They have explored different areas – from creative activities like visual arts and theatre to topics such as financial literacy and mental health – based on their interests.
- Support for mental health and wellbeing: The Hub has provided a space where young people feel safe to talk openly about challenges and emotions. By integrating these topics into everyday activities, it has contributed to increased emotional awareness and resilience in a way that feels accessible and natural.
- Inclusion of refugee youth: Initially created to support Ukrainian adolescents affected by the war, the Hub played an important role in helping them connect, adapt, and feel part of a community. Through shared activities, it brought together young people from different backgrounds in a way that encouraged inclusion and mutual support.
Key developments
- Diversification of activities: Over time, Youth Hub has expanded its activities to reflect the interests of young people – ranging from language sessions and cooking workshops to dance, creative sessions, and thematic events.
- International partnerships: Through collaborations with international organisations, such as the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Hub has strengthened its approach and gained access to additional resources and expertise, contributing to the quality and reach of its activities.
