Young Members of the “Orizont” High School Euro Club Win the EU Accelerator 3.0 Grand Final and Earn a Study Trip to Brussels
The team from the Euro Club of Orizont High School was designated as the winner of the EU Accelerator 2026 programme, earning the grand prize of a study visit to Brussels. The final event showcased youth-led civic initiatives and innovative communication strategies developed across the Republic of Moldova.
The closing gala brought together young people from Chișinău, Orhei, Leova, Sîngerei, Soroca, Edineț, Fălești, Comrat, and Ungheni. All participants are active members of Euro Clubs and EU Information Centres, working to promote European values within their local communities.
One of the highlights of the event was the participation of Iwona Piórko, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, who emphasised the importance of youth engagement and the role young people play in communicating facts and truth in the public sphere.
“These young people have shown that facts don’t have to be boring. Truth can be creative, visual, and powerful enough to make people stop scrolling, think, and ask questions. The European Union believes in young people – in their energy, creativity, and ability to drive change. Programmes like this are about far more than communication. They are about empowering the next generation of leaders and changemakers,” said Iwona Piórko.
Members of the winning team from Orizont High School shared their enthusiasm and reflected on what they had gained throughout the programme, highlighting the strong sense of community it created.
“Our motivation wasn’t just the opportunity to win the grand prize—a trip to Brussels. It was also about the friendships we built, the events we attended, the videos we created, and becoming more confident using platforms like Instagram and TikTok. By promoting European values, we also grew closer to one another and met incredible people—from ambassadors to young people across the country who share the same values,” said Dragomir Delinschi, a member of the winning team.
Another participant, Sofia Boț, added:
“What I enjoyed most was meeting so many people throughout the project, taking part in all the activities, and creating video content. This programme opened up many new opportunities for me, including learning more about the European Union and sharing that knowledge with others.”
The remaining teams representing Euro Clubs and EU Information Centres from across the country also received special recognitions for their innovative approaches and creative use of communication tools throughout the programme.
“We’ve been using innovative methods for quite some time, but we always try to experiment with new tools as well. This time, for example, the boys came up with the idea of creating content based on the letters of the alphabet. We found it especially exciting to do this in the Gagauz language, and it’s a format we’ll definitely continue using in the future,” said Valentina Caledji, Coordinator of the “Pro-Europa” European Centre Euro Club in Comrat.
The third edition of EU Accelerator focused on learning by doing, giving participants the opportunity to turn newly acquired knowledge into communication campaigns implemented in their own communities. Throughout the programme, participants strengthened their skills in addressing local challenges through digital tools, advocacy, and community mobilisation, demonstrating how creativity and commitment can effectively promote civic and European values.
About EU Accelerator 3.0
EU Accelerator is a practical training programme designed for young members of Euro Clubs and EU Information Centres across the Republic of Moldova. Through mentoring, hands-on workshops, and strategic guidance, the programme equips participants with the skills needed to develop evidence-based communication campaigns and creative solutions to challenges within their communities.
Between March and July 2026, 90 young people from all regions of Moldova learned how to counter disinformation and communicate the benefits of European integration in a clear, engaging, and accessible way.
