Cluj Youth Mapping
The Cluj Youth Mapping project is the first-of-its-kind collaborative initiative to map youth activities, organisations, and the broader ecosystem that supports young people in the Cluj Metropolitan Area (CMA), representing an estimated one third of population in CMA. It includes two interconnected parts: a participatory research report, presented here and an accompanying interactive visual map, which is in development.
Learn about our Cluj Youth Mapping Research
The purpose of Cluj Youth Mapping is to serve as an enabler to foster inclusion and agency in participatory decision making to improve wellbeing of young residents, and become a lighthouse for other cities in Romania, Europe and the world. We aim to explore good practices at the local level and to consult youth organisations so as to improve the wellbeing of young people within the cities of the future.
Key Objectives about Youth Mapping
Objective 1
Conduct a participatory mapping study to (a) identify formal and informal youth organisations and (b) their activities in Cluj and the Cluj Metropolitan Area, and develop a publicly available living database.
Objective 2
Conduct a mapping of the Cluj Youth Workers as one of activities under O1 (b) delivered by, with, for youth in Cluj Metro Area, aiming to understand and assess what is the impact of the current model of training and the additional steps that are needed to ensure that such training will have positive influence on the Cluj ecosystem.
Objective 3
Conduct a mapping of the enabling environment impacting youth in Cluj Metropolitan Area. This includes key public, private and civic organisations which are championing and supporting youth and their activities in Cluj Metropolitan Area, including youth work, and beyond.
About our Method
The methodological framework uses a mixed-method approach to explore youth development in the Cluj Metropolitan Area. It includes policy research to identify key organisations, policies, and gaps affecting youth, emphasizing inclusivity and targeting diverse groups for representation.
A youth mapping initiative will assess youth needs, promote their role in community development, and inform policy-making with open-source data to support collaboration between authorities and youth organisations.
Quantitative research, including surveys, will gather data on youth organisations’ activities, structure, funding, and collaborations, focusing on underrepresented groups and less visible organisations.
About our Research
Enhance Long-Term Planning
Develop systemic processes to address youth needs, overcoming annual changes in Y.C.C. membership and ensuring continuity in leadership and objectives.
Educate Youth Representatives
Implement annual training for Y.C.C. members on civic engagement and youth rights to foster active participation and effective policy development.
Prioritize Strategic Research
Use studies like the Cluj Youth Profile and Youth Barometer to guide Y.C.C.’s focus areas and ensure data-driven decision-making.