Implemented by

The Cluj-Napoca office

Duration
October 2015 – October 2017         
Budget
132,000 $
Funding source
Romanian American Foundation

The aim of the project was to highlight the importance of the value chain in agriculture, for the students of the eight agricultural high schools participating in the program. Fifteen students were selected from each high school, to attend study visits together with two accompanying teachers.

These visits focused on two areas: zoo technics and horticulture. The agricultural high school were selected from the following localities: Miroslava, Huși, Brănești, Slatina, Salonta, Turda, Ciumbrud and Prejmer. The project’s secondary goal was to teach the participating students and teachers to organize study visits, as in the future they will replicate this model.

Each visit lasted four days; each day was dedicated to an element in the agricultural value chain: production, processing, marketing and opportuni-
ties for the future. During these four days both students and teachers had to complete a journal, and at the end of the program the data was collected and interpreted. Through this program, we aimed to develop the students ‘capacities and to guide them towards sustainable agriculture. We presented them examples of small and medium-sized enterprises to inspire them to choose a career in this direction, and also educational and funding programs in this direction.

We pride ourselves on being able to successfully implement the 8 study visits and that we have succeeded in highlighting the importance of choosing a career in the field. The effort we made to organize the study visits evolved over time in a reason to be joyful when we received the appreciation of teachers and students eager to start their path in sustainable agriculture.

Partners:

World Vision România (WVR), Junior Achievement România (JAR), Centrul pentru Educație Economică și Dezvoltare din România (CEED), Centrul Român pentru Politici Europene (CRPE)

”One of the greatest lessons learned in this project is that a rigorous planning leads to a
smooth and flexible implementation. At the same time, I also had the chance to identify
project design skills and abilities I was not aware I had, as I had never been put in the
situation to prove them. I am glad that through non-formal education techniques we
managed to raise the students‘ interest in agriculture!”

Carmen Ciobanu Project coordinator