Hungarian Settlement in Romania Wins Title of European Youth Village

MTI-Hungary Today 2024.11.19.

View of the village.

The Hungarian village of Sîncraiu-Zam (Kalotaszentkirály-Zentelke) in the Țara Călatei (Kalotaszeg) region, Romania was awarded the European Youth Village 2025 title over the weekend, Szabadság reported.

The recognition was given to active youth work, community-building initiatives, and innovative programs in the Cluj (Kolozs) County municipality, the Cluj-based daily quoted the press release. In addition to Sîncraiu-Zam, three municipalities from Bacău (Bakó) County – Pârjol (Parjol), Lipova (Lippa), and Berești-Tazlău– won the award at Saturday’s gala.

Fact

European Youth Village is a program that was launched in 2018, in Romania to support young people living in rural areas, strengthen their communities, and improve the quality of life in these areas. A key objective is to develop the rural youth sector by activating the cooperation and create a dialogue between the young people from rural areas and the decision makers. The project’s initiators want to offer a positive model of community organization for young people in rural areas to bring to light the problems, needs, and challenges of the youth living in rural communities.

The winning villages can participate in projects that promote the social empowerment and development of young people.

Project leader Tivadar Póka told the portal Krónikaonline that

the title does not come with financial support, but it will help them plan and organize programs for 2025.

Among their obligations, he said, they will have to create a Facebook and Instagram page communicating in two languages – Hungarian and Romanian – to make the villages and the activities of local youth more visible. In 2025, young people in the Transylvanian village will organize workshops, sporting events, ecological actions, film nights, book clubs, and community festivals. They aim to build a strong, cohesive young community and make rural life attractive.

The reformed church of the village. Photo: Wikipedia

Sîncraiu-Zam, famous throughout Romania for its village image, consists of two municipalities settled next to each other. The two settlements are separated by the river Călata (Kalota), otherwise they are completely built together.

Situated in the foothills of the Transylvanian mountains, the village has a population of about 1,000, one fifth of whom are Hungarian.

The village is popular with tourists from Romania and abroad, mostly from Hungary. It has won numerous awards in Romania and Hungary, including the title of the most beautiful Hungarian settlement beyond the border.

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Via MTI, Featured image: Wikipedia