In April 2024, a group of children from SOS Villages d’Enfants French 'citizenship workshop' travelled to Iași, Romania, for an Erasmus+ exchange.
It became a powerful example of how children can actively shape their own learning and develop their voices as European citizens.
Travelling by train, bus, taxi, and plane, the group reached Iași – a beautiful city with a rich history as the former capital of Moldavia. “It was my first time on a plane,” says Camille, one of the young participants. “I was nervous at first, but excited to see what we would discover together.”
Meeting our Romanian peers
The main aim of the trip was to meet students from Dimitrie Cantemir High School in Iasi, who are learning French with teachers Silvia Hincu and Anca Dimitriu. Together, we organised and took part in workshops on children’s rights, civic engagement, and active citizenship.
Before travelling, the SOS Villages d’Enfants France group helped shape the programme by suggesting topics, preparing activities, and planning ice-breaker games to make it easier for everyone to connect. “We decided together what would make the programme fun and meaningful,” says Martin. “It felt like our ideas mattered.”
During the exchange, we shared our experiences of school life in France and Romania, discussed how children’s rights are promoted in our communities, and came up with ideas for improving participation back home.
Learning from our surroundings
Iași offered many opportunities for discovery. We visited the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Great Synagogue, the Palace of Culture, the National Theatre, the Museum of the Communism for children, and the Museum of Poetry.
These visits weren’t just sightseeing – they sparked important conversations about history, diversity, and what it means to be an active citizen in Europe today.
Building lasting connections
By the end of the trip, we had made friends we hope to see again. “We still talk online and share ideas,” says Léa. “We want to keep working together on projects about children’s rights.”
Back in France, we shared our reflections with SOS Villages d’Enfants educators and peers. Some of our ideas – like creating a student-led workshop on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – will now be included in our next citizenship programme.
Why this matters for child participation
This project showed that children can have a real say and impact:
- We shaped the programme by choosing workshop topics and activities
- We learned from each other through open discussions and shared experiences
- We developed skills like leadership, public speaking, and cross-cultural communication
- We influenced future projects in SOS Villages d’Enfants France citizenship education
As Amélie put it: “It’s not just about travelling. It’s about understanding how we can take part in decisions and make changes together.
Looking ahead
Our hope is that our Romanian friends will visit us in France so we can continue this exchange. Together, we want to work on a joint project about how schools and organisations can give children more of a say in decisions that affect them.
“Our voices were heard,” says Maxime. “That makes me feel confident to speak up in the future – not just in school, but in my community.”