Youth on a Mission

Volunteer teams supporting Ukrainian youth integration in Timisoara

Youth on a Mission is a volunteering-based solidarity project in Timisoara, Romania, designed to support Ukrainian children, teenagers, and youth affected by the war—while also building real connections with Romanian and international young people through shared activities and community life. The project is closely linked to the Ukrainian Educational Hub in Timisoara and focuses on afterschool-style opportunities, non-formal learning, and integration support through volunteer-led workshops and events .

The idea is simple: instead of expecting young refugees to “figure it out” alone, the project creates welcoming spaces where they can learn, express themselves, practice languages, and make friends. At the same time, volunteers gain hands-on experience designing and running youth activities in an international environment .

Who the Project Is For

The project’s direct focus is on Ukrainian kids and adolescents living in Timisoara—especially those connected to the Ukrainian Educational Hub—plus Romanian youth and other young people in the local community who join activities side by side .

Just as importantly, the project is built for volunteers aged 18–30, coming from Romania, Ukraine, and other countries, working in teams to create a steady rhythm of activities and community events .

What the Project Wants to Achieve

Youth on a Mission is built around clear, practical goals tied to integration, skills development, and community cohesion. The project aims to:

In terms of scale, the plan includes involving around 80 volunteers, and delivering a high volume of activities/events for Ukrainian and Romanian youth.

How It Works

Team volunteering model

The project runs through teams of volunteers who come for a defined placement and work together (with coordinators and mentors) to plan and deliver activities. Volunteers aren’t dropped into chaos; they’re onboarded, supported, and guided through preparation, delivery, and reflection .

Typical flow of a volunteering team

A typical team volunteering cycle is structured like this:

This structure matters because it keeps things realistic: first you understand the community, then you plan, then you deliver, then you reflect and share what worked.

Methods and Approach

The project is rooted in non-formal education, meaning learning-by-doing, participation, creativity, and reflection—not “classroom lectures.” Volunteers design activities that are interactive and youth-centered .

It also includes preparation connected to working with young people facing difficult situations, including trauma-informed youth work, so volunteers are better equipped to support respectfully and safely .

Learning isn’t treated as invisible, either. Volunteers use tools like weekly reflection reports mapped to key competences, and outcomes are captured through Youthpass at the end of the experience .

Project Timeline

The overall workplan is set up across 24 months (M1–M24), with volunteering activities happening in repeated cycles across that period.

Each team placement is described as a 59-day volunteering activity , which roughly matches the 8-week structure shown in the activity flow.

Main Activities Volunteers Will Run

Volunteer-led activities are meant to support both integration and personal development, and may include:

Communication and Visibility

The project includes both online and offline dissemination: partner website articles, social media content, volunteer blog-style updates, photos/videos, and community events. There are also targets for press releases and visibility metrics .

EU funding visibility is planned through logos on materials and explicit mentions of support through the European Solidarity Corps in communications and events .

How can you apply to volunteer?

Applications are planned through the European Youth Portal, where the opportunity is published as an open call .

Use this portal to find and apply:

Based on the project selection approach, applicants typically prepare:

What happens after selection

Selected volunteers go through:

Youth on a Mission is a practical, hands-on volunteering project built around one clear idea: integration happens faster when young people are given real spaces to meet, collaborate, and create together. With a structured team model, non-formal methods, and a long enough timeframe to build continuity, it’s designed to make a meaningful difference for Ukrainian youth in Timisoara—and to give volunteers a challenging, human, skill-building experience in return.

Project co-funded by the European Union.