Meeting with Patricia Harrington – Division manager Houston City Hall Mayor’s Youth Council and Daniel Juravle, Head of Economic Cooperation Office Iasi City Hall

During a two hour meeting the two delegations reached a number of very important topics. In two cities that have in common a very accelerated rhythm of growth, a high level of technologization and a vast population of students (both cities are important university centers) the problems were found to be very similar and the exchange of experience in dealing with them, regardless of the differences in culture and economic status, was a very important issue on the agenda.

One topic that was extremely important for Iasi delegation was the implication of the young in volunteering programs. Although volunteering is more and more present in the new generation Iasi administration still has difficulties in attracting the young to their activities. The American partners presented their experience and strategies in bringing young people to contribute their time and effort to city activities. The experience proved extremely useful for the next hugely significant activity of Iasi City Hall, the visit of Pope Francis to Iasi (see Results section).

Next, Iasi delegation presented the Youth Capital of the Year project, Iasi holding the title for 2019. Within this context a proposal was advanced to Houston youth department to start a collaboration at the level of student organizations. Iasi hosts the Federation of Nongovernmental Youth Organizations and their availability and enthusiasm for common projects was communicated. The proposal was very well received and further steps will be taken in order to put this cooperation in practice. The cooperation could be extended to high schools. Iasi high-schools have already organized a highschool student council and they managed to organize ongoing joint projects with similar organizations from Europe under the auspices of Iasi City Hall.

Both parties agreed that similar projects could be organized between Houston and Iasi.

Last but not least, Iasi delegation launched an invitation to their counterparts in Houston to visit Iasi, to participate in the activities held as part of the project Iasi Youth Capital and to continue to work at deepening and giving more substance to the cooperation between the two cities.