On August 11, the practical implementation of another stage of a transnational educational initiative will begin in Odesa, with Romanian language classes officially starting. The courses will be held at a joint educational center established to expand opportunities for residents of the border regions of Ukraine and Romania.
This event is a logical continuation of the large-scale project “Improving Access to Education in Border Regions as a Key to Socialization and EU Integration” (ROUA00342), which aims to break down communication barriers and promote comprehensive integration.
Southern Odesa region has historically been home to a significant Romanian community, while today’s challenges call for even closer economic, cultural, and social cooperation between our countries. The new educational opportunities are aimed at a broad audience:
- Local residents and ethnic Romanians who wish to improve their proficiency in the language of the neighboring country or preserve their linguistic identity.
- Internally displaced persons (IDPs) for whom knowledge of Romanian can open the door to new career opportunities and participation in international programs.
- Students, educators, and entrepreneurs who are planning or already implementing joint projects with Romanian partners.
As was the case with the innovative Ukrainian language teaching methodology presented in Odesa in May, the Romanian language courses are based on modern educational approaches. The program has been developed with the needs of both adult and younger audiences in mind and is designed to help participants overcome the language barrier quickly.
Participants will have access to specially developed bilingual materials and digital resources, the creation of which was announced during the project’s launch conference in Tulcea.
“Launching language courses directly in Odesa is our practical step toward a deeper understanding and more effective cooperation between Ukrainians and Romanians. Language is not merely a means of communication; it is a bridge that unites our communities, helps people socialize, and opens new horizons for both young people and professionals from various fields,” the project initiators said.
Project ROUA00342 is being implemented by the Association of Local Self-Government Bodies “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” (Ukraine) in partnership with the Tulcea County Youth Foundation (Romania).
The initiative is being implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027 Programme (https://ro-ua.net). The Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027 Programme is financed by the European Union and co-financed by the countries participating in the Programme. The total project budget amounts to EUR 281,439.93, including EUR 166,881.48 for the Association “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” and EUR 114,558.48 for the “Tulcea County Youth Foundation.”
This publication has been produced with the support of the European Union. The Association of Local Self-Government Bodies “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” bears sole responsibility for the content of this publication, which does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the managing structures of the Interreg VI-A NEXT 2021–2027 Programme.