International Day of Youth

During July 25–26 2026 the conference took place 2026 Secondary School Model UNESCO Conference on the Ethics of Neurotechnology în Hong Kong, China. The eveniment to participat 60 of young people, having representatives from states and regions such as: Cambodia, China, Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Poland and Romania.

The conference consisted of four MUN-specific parts: In the first part, there were presentations of the development strategies of each country, during which the participants presented their vision on the current situation in each state. In the second part, topics of interest to society were debated, on the ethics of neurotechnology, framework in which the participants expressed their constructive opinions. In the third part, participants were able to discuss freely to find common ground and harmonize previously expressed views. In the fourth part, they consulted with a view to adoption, by vote, of a final resolution of the event.

Personalities such as: Professor Karen Cheung (President of the Unesco Hong Kong Association and Director of the Hong Kong Institute for Education for Sustainable Development), Counselor Wang Jian (Director General of the International Department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Dr. Geoffrey Mok (Neuropsychologist Clinician, Therapy Partners Limited), Dr. Wu Dandan (Co-director, Center for Psychosocial Health, Hong Kong University of Education) and Mr. Bernard Lee (Member of the Council, Committee on Innovation and Technology, Hong Kong Association for UNESCO).

The conference was organized by the Hong Kong Association for UNESCO (RISK), member of the Chinese National Federation of Clubs, UNESCO Centers and Associations (CNFUCA) and by the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (HiESD). This gave them the opportunity to analyze the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to promote international cooperation through education, science, culture and dissemination of information, empowering young leaders to develop critical competencies for sustainable development: systemic thinking, collaboration, strategy, critical thinking and integrated problem solving. The conference activity will contribute to the paper "Youth Prospect on the Ethical Development and Application of Neurotechnology in the Greater Bay Area".

Representatives of the Romanian Federation of Associations, UNESCO Centers and Clubs through the Alumnus Club, Andrei Ioana-Odette and Sister Ingrid-Maria were present at this fundamental conference.

24 July 2026 – UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, Franta

La data de 24 July 2026, at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, a avut loc „Asian Youth Capacity Building Workshop – Culture Performance Programme”, event dedicated to children and young participants in cultural and artistic programs.

The event gave young Asian artists the opportunity to present, through music, dance and other forms of artistic expression, representative elements of their cultures, in a symbolic space for international dialogue, education, culture and peace.

The participation of these children and young people in an event held at the UNESCO headquarters was not only an artistic experience, but also an experience of intercultural dialogue, friendship and closeness between generations and peoples.

In the opening message and in the letter addressed to the young people, I emphasized the emotion that the meeting with these "little artists" caused me, as well as their joy at being on the UNESCO stage. Through music, dance and art, they conveyed universal values ​​such as friendship, respect, solidarity and the joy of being together.

A particularly emotional moment was meeting the young people after the show, when several of them came to offer small token gifts, especially panda figurines. For me, these gifts had a deeply affective value, representing the symbol of a meeting between the hearts of the children of Asia and the European space that welcomed them warmly.

I am confident that their generation will be able to contribute, through culture, education and art, to building a more peaceful and closer world. I encouraged them to keep their curiosity, goodness, creativity and the ability to build bridges between people.

Also ,thanks were also addressed to the teachers, parents and all those who supported and prepared them for this experience, emphasizing that in the talent and success of each child is found the work, the love and encouragement of those around.

The event at UNESCO Paris thus represented a beautiful example of the role that culture and art can have in bringing young people from different countries and promoting UNESCO values.

8– July 16 2026

During July 8–16 2026, The president of the association, Daniela Popescu, paid a visit to the People's Republic of China, at the invitation of Gansu UNESCO Association, with trips to Beijing and Lanzhou, Gansu province, as well as cultural heritage sites.

The main objective of the visit was to participate in the Preparatory Seminar for the Dunhuang International Art Week "Ode to Peace" edition, as well as making exchanges of experience and contacts in the field of cultural heritage and international cultural cooperation.

The meetings and discussions provided the framework for presenting and analyzing the future directions of the international event, as well as for the development of contacts and forms of cooperation between participants interested in the promotion of culture, Arts, heritage and international dialogue.

The "Ode to Peace" concept is part of a peace promotion perspective, intercultural dialogue and cooperation between peoples through art and culture.

Another important objective of the trip was to participate in visits to relevant cultural heritage sites in China.

These visits allowed a better knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of the region and created the possibility of discussions on how heritage can be an instrument of international cooperation, cultural education and rapprochement between communities and countries.

In particular, the inclusion of Gansu province in the program is significant due to its historical and cultural importance and the connection of this region with the heritage of Dunhuang, one of the reference cultural spaces of the Silk Road.

The contacts made within the program provided the opportunity to identify future directions of collaboration in the field of culture, Heritage, cultural education and the promotion of universal values ​​of peace and dialogue between civilizations.

Visit to China from July 8-16 2026 it represented an important experience of cultural and institutional exchange, bringing together participation in an international seminar, visits to heritage sites and contacts regarding the development of future forms of cooperation.

ARTISTIC DUPLEX BUCHAREST - ODESSA

„Everything Begins in Mother’s Heart”

Bucharest, 1 July 2026

The 1 July 2026 the Bucharest-Odesa Artistic Duplex took place - "Everything Begins in Mother's Heart", an international cultural event organized by the Alumnus Club Association for UNESCO – Romania, together with Odessa Artists Club – Ukraine, under the auspices of the Romanian Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO (FRACU) and of the European and North American Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO (Enafcan).

Held simultaneously in Bucharest and Odesa, through the Webex platform, the event brought together UNESCO representatives, of the regional and world federations of the club movement for UNESCO, leaders of partner organizations and artists from Romania and Ukraine, in a dialogue dedicated to culture, cooperation and peace.

The event was moderated by Dr. Daniela Popescu, Honorary President of ENAFCAU, Vice President for Europe of the World Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO (WFUCA), President of the Alumnus Club for UNESCO and General Secretary of the Romanian Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO.

In the opening message, Dr. Daniela Popescu emphasized that this project represents more than an art exhibition - it is a meeting of souls, of cultures and shared hopes, reaffirming the role of art as a universal language and as a tool of intercultural dialogue and peace building. Simultaneously, highlighted the support given by the Clubs for UNESCO movement to refugee children and mothers in Ukraine and the importance of developing cooperation with the newly established Clubs for UNESCO movement in this country.

The event was attended by distinguished international guests:

* Assee utgevoca, Club Movement Focal Point for UNESCO, UNESCO;
* Olga Ganenko, representative of UNESCO Paris, who addressed the official conclusions of the event;
* John Maronites, President of the European and North American Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO (Enafcan);
* Sunjoo Lee, Vice President of the Asian Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO;
* Mokhtar Farhat, Vice-President of the World Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO (WFUCA);
* Alina Mavrodin Vasiliu, President of the Romanian Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO (FRACU);
* Iana Statieru, Secretary General to ENAFCAU;
* Muchanit Binner, President of the Association for Dialogue and Universal Values;
* Yurii Onyshchenko, representing the Odessa Artists Club and the artistic community of Odessa.

The theme of the exhibition, „Everything Begins in Mother’s Heart”, continues the international project "Spring begins in the mother's heart", held annually by the Alumnus Club for UNESCO, project that brought together over 250 of children and young people and which was included in the Global Events Plan of the World Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO and its regional structures.

The participants highlighted the importance of art as a universal language of solidarity and peace and appreciated the initiative to create the first international artistic collaboration between Romania and Ukraine within the Clubs for UNESCO movement.

Within the artistic duplex, the twelve participating young artists presented their works and had a dialogue with the public.

Artists from Ukraine:
* Anastasia Bas
* Kateryna Biletina
* Olha Hladushevska
* Peak Lesion
* Lesia Timokhova
* Tetiana Moloda

Artists from Romania:
* Alina Bobeica
* Maria-Sabina Cosmaciuc
* Eduard Leahu
* Andreea-Gabriela Tudor
* Maria-Ilinca Șoța
* Dariana Onofre

Their works conveyed a common message of hope, solidarity and trust in the power of culture to bring people together across borders and conflicts.

3-5 April 2026, 18th edition
(speech at the opening of the conference)

"Youth and Museums" Project, initiated by the Alumnus Club for UNESCO, it already has a solid tradition and international recognition. In 2009, it was designated by UNESCO as "best practice", being presented at the General Conference as an example of successful collaboration between a club for UNESCO and the organization itself. A recognition that honored us, but which made us responsible to continue with the same rigor.

I remember with emotion the first edition of the conference, when we brought together representatives from 15 countries, specialists from the most important museums in Europe, find out then on their first visit to Romania. The conference was honored by the presence of Laurent Lévi-Strauss, the son of the great anthropologist, conferring from the beginning a special symbolic and intellectual dimension to this endeavor.

Over the years, the conference grew, it has diversified and transcended national borders, through editions organized also outside Romania and through the participation of prestigious guests from the cultural environment, academic and institutional.

This year's edition is also special; marks the opening of a new stage of international cooperation – the Tunisia-Romania bilateral partnership, integrated into a larger dialogue between two cultural spaces: Europe and the Arab world, under the auspices of the World Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO.

We have the joy and honor of having distinguished guests with us: His excelence, Mr. Sami Nagga, Ambassador of Tunisia in Bucharest, I am Mr. Valentin Muntean, The Ambassador of Romania in Tunisia, Mrs. Assel Utegenova, focal point for associations and clubs for UNESCO, Mr. Bolat Akchulakov, the president of FMACU, Mr. Ioannis Maronitis, the president of ENAFCAU, as well as the Tunisian delegation, representing the Club for UNESCO in Gafsa, led by Mr. Mohamed Tlili.

Your presence confirms our common desire to build lasting bridges of cultural dialogue, educational and humane.

This year's theme - "Museums as Living Spaces for Future Education" - reflects our deep belief that museums are no longer just spaces for preservation, but they become essential actors in the formation of new generations, in stimulating critical thinking and strengthening intercultural dialogue.

In this context, YOUth and MUSEums is not just a conference. It is a living platform – a meeting space between generations, between cultures, between ideas and visions for the future.