Annual training program "Friedrich Ebert Scholarship for Young Progressives Activists"

We are pleased to announce that registration for our annual training program, the Friedrich Ebert Scholarship for Young Progressives, is now open.

Details about the program and how to apply can be found at: romania.fes.de/ro/proiecte/bursa.

The 2026 program consists of four training modules organized in different locations across the country:

- MODULE 1: Fundamentals of Social Democracy | April 3-5, 2026 (3 days) - BRASOV
The introductory module offers participants the opportunity to familiarize themselves with fundamental issues of social democracy. It discusses the rights and freedoms that give substance to pluralistic democracy and the rule of law and are indispensable elements of an inclusive, non-discriminatory political culture that helps all members of society to develop freely. The module allows for the exploration of the relevance of the normative level with its programmatic reference points for direct political practice.

- MODULE 2: Welfare state and social democracy | May 15-17, 2026 (3 days) - SINAIA
This module explores how the values and principles of social democracy lead to the construction of the welfare state, i.e., how we organize solidarity at the level of society. Participants are familiarized with the principles according to which the welfare state operates, the materials used in its construction, the modes of construction, and the types of welfare state architecture that exist in Europe and around the world. Here we also discuss how the welfare state is implemented in areas such as taxation, labor policy, pensions, health, and education.

- MODULE 3: Economic policies of social democracy | June 5-7, 2026 (3 days) - BUCHAREST
The module provides an overview of the links between economic processes and the model of social democracy, while also addressing the practical relevance of economic considerations in specific policy areas such as taxation and budgeting, labor market policy, education, health, etc. The aim is to help program participants understand how important economic policy principles of social democracy are applied in practice.

- MODULE 4: Models of political communication | June 25-28, 2026 (4 days) - BRASOV or SIGHISOARA
The knowledge and skills acquired in the previous modules are now put to the test. In addition, based on concepts of communication and political organization, participants are familiarized with the scope for action for an inclusive policy capable of mobilizing and building solidarity. The fourth module thus concludes the series of training courses with an important chapter for political action: communication models based on the centrality of values in the transmission of messages.

The registration form is available here: https://forms.gle/2rh6A9TGmuKXT32i7

The deadline for registration is March 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. After this date, no further applications will be considered.