Have you ever tried to see behind the curtains of our youth? Their decisions affect every teenager and young adult in this city. The mayor of Bistrița Local Youth Council helps us understand how their meetings go, what new projects they have in mind for us and where they stand on problems of great interest for the youth community of Bistrița.

What is CLT?

    Bistrița's Local Youth Council is a representative body of young people from Bistrița that aims to actively involve young people in the local community and the development of the democratic spirit and civic responsibility among them. Through this project, the voice of young people is heard, the ideas and solutions for the problems they face are brought to light.

History. Organization and structure

    The Bistrița Local Youth Council was established in 2006, at the initiative of dedicated teachers and the local authorities, being affiliated with the City Hall of Bistrița. The council is made up of young people with ages between 14 and 19 years old, and members are elected by a democratic vote within the units of education. Students in grades IX-XII choose their representatives by vote, and the candidates must meet certain criteria, for example, to have a portfolio with relevant activities in which they were involve, recommendation from a coordinating teacher, involvement in political activities, etc. Thus, 20-24 local councilors are chosen, and then the team meeting will be held leadership of the Bistrița Local Youth Council. Within this meetings each counselor has the right to run for a position, for example, that of mayor, deputy mayor and secretary-general. In addition to the management team and local councilors, volunteers and coordinating teachers, who, although not official members, play an essential role in organizing and coordinating the initiatives carried out by CLT. 

Current leadership (2024-2026)

     In December 2024, the meeting of the new Bistrița Local Youth Council took place, event attended by local authorities, including mayor Gabriel Lazany, for the designation of young people.

 The new management team consists of:

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Photo from the meeting to designate new members of CLT. Image: Source: https://propolitica.ro/2024/12/05/bistrita-are-din-aceasta-seara-un-nou-consiliu-local-al-tinerilor-un-moment-care-marcheaza-inceputul-unei-noi-generatii-de-lideri-locali-a-punctat-primarul-lazany/.

 - Băldean Paul - Infoel Technical College, as mayor; 

 - Orza Vladimir Nicolae - National College "Liviu Rebreanu", as deputy mayor; 

 - Alexa Iulia Aliceea - National College "Liviu Rebreanu", as deputy mayor; 

 - Marica Raul- "Andrei Mureșanu" National College, as Secretary-General. 

Projects

    Although the new CLT has recently been consolidated, the young people have managed to organize a series of events and projects for the community, from multiple areas of interest, as environmental cleanup activities, concerts and sporting events. Here are some of the projects organized by CLT: 

Youth Days concert and The Color Run event. Image: Source: https://ziardebistrita.ro/ziua-tineretului-la-bistrita-concursuri-ateliere-spectacole-si-concert-puya/.

Youth Days: 

      Recently, they were involved in organizing the "Youth Days", an event that took place on May 1 and 2, 2025. They participated in meetings with representatives of the City Hall, where they played an essential role in organizing the activities within this project. They proposed ideas that would attract the young public, proposing events such as: Color Cross, Youth Cup, Treasure Hunt. 

CLT also took care of the musical side, choosing to invite local bands to perform at the event, such as Sadetica, Riveria and Chera Venal, to support and encourage emerging artists, as well as musicians known among young people, such as Puya, to offer the audience a diversified experience.  

By organizing this event, CLT members demonstrated that they know what young people really want nowadays, highlighting their potential as leaders and organizers. 

Greening activity organized by CLT. Image: Screenshot from instagram.com/cltbistrita.

Greening actions: On April 15, 2025, volunteers from the Bistrița Local Youth Council organized a project in Sărata where trees were planted. The young people who took part in this action demonstrated that they are truly interested in their community and the changes they can bring through involvement, showing that civic spirit is essential among everyone. "Together we planted more than trees, we planted hope for a greener city" said the mayor of CLT, Paul Băldean.

Collaborations 

Bistrița's Local Youth Council is in close contact with various organizations and institutions to facilitate efficient collaborations, necessary for the implementation, organization and coordination of the projects proposed by the young councilors. 

Youth Days organization meeting. Image: Source: https://ziardebistrita.ro/lazany-s-a-intalnit-cu-consiliul-local-al-tinerilor-planuri-marete-pentru-evenimentele-culturale-din-2025-ne-dorim-sa-implicam-tinerii-in-comunitatea-locala/.

Among the most important partners is Bistrița's City Hall, with which the event "Youth Days" was organized, Bistrița-Năsăud County School Inspectorate, environmental and volunteer associations, such as InfoCons, with which the greening action in Sărata was organized, but also local NGO’s, such as the "Association of Youth for the Bistrița Community", with which they have organized important projects in the past, including "Tineri bistrițeni-tineri europeni". 

Future perspectives and initiatives

The President of the Local Youth Council has announced an inspiring set of future projects aimed at supporting and empowering young people in the community. Among the planned initiatives are a Youth Festival, a series of interactive workshops, and a comprehensive leadership development program. “These projects are designed to help young people discover their path and build the skills they need for the future,” the president stated. The upcoming leadership program, in particular, will focus on guiding participants in identifying their strengths, passions, and potential career paths. With these efforts, CLT reaffirms its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth engagement, personal growth, and community involvement.

The voice of the youth: an interview with Paul Băldean, the mayor of CLT

If you want to find out about CLT even more, in this interview, we had the privilege of speaking with the president of CLT, whose leadership has been instrumental in driving change. He shares insights on CLT’s mission, the challenges the council faces, and the powerful stories behind their work as a community.  

Paul Băldean giving a speech at the meeting for the nomination of the new members of the CLT. Image: Screenshot from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BqzwioZak/.

Whether you're curious about community engagement or looking to get involved, his perspective offer a deeper understanding of what it truly means to lead and serve. Down below you can watch the full interview. 

Together for change

The members of CLT Bistrița want to get involved in their community. They want to transform the city into an open, vibrant place that is as close as possible to the needs of the new generation. They are here to make the voice of the youth heard, bringing fresh forces and innovative ideas to make an impact on the city of Bistrița and to contribute to change. CLT is ’’a bridge between generations”, a place of collaboration where new ideas meet experience, contributing to the formation of a united and open community that continuously develops.

CLT logo. Image: Screenshot from instagram.com/cltbistrita.

Contact – Bistrița Local Youth Council

Address: Piața Centrală 6, Bistrița, 420009, Bistrița-Năsăud  

Phone: 0263 225 368  

Facebook: facebook.com/CLTMB 

Instagram: instagram.com/cltbistrita