GLChange-makers Updates October 2025

Between May 15 and June 5, 2025, GLC PF alumna Silvia Bakalova (Bulgaria, Fall 2016) did her Dave Beckwith Strategic Partnership visit in Chicago, Illinois. Hosted by our US mentor Regina McGraw, Silvia engaged with several community-based and educational organizations such as Grow Your Own Teachers, Family Focus, the Carol Robertson Center, Refugee One, and Southern Illinois University, among others. Her visit focused on observing and exchanging practices in social and educational support for families and children from low-income and refugee backgrounds.

Through her visits, Silvia gained a deeper understanding of the essential role community centers play in disadvantaged neighborhoods. These centers provide comprehensive support—including food, hygiene products, English lessons, training, and rehabilitation services—while offering crucial psychological assistance to help families maintain stability and hope. She was particularly impressed by the collaborative model of small-group education, where multiple specialists work together with children, as well as by programs that foster youth entrepreneurship and parental engagement in community activities.

Silvia contributed to the hosting organizations by sharing her experience from Bulgaria, presenting her center’s Home Program for early childhood development, and discussing methods of working with illiterate adults and low-income families. Her insights on the partnership between social workers and psychologists in supporting parents and children were well received and sparked meaningful professional exchanges.

Reflecting on her experience, Silvia emphasizes the value of community empowerment in times of social and economic uncertainty. She observed that many U.S. organizations face staff and funding reductions, yet remain committed to serving vulnerable groups, particularly refugees and families struggling to meet basic needs. The visit strengthened her conviction about the importance of early childhood development and community-based support systems—both vital for building resilience and promoting long-term social inclusion.

The Dave Beckwith Memorial Strategic Partnership Program is funded by the donations of the GLC Alumni members and friends. It is thanks to your contribution that trips like Silvia’s are possible. We extend gratitute to all past and future donors!

Between August 26–30, 2025, the third edition of the European Rural Youth Summit (ERYS) took place in Valča, Slovakia, bringing together 100 young people and youth workers from 14 European countries. After two successful editions in Romania, this year’s summit expanded its reach, continuing to strengthen collaboration and dialogue among rural youth across Europe.

Organized under the umbrella of the European Youth Village program, the event was hosted by the Slovak and Romanian Erasmus+ national agencies, alongside the program’s governance partners – Active Development Association, Go Free – Association for the Support of Civil Society, and OZ Vidiecky parlament mladých na Slovensku. ADA is led by our alum Victor-Catalin Toma (Romania, Spring 2019) and Andra Cordos (Romania, Spring 2024).

ERYS 2025 created a vibrant space for learning and co-creation, where rural youth, youth workers, and decision-makers collaborated to design solutions that enhance the lives of young people in rural areas. The theme, “Together for Today,” focused on youth well-being and intercultural dialogue, emphasizing the importance of inclusion, connection, and shared growth across communities.

The European Youth Village program, launched eight years ago in Romania, has become a model for empowering rural youth through participation and partnership. By 2026, it will begin implementation in Slovakia, further expanding its impact across Europe. Through initiatives like ERYS, the program continues to ensure that the perspectives of rural youth influence the policies shaping their future.

History will show the new administration’s first six months as a war against disabled people, states a report by the Center for American Progress, published this summer. “From executive orders intended to roll back civil rights protections to legislation that cuts key services and support, the disability community has faced structural violence in the form of federal policy. This all comes as the community continues to suffer severe impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic that have resulted in further disablement, isolation, and death.”, the report reads.