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CLAYSS Celebrates the Sixth Regional Service-Learning Award in Central and Eastern Europe
On 4th November, the winners of the sixth Regional Service-Learning Award (RSLA) were presented in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. These awards celebrate meaningful learning and community engagement in Central and Eastern Europe and were launched as part of the programme that CLAYSS developed in the region between 2016 and 2022. Both the regional network and the Award have continued to flourish independently since then, something we celebrate with great joy. This year, the call for submissions achieved a great response: Out of 137 submissions from 9 participating countries, 30 projects were shortlisted as finalists, and 6 were winners.
As in every edition, Luz Avruj, CLAYSS Institutional Relations and Network Coordinator —and coordinator of this programme during its development by CLAYSS—, was invited to participate as a jury member for the Award.
The winning schools are divided into two categories:
School category
1st Prize – Slovakia – Gymnázium Lipany
Project: Tree Passporting
The project focused on developing environmental awareness among students by engaging them in mapping and documenting trees in an urban area. Thirty students and two educators worked closely with municipal staff, environmental experts, and residents to identify tree species and create a digital record, reaching around 500 people.
2nd Prize – Romania – Transylvania College
Project: Inspire Future Innovators – The Robotics Club from Idea to Reality
Led by high school students, the project established robotics clubs for students from vulnerable backgrounds. It created opportunities for hands-on STEM learning, mentoring, and collaboration, reaching 3,500 direct beneficiaries.
3rd Prize — Czech Republic – 1st International School of Ostrava
Project: Locals
The project focused on promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and circular economy. Students collaborated with local entrepreneurs engaging reports, videos, and an interactive map, which reached over 10,000 people.
Non-formal category:
1st Prize – Romania – Club Impact ContAșii
Project: Digitalization of Tax Payments for All: Easy and Fast Access
The project addressed the digital exclusion of elderly and vulnerable citizens in accessing online public services. A group of 20 high-school students created a community-based digital education programme that directly benefited 50 citizens.
2nd Prize – Croatia – Udruga Kreativa, Edukativa, Aktiva – KrEdA
Project: Design and Construction of Wooden Elements for a Public Garden
The project aimed to create a functional and inclusive public garden, strengthening the culture of voluntary service by offering tangible benefits to students.
3rd Prize – Romania – Club IMPACT36 CreActorii
Project: AoL – Learning Actively in the Open Air
The dynamic project raises awareness among children and young people about the importance of having outdoor spaces, promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. The initiative directly benefited 700 people through creative outdoor activities.
We congratulate all the participants and winners, as well as Transylvania College, which, in addition to being a winner, was a great ally throughout the programme’s development. In addition, we would like to congratulate the winning schools from the Czech Republic and Croatia, since both countries received awards for the first time under this programme.
Congratulations to the Central and Eastern European Service-Learning Network for supporting this important activity, which raises the profile and recognition of solidarity service-learning.
For more information on the prizes and initiatives, please visit the official website: www.rslaward.eu
CLAYSS at PUCPR in Brazil: Strengthening Network
Between 3rd and 6th November, CLAYSS participated in activities at the PUCPR (the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná) in Brazil, an institution participating in the Uniservitate programme. Our Institutional Relations and Network Coordinator, Luz Avruj, made a special trip to participate in an intensive schedule focused on the institutionalization of solidarity service-learning (SSL). She participated in the in-house training for faculty and non-teaching staff, given by the Universidad Católica de Chile, part of the Latin American hub of the Uniservitate programme. In addition, Luz delivered a presentation at ForExt, the national meeting of community higher-education institutions. The forum with community partners was particularly noteworthy, as they shared the direct result of SSL initiatives on their institutions.
The presentation and opening of the Service-Learning Conference was led by Rodrigo de Andrade of PUCPR and Luz Avruj, who also co-led a workshop for schools with the representative of Movimento Futuro, Sofía Carvalho, a member of the Service-Learning Brazilian Network. The event brought together approximately 80 participants, including universities, government officials, and school administrators from the Curitiba region. The symbolic closing of the event was the planting of a larch tree, a native species to the region, on the university campus.
The visit was also an opportunity to present the new publication Escolas para o encontro [Portuguese version of Schools for Encounter] together with FTD Educação. It also provided meeting spaces promoted by the Brazilian Network to continue building community with our neighbouring country.
Portuguese book: https://asset.cloudinary.com/dpzykj3hw/8057a9911faae140d8aa7a96802c7cc4
Spanish book: https://www.clayss.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CLAYSS_Escuelas-para-el-Encuentro-2da.-edicion.pdf
TOKA Represents the Central and Eastern Europe Service-Learning Network in Abu Dhabi
We are proud to share that TOKA, a Kosovo-based organization that actively participated in the Central and Eastern Europe Service-Learning Promotion Programme (CLAYSS) and currently runs the Secretariat of the Central and Eastern Europe Service-Learning Network, successfully represented it at the Balkans Impact Network Roundtable in Abu Dhabi.
Its executive director, Hatixhe Zeka, who participated in our International Conference in Buenos Aires, and the chair of its Board of Directors and founder of the organization, Jehona Gjurgjeala, were invited by the Office of Development and Humanitarian Affairs at the United Arab Emirates Presidential Court. During the event, from 29th to 31st October, they were speakers on the panel “Innovative Impact Models: Lessons from the Balkans and the UAE – Community Engagement and Empowerment.”
In this space, they shared TOKA’s experience with service-learning through Solidarity Action Day and youth engagement in Kosovo, highlighting it as an innovative approach that drives social transformation. In addition, the Balkan Impact Network recently published an article dedicated to the “TOKA Service-Learning Model.”
We celebrate that a model of community engagement driven by young people, which we have been pleased to accompany since its inception, has received this recognition and is promoted globally.