Ialoveni town was chosen as the Youth Capital of next year within the 2016 Youth Prize Award Gala held on November 26, IPN reports.

“As a public authority of the second level, we always supported the youth policies. Not accidentally, Ialoveni district takes the first place in the country by the number of young people elected to the local and district councils. We will do our utmost for the district council to support Ialoveni in its activities as the Youth Capital next year,” said the district’s head Anatolie Dimitriu.

According to acting Minister of Youth and Sport Loretta Handrabura, the designation of Ialoveni as Youth Capital will make the local authorities bear in mind that they must invest in the young people and must maximally make use of their potential.

“The goal of the towns that are conferred this title is to increase the participation of the young people in decision-making and to motivate them to become involved in the promotion of youth policies, which should become inter-sector ones. These towns also have the duty to inform the young people about their continuous personal development,” stated Loretta Handrabura.

Five towns have taken part in the contest this year. Earlier, the title of Youth Capital was held by Ungheni (2011), Cahul (2012), Ialoveni (2013), Soroca (2014), and Sangerei (2015).