The Tasuleasa Social association was established in 2001 in Bistrita-Nasaud County by Alin UhlmannUseriu and a small number of people who wished to change the mentalities of those around them and to prove that young people were willing to get involved in solving social issues. The headquarters were set at the foot of the Tasuleasa Mountain, in Pasul Tihuta. The members of the association, helped by volunteers, built a campus at the top of the Bargaului Mountain, in Pasul Tihuta, and they created a place where they could bring young people in order to train them and teach them what being a volunteer meant and why it was important to care about the environment. Their goal is to change the mentalities of the people and to reveal the fact that young people really wish to get involved in solving social issues. All the youngsters who get involved in the association’s activities are trained to develop similar projects on their own and to carry on social campaigns. Over time, they have been working with teenagers who were confronted with several problems: prisoners from juvenile prisons, children from socially disadvantaged areas, students dropping out of school and deaf children. For the Tasuleasa Social Association, the most important values are volunteering, respect for nature, educating young people through practical examples and developing civic courage among young people through their involvement in social and environmental issues. So, the association works in three fields: - Social community issues and solidarity (project Christmas Truckers, to distribute Christmas presents to children in rural communities) - Environment conservation, developing actions in several directions: afforestation, selective waste collection, and tourist routes. - Creating a culture of caring for the environment and the community

The social innovation has led to an increase of youth employment, to a revival of many local communities and more collaboration, and to awareness-raising about the local environment and global climate issues.