Leadership, sport and a fairer shot for my generation.
One of my most important milestones: since July 2026 I am Ambassador for Romania of United Citizens of Europe.
I'm Nicholas Cârstoiu, a young Romanian leader who combines over 13 years of competitive basketball with real civic and humanitarian work. Since 2023 I've been a member of the UNICEF Romania Children's Board, advocating for children's rights, education, health and youth mental health through initiatives like Mental Health and Sports.
I'm also a member of the Bucharest Children's Advisory Council of the Bucharest City Hall, an assistant basketball coach, the founder and CEO of the HANDIFY project, a bilingual writer, and Ambassador in Romania of United Citizens of Europe. I study at the Romanian-Finnish High School in the Mathematics-Informatics profile with Intensive English.
Across everything I do, one conviction stays the same: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not - and that is exactly what I want to help change for my generation.
My journey
Winner, Grant My Passion 2026 - Better World
The Fake News Factory won the Better World grant of Grant My Passion 2026, a national programme run by McDonald's Romania with the support of The Social Incubator - making the project a double award winner.
Ambassador for Romania, United Citizens of Europe
Since July 2026, appointed Ambassador for Romania of the pan-European civic network United Citizens of Europe.
Winner, Mème la vérité 2026
The Fake News Factory, my interactive media-literacy project, was selected among the winners of the regional Mème la vérité competition organised by Freedom House Romania - earning an invitation to the international study visit in Bucharest.
Founder & CEO of HANDIFY
Led the HANDIFY project, which proposes a smart glove that replaces the computer mouse, to the National Final of GEN-E 2026, Europe's largest youth entrepreneurship competition.
Creator of two civic projects
Designed and wrote The Fake News Factory - named winner of the "Mème la vérité: Démasque la désinfo" competition organised by Freedom House Romania - and I Belong (APARTIN), a national finalist at the DI_PLOMA AWARDS 2026, the Diversity & Inclusion Awards organised by the Puternici prin Diversitate și Incluziune (OPEN MINDS) Association.
Assistant basketball coach
Joined the Romanian-Finnish High School Sports Club as assistant coach, working with athletes across all age groups.
C1 English certification, Fordham University
Earned a C1-level English certification in New York, with a final report graded Excellent.
rethink Romania Summit
Took part in the Infrastructure of Trust summit alongside the UNICEF Children's Board, on keeping young people's future in Romania.
Bucharest Children's Advisory Council
Joined the Council, working with city leaders to bring children's voices into decisions that shape their future.
National television and radio
Spoke live on Realitatea Plus TV and Radio România Actualități for World Children's Rights Day.
Student of the Month
Recognised as Student of the Month for January at the Romanian-Finnish High School.
UNICEF Romania Children's Board
Selected, from many children nationwide, to join the UNICEF Romania Children's Board, advocating for education, health and youth mental health.
Model United Nations (BISAAC)
Represented Brazil in the UN General Assembly, developing public speaking, negotiation and diplomacy.
Smart Online = Safe Offline
Adapted and began delivering the Smart Online = Safe Offline cybersecurity education programme for teenagers.
rethink Romania Summit, Poiana Brașov
Took part in the rethink Romania summit on Human Capital in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
Erasmus+ exchange, Antalya
Represented my school in an Erasmus+ exchange on student mental health, working with peers from across Europe.
School Ambassador
Named School Ambassador of the Romanian-Finnish High School and awarded an honorary diploma for social, humanitarian and athletic involvement.
Romanian-Finnish High School
Began studying at the first school in Romania to implement the principles of Finnish education.
Education & certifications
Student at the Romanian-Finnish High School, Bucharest - Mathematics-Informatics with Intensive English.
Leadership & civic engagement
- Ambassador for Romania, United Citizens of Europe (since July 2026)
- Member, UNICEF Romania Children's Board (since 2023)
- Member, Bucharest Children's Advisory Council (since 2024)
- Volunteer with Invictus Romania, supporting wounded-warrior sports rehabilitation
- Volunteer with Asociația GO-AHEAD, supporting educational programmes
- Member of the Romanian-Finnish High School volunteer team
Sport
Basketball has shaped me since childhood. Over more than 13 years of competitive play across Bucharest clubs - BC Alpha, CS Spike, CSO Voluntari and CSU ASE Bucharest - I learned discipline, resilience and a team-first mentality. Today I pass that on as an assistant coach, helping younger players build their fundamentals and confidence. Playing for CSU ASE, the team of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), is a genuine source of pride for me - representing a university's colours is an achievement that universities abroad value highly when they look at a student-athlete.
Recognition & media
My work and my voice have reached a wide audience - dozens of newspaper articles, interviews and television and radio appearances, alongside hundreds of videos on my YouTube channel. Rather than list everything here, I have gathered it all in two places.
What drives me
Sport taught me that no team wins by leaving its weakest player behind. I want to build systems - projects, platforms and a fairer playing field - where a child's chances depend on their effort, not their address. To me, change is a team sport, played one honest action at a time.