Oxen Fest

Last weekend, We went to Baia Sprie to take part in Oxen Fest.

Youngsters from Poland, Turkey, Austria, Hungary and Romania had a chance to meet each other, exchange experiences, do activities together and just have fun. We had a huge fire place, rock concerts and sport competitions. For Magda – the most important thing during stay was playing with poor puppies and feeding them because they were very slim ;( Gosia and Dawid couldn’t stop play tennis. Anyway… for future we advice to invite children from orphanages to take part in Oxen Fest. For them it will be like 2-days vacation and chance to escape from sometimes sad reality.

Interviev with Alina Pop - Director of YMCA in Baia Mare

If you could describe your organization in one sentence – what would you say?

Alina: YMCA is an organization focused on youth needs, which provides: trainings, civil services, camps, different workshops and classes, international exchanges, and youth center. 

When did you start working in Romania?

Alina: In 2001.

What is the main goal of YMCA?

Alina: Our aim is to develop nowadays society through empowerment of youth, consolidating communities and supporting families according to the principles of democracy and human rights.

How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?

Alina: In Baia Mare we have 325 volunteers. Not everybody is working in the same project, for example one is focused on ecology and the other one on social work. In whole Romania we have around 3000 volunteers. Their age is different, depending on location. In Baia Mare most of them are high school pupils and students, however in some other places they are more than 25 years old. It also depends on which kind of project is it.

Do you have some foreign volunteers?

Alina: Yes, we do have volunteers from Italy, Spain and France and we are expecting one from Denmark. We prefer long-term volunteers (more than 6 months).

What was your biggest undertaking?

Alina: I’ll have to see your notes..because I only remember vaguely what she said.. :P

Plans for future?

Alina: We want to continue our international projects and work with EVS volunteers. It is like “give and take” principle. They give us a lot of inspiration and positive energy and they can learn something new and experience Romania.

Alina Pop

What activities do you have right now? Is there something special during summer?

Alina: We have outdoor trainings; however previous summer we gad kids club, art workshops or movie evenings.

Is YMCA well known among people in Baia Mare? What are you doing to involve people in your projects?

Alina: We are well known among youngsters and their families and friends. We are not preparing projects for different age groups. To involve people in our projects we use our volunteers to convince their friends. Also, two times a year we have some kind of recruiting campaign in universities and high schools. One or two times a year we are preparing events for community like concerts, etc.

From where are you taking your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc?

Alina: We have a lot of sponsors like: EU, Norwegian Embassy, US Department of States, partners from US and many others.

What is the biggest problem in your organization?

Alina: We don’t have a proper building. If we would have one, we could organize some activities and have some incomes.

Do you collaborate with any others organizations?

Alina: Yes, we have strong partnerships with many of them. In the NGO “world” it is not about copying one another or competing to see “who is better”, it is about creating a strong voice in the civil society.

Interview with Cristina Frasin - member of Caritas organization

If you could describe your organization in one sentence – what would you say?

Cristina: It is an organization which helps people in a Christian way.

When did you start working in Romania?

Cristina: We started our work before the communist period, then during that time it was forbidden to run that kind of organization. In 1990 we started our work again.

What is the main goal of Caritas?

Cristina: Our main objective is to make sure that people in need are entitled to the same treatment and support, regardless of their ethnic origin, religious beliefs, or political views.

How many volunteers do you have in Baia Mare office and how many in Romania?

Cristina: Caritas is an international organization. We have 11 Caritas centers in Romania, all independent. In Baia Mare there are 35 active volunteers. I cannot say how many volunteers are in whole Romania.

Cristina Frasin

Do you have some foreign volunteers?

Cristina: Yes, but not thanks to us. For example we collaborate with YMCA and they sent us volunteers from Italy, Spain and France. They all took long term EVS (6-9 months).

What was your biggest undertaking?

Cristina: It’s hard to say. We have lot of permanent projects. From my point of view it is to provide social service for people of all ages, from kindergarten children to elderly. Also we organize help for children with disabilities and day-centers for them.

Plans for future?

Cristina: We would like to maintain what we have done and develop it.

What activities do you have right now? Is there something special during summer?

Cristina: We are trying to continue our activity and for example during summer we are organizing summer camps for children.

Is Caritas well known among people in Baia Mare? What are you doing to involve people in your projects?

Cristina: Yes and no. In our neighborhood we are well known. We are developing our contacts with schools, medical organization and city hall - we have together many projects. 

From where are you taking your funds to prepare activities, projects, etc?

Cristina: We have many sources like governmental, local, EU and self funding.

What is the biggest problem in your organization?

Cristina: I don’t see one big problem. This structure is working very good. Of course we have some small problems, but everybody knows what to do and their responsibility. Maybe the financial aspect could be improved, but it is not 100% up to us.

Do you collaborate with any other organizations?

Cristina: Yes, for example with YMCA and Somaschi.

Munții Igniș

Thanks our romanian friends we went Igniș. After 3h climbing and complaining about everything ;) we reached the top. There was just lying on the grass, sleeping and taking pictures. Walking down was much easier and faster ;) Today we are "not able" to use stairs... but it was worth of it.

Lazy days

Where there is nothing to do (ofcourse not so often ;) we are trying to have fun as much as we can. Playing badminton and making traditional polish pierogi - that's some of ideas for our days.

Fighting Poverty

Last week in Baia Mare we took part in Youth Exchange project. People from 5 countries: Poland, Latvia, Italy, Turkey and Romania were having fun together, breaking stereotypes and made final show about fighting poverty. The final show - kind of modern dance with choreography prepared especially to show poverty problem - made a big impression. They did a good job. Before that show we would also see traditional romanian dance show. Check it out!