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.