Team
Cinzia graduated Pedagogy at the University of Brasov, she grew up in our village, and is an extremely involved young girl and our first employee. She first joined us as a volunteer during the pandemic, when she held online courses with the kids to keep up with their reading class. Since then, she evolved professionally and is involved in two other projects: she facilitates workshops about menstrual education and a book club with the kids from 5 villages: Laslea, Floresti, Mălâncrav, Roandola and Nou Săsesc. We prepared an interview to help you get to know her better.
- Cinzia, if you were to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?
Hmm… we’re starting off with tough questions. I think that the first three words that come to my mind right now are: sociable, good-hearted and smiling.
- What would you like the readers to know about your work at the NGO?
I would like them to know that I don’t consider it as work and everything I’ve done; I’ve done it with heart and hand here at the association. I believed and still believe in everything we’re doing here. I’m trying to leave my mark on the activities in a positive way, to leave something good behind. I put my heart into everything I believe in and I’m sure that in time everything will lead to something fruitful.
- What’s your story? What made you get involved in non-formal education projects?
I finished high-school and university in this field and during the practice hours I discovered that I liked what I was doing and I could do it well and especially in bringing something good in the kids’ life, so I kept working on projects with and about kids.
While working with them in a formal environment I noticed that there are subjects that are not covered and discussed appropriately according to the needs of the kids.
I also noticed that the non-formal activities have a positive impact in the development of some skills and abilities, and, wanting to overcome the time and programme barriers, I decided to get involved in this area as well.
- What do you think is the biggest advantage of our village? And the issue we have to work on the most in the community?
The biggest advantage of our village is that it has smart and creative kids and, with a little work, they will have a bright future. But, as not everything is perfect, I think that the villagers should believe more in themselves and be more cooperative. We will see then that teamwork brings great results.
- What does the ideal village look like to you?
I have a flaw (I think it is a flaw): I like to believe in good and kindness. In the ideal village people would help each other, accept each other with all the flaws and qualities and grow personally, and each individual would fight for the good of the community. Oh, and my ideal village would also have a library and a children’s club.
- What does an education process adapted to the needs of the children in your village look like for you?
It’s a difficult process, but not impossible. Children need to be brought to a level where they understand the importance of education in their lives and there is a lot of work behind this process.
They need someone to believe in them and remind them that they matter and that they can achieve more in life.
- Finally, do you want to say something else about yourself that was not covered by the questions?
I like to read and I love books and their smell,
I love nature and everything it gives us,
I usually do things out of passion and where it doesn’t exist, I prefer not to do those things.
I don’t know if it’s relevant, but I like to be up to date with everything that happens in the online environment in order to understand the level of children, but also to know how to approach certain issues from an updated perspective.
And I would like to do interactive activities that increase children’s critical thinking and creativity and have fun together, obviously 🙂
Volunteers
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Mrs. Elena Pascu opens the doors of her weaving workshop in Mălâncrav to the children from House of Nature. She is, together with her husband, the volunteer and the soul of our entrepreneurial education program.
She answered with a big ‘YES, I WILL WORK’ with the kids, when we were thinking about how to organize the workshops. We wanted you to meet her and love her as we do.
1. What is your biggest passion?
My biggest passion is to weave cloths and sew with traditional Transylvanian motives.
2.Tell us a little about a regular day in the life of a local from Mălâncrav.
It depends on the season, for example: in spring I prepare the soil and sow seeds for vegetables and corn, potatoes and beans, and if I have time I work at a IE (traditional blouse) or I weave.
3.Why did you accept working with the kids?
Because I really like children.
4.What do you like the most during workshops?
The energy and curiosity of the kids to learn something new.
5.If you were to describe in a sentence the usefulness of these workshops for kids, what would you tell us?
It prepares them for life.
6.What do you think is the biggest achievement at the workshops so far?
The fact that the activity makes children responsible
7.What do you want to tell our readers, parents and children alike, about our workshops in the village?
To take great care of our moral and spiritual values so as to not lose our identity and to not forget that work ennobles man.
Youth we work with
Gabi is 12 years old and studies at Mălâncrav Secondary School. She joined our handmade workshop in March 2019 and never missed one since.
She told us that during the workshops she learned she could do anything she put her mind on.
1. Gabi, what words would you use to describe yourself? A kind girl and a good and beautiful friend.
2. What is your biggest passion?
I love playing football.
3. Why do you like attending the House of Nature workshops? Because I like sewing.
4. What are you working on now? It’s a small cloth bag.
5.What is the most important thing that you learned about yourself at these workshops? That I can do everything I set out to do.
6. When did you feel best at the workshops? When I started sewing better.
7. What jobs would you be interested in discovering in the coming years? I don’t know yet.
8. What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? To join us because it is amazing.
9. What does the ideal village look like to you?I think that my village is perfect as it is.
10. What does the ideal school look like to you? With a gym and cafeteria.
Rebeca is 17 years old and has dropped out of school. She joined the handmade workshops in the winter of 2019, when we selected her to participate in the entrepreneurship education and manual work course of the association. Since then, she comes to the workshop every week and embroiders.
1.What are the first three words you would use to describe yourself? Confident, optimistic and shy.
2. What is your biggest passion? To style hair.
3. Why do you like attending the arts and crafts workshops? Because it is nice and I learn new things.
4. What is the most important thing that you learned about you at these workshops? That I can do anything if I try.
5. When did you feel best at the workshops? I always feel good at the workshops. It is the first time I go to activities like this and it’s super cool.
6. What would you be interested to work on in the workshops, besides what we do now? I don’t know exactly, but I like to discover something new all the time.
7.What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? To come and learn new things that will help them in the future.
8. What does the ideal village look like to you? Clean and tidy.
9. What does the ideal school look like to you? Well cared for and with many children.
Maria is 13 years old and studies at the Malancrav Secondary School. She has been coming to the workshops since the beginning and was one of the kids asking us if we could see each other more often to work even before we got serious with the workshops. She told us that her ideal village is unpolluted, with many children and nice people. An ideal that can be reached through education.
1.What are the first three words you would use to describe yourself? Bold, funny, emotional.
2.What is your biggest passion? Playing football.
3. Why do you like attending the workshops? Because I learn new things.
4.What are you working on now? I’m working on a pillowcase and a pouch.
5.What is the most important thing that you learned about yourself at these workshops? I discovered that I am talented at manual work.
6.When did you feel best at the workshops? When we were preparing the decorations for the Christmas Fair in Sibiu.
7. What would you be interested to work on in the workshops, besides what we do now? I would like to weave.
8. What jobs would you be interested in discovering in the coming years? I’d love to see what the vet does.
9. What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? To come and learn new things.
10.What does the ideal village look like to you? Unpolluted, with many kids and nice people.
11. What does the ideal school look like for you? With good children, a bigger yard and a gym.
Johanna is 12 years old and studies at the Joseph Haltrich High School Sighisoara. Her recommendation for the other children is to be confident and use their imagination.
1.What are the first words you would use to describe yourself? Funny and shy.
2. What is your biggest passion? Football, basketball and tennis.
3.When did you start attending the association’s arts and crafts workshops? I started a few months ago and it is wonderful!
4. Why do you like attending the workshops? I love going to the workshops because I learn something new every day.
5. What is the most important thing that you learned about yourself at these workshops? That I can sew.
6. When did you feel best at the workshops? When did you feel best at the workshops?
7. What jobs would you be interested in discovering in the coming years? I would like to become a teacher.
8. What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? To be confident and to use his/her imagination.
9. What does the ideal village look like to you? My village is ideal as it is.
10. What does the ideal school look like to you? A place where everyone gets along with the others.
Maria, 15 years old, student at the Joseph Haltrich High Sighisoara. She is a reliable member at the workshops, during which she always volunteers to help with logistics.
She worked all day with Ms Pascu at our Christmas Fair Stand in Sibiu, she was responsible with accounting at the martisor fair and she is also field reporter for all the other educational activities we organize. We thank her for her involvement and we leave you in her company:
1.What are the first three words you would use to describe yourself? I am ambitious, stubborn and I like learning new things.
2.What is your biggest passion? I love drawing.
3. When did you start attending the association’s arts and crafts workshops? Since it started, in summer 2018.
4.Why do you like attending the workshops? Because I learn new things.
5. What are you working on now? Wood painting.
6. What is the most important thing that you learned about yourself at these workshops? I learned to communicate more.
7. When did you feel best at the workshops? During the Christmas workshops.
8. What would you be interested to work on in the workshops, besides what we do now? I’d love to make clay figurines.
9. What jobs would you be interested in discovering in the coming years? Police or military fields.
10.What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? They should come because they’ll learn lots of new things.
11. What does the ideal village look like to you? It includes more mutual aid between villagers and more educational possibilities for kids.
12. What does the ideal school look like to you? With more communication between teachers and students.
Delia is 11 years old and she is a student at Malancrav Secondary School. She is an active member at the digital reading club we organize weekly at school.
1.What is your biggest passion? Handball.
2.Why do you like going to the digital reading club? Because we read a lot.
3.What are you reading now Five weeks in a balloon by Jules Verne.
4.What is the most important thing that you learned about yourself at the club? That I like reading.
5.When did you feel best at the club? I felt best when I learned to use the e-books we’re reading of.
6.What would you be interested to work on in the workshops, besides what we do now? I would love to write.
6.What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? To talk to the teacher.
7.What does the ideal village look like to you? Clean and beautiful.
8.What does the ideal school look like to you? My ideal school is a clean school.
Robert recently joined the association. He is 12 years old and studies in Malancrav. We are happy to have him among the participants of the digital reading club we organize weekly at school.
1.What is your biggest passion? Motocross.
2.Why do you like going to the digital reading club? Because I learn new things.
3.What is the most important thing that you learned about yourself at these workshops? Don’t lie and be fair.
4.When did you feel best at the workshops? In the first meeting.
5.What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? To come because it is nice.
6.What does the ideal village look like to you? I like the village the way it is.
7.What does the ideal school look like to you? It would have a school guard at the gate.
Claudiu is 12 years old and studies in Mălâncrav. We are happy to have him among the participants of the digital reading club we organize weekly at school.
1.What are the first three words you would use to describe yourself? Resourceful, shy and playful.
2.What is your biggest passion? Playing football.
2.Why do you like going to the digital reading club? To learn to read well and because I learn new things.
3.What are you reading now? Gulliver’s Travels.
4.What is the most important thing that you learned about yourself at these workshops? I learned that I am capable of doing more things.
5.When did you feel best at the club? Whenever I read.
6. What would you be interested to work on in the workshops, besides what we do now? I like it the way it is now.
6. What piece of advice would you give to a child that wants to join the workshops? I would tell him to come and learn new things.
7.What does the ideal village look like to you? I like my village as it is now.
8. What does the ideal school look like to you? My school would be ideal if it had toilet paper, hand dryers and shampoo in the bathroom.
Institutional partners
Our work would not be possible without the collaboration with Laslea Secondary School.
Due to our partnership with the teachers, the principal and the school secretariat, our projects reach the children easily, in all five villages. We were received with openness from the beginning and we thank everyone for their trust and help!