The Alumnus Club for UNESCO continued its partnership with the National Federation of Associations for UNESCO from Japan through a new event held in one of the most beautiful mountain areas in Romania: Bran. Between 19-23 august 2023, we were guests of the beautiful guesthouse Mama Cozonacilor, a group of typical mountain buildings located between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului mountains, who gave us all the conditions to carry out our creative workshops, in a new project carried out under the patronage of the Romanian and European Federations of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO. The main objective of the project was humanitarian and educational aid for families with refugee children from Ukraine. The young people were able to access activities to support the psychological recovery of the precarious situation in which they find themselves due to the war in Ukraine and leaving their native places.
Within the Bran project, for Ukrainian children and their mothers were organized: Ø Painting workshops Under the guidance of teachers from Ukraine and coordinators from the Alumnus Club and the Princess Margareta Foundation, the 14 children and 3 young people made canvas paintings and other components that were part of the final exhibition (paper butterflies, stone paintings etc.)
- Painting on stone
- Painting on canvas
- Painting on paper
- Gingerbread painting This workshop was a delight for the children. Under the guidance of pastry specialists from the Mama Cozonacilor laboratory, the children each painted something 2-3 pieces of gingerbread which they could then taste or take home as they preferred.
- Wood painting After the visit to the Dino Park, the little ones were guided how to create a small memory: each received a wooden heart on which they painted their favorite dinosaur with the help of templates. These hearts eventually turned into magnetic keepsakes that everyone could take home
- Creative jewelry workshop Each little girl was able to make a small piece of jewelry from pebbles – bracelet, circle, medallion
- Conversation workshops in Romanian The mothers benefited from daily conversation workshops in Romanian, so that with this small help received they can understand and speak our language better and the chance of employment in Romania will increase. They also received folders prepared by the organizers, which contained a small Romanian-Ukrainian conversation guide.
Excursions
- The Dâmbovicioara cave is a rather small cave, but with a varied karst relief. With a length of fish 550 of meters, of which only 225 being open to tourists, the cave has the appearance of a slightly bifurcated gallery. For most children, this was the first cave they had ever visited.
- Brașov – the beautiful city at the foot of the Tâmpa mountain, with one of the most attractive old areas harmoniously and uniquely blending Renaissance-style buildings, baroque and gothic. Here is the largest evangelical Lutheran parish church in Romania (The Black Church – one of the most important monuments of Gothic architecture in the country) and the first Romanian school
- Râșnov Fortress – Romanian historical monument that was used as a defense system for Transylvanian villages exposed to Tatar and Ottoman invasions. Medieval building located on the limestone hill south of Râșnov, the citadel is one of the best preserved fortified complexes in Transylvania
- Dino Parc Râșnov The joy of the children was maximum when they entered Dino Parc Râșnov, the largest dinosaur park in south-eastern Europe, spread over a surface of 4 hectares and where they could see dozens of scientifically certified dinosaurs, replicate in life size. It was a morning full of adventure and fun.
- Peleș Castle - both children and adults were impressed by the castle built on the Royal Domain of Sinaia, the summer residence of the Romanian kings starting with Carol I. They were fascinated by the carved wood decorations, of the beauty of the stained glass windows, the elegance of the interiors and the impressive collection of statuettes, PAINTINGS, harness, china and tapestries.
All these activities were organized to encourage young Ukrainian children to never give up on their dreams and always be themselves.
Unfortunately, everything that is pleasant and beautiful also passes quickly 5 days ended and everyone had to go back to Bucharest, the city that has become their new home, but not before making the painting exhibition
In organizing this project, the Alumnus Club for UNESCO had as partners the National Federation of Associations for UNESCO in Japan and the Princess Margareta Foundation.
