Alumnus Club for UNESCO brings smiles to children in Corbu commune, Olt County

Day 1 June, dedicated to childhood, joy and hope, has been celebrated this year in a very special way by the UNESCO Alumnus Club. Under the sign of generosity and solidarity, Club members have initiated a toy clamping campaign for children from disadvantaged environments.

The action ended with an emotional gesture: The toys gathered arrived in Corbu commune, Olt County.

Children could discover dolls, machine, puzzle-uri, construction games, plugs and many other toys that brought light into eyes and sincere joy in the soul.

"We wanted to offer more than toys. We wanted to give a message: that that every child matters. That every child deserves a beautiful childhood and people who believe in it ”, said the president of the association, Daniela Popescu.

This initiative is part of the series of educational and social projects that Alumnus Club for UNESCO constantly carries out, aimed to support vulnerable communities, promoting human values and involving young people in civic actions.

Through simple gestures, but full of soul, The club continues to build bridges between people and bring positive changes in the lives of those who need the most - children.

President Alumnus Club and Enafcau's honor president, Daniela Popescu, Present at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the European and North American Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO (Enafcan) at the UNESCO headquarters

The Paris Workshop, din UNESCO, from the date 27 June 2025 was part of the series of activities to strengthen the capacity launched in November 2024 by UNESCO and the French National Commission for UNESCO, In cooperation with the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO (WFUCA) and is based on the results of the Global Youth Forum of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO, held at Almaty, KAZAKHSTAN, in February 2025. Dedicated, The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the European and North American Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO (Enafcan).

Focusing on inclusive gender equality approaches at local level, The workshop presented impact initiatives, led by young people, that promotes gender equity. Below we play the speech held by Mrs. Daniela Popescu with this celebration.

Dear friends and
members of the great UNESCO family,

Today we celebrate 25 for years of common travel, of shared and unimaginable dreams.
It is the story of the European and North American Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO - but especially, It's our story.
In a world in a continuous transformation, in which human values are often put to the test, Our federation has succeeded, along the ones 25 years, to remain a coherent and brave voice for education, pace, intercultural dialog and sustainable development. It was - and it is - a living network, activate, made up of people who truly believe in the power of ideas, In the force of collaboration and in the deep value of diversity.
This federation is not just a structure, It's a community. Is the place where UNESCO clubs in Europe and North America are handing their hands, they share their experiences and unite their voices to build bridges between generations, between nations, between cultures.
For a quarter of a century, Starting from the end of the year 2000, founded in Romania, This federation offered a space in which we learned to collaborate between cultures, Let's get involved for real causes - from peace and education to science, communication and culture until the planet's protection.
In the clubs and associations for UNESCO we have shown that we are the present and through young we reach the future. I brought in these years energy, initiative and hope. We created projects, I promoted values, We built friends over borders.
In the face of new challenges - from climate change to digital threats, from humanitarian crises to social fragmentation, to the wars that came to our way , Federation had the mission and responsibility to move on with the same determination. For us, those who believed in the good of UNESCO, Federation has permanently remained a catalyst for human solidarity, who has supported a peace education in a society with active citizenship.
We tried to continue to offer young people not just a space of expression, but also one of action.

Happy Birthday, This anniversary comes with thanks for the UNESCO Commission in France, to the lady president Michele Ramis, Mr. Secretary General Alexandre Navarro; We thank UNESCO, Mrs. Assel Utegenova for the permanent support and guidance offered;

At the anniversary hour, Our federation does not celebrate just the past, but renews the commitment for the future,continuing to be an active voice in promoting UNESCO human and universal values.

Today, In Professor Ilie Dragomir's house, (my father)they stepped on dignity, beating the land with the opinions, with their zurgălăli and their sticks, Căluşarii. 🔔👞

Came to remind us of a historical moment:
📜 in 1969, Ilie Dragomir - director of the Olt County Culture Committee - set up the first Căluș festival in Romania, at Slatina.

Being a child, I remember perfectly the multitude of spectators who honored this ancient ritual, with respect and joy.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎶

Dad held a young Călușar that he glorified in articles and books, contributing to its national recognition:
🎖️ Nichita Dragomira - choreographer and preserver of local cultural identity.

⏳ have passed the years, and from 2002, The Căluș is beating at the UNESCO heritage gates, With the support of Olt County.

✨ again 2005, As a UNESCO worker, I received the news with emotion:
👉 Dance of Călușului was included in the Intaterial Cultural Heritage of UNESCO humanity.

📌 a fragment from the press press:

"Although the oldest melody of Căluș is attested in the seventeenth century, The ritual is much older, deriving from purification and fertility practices of our ancestors… ”
(Dimitrie Cantemir, "Description of Moldova")

🔍 about the ritual:
• Dance is executed by groups of men (odd number)
• The injury coordinates
• Mute (Or the madman) has a magic and satirical role
• The flag bears the flag of the fortress
• It is worn: hats with ribbons, bell, Crucis sticks and sticks over the shirt
📿⚔️🎩

🕊️ dancing during the Pentecost period, To protect the community from Iele - magical beings from Romanian mythology.

On behalf of our family, so much, as well as my sister Mihaela Dragomir, We promise to honor the effort to form a new mist, worthy of the beauty of tradition.

📣 Tradition continues. Respect remains. The Călușul lives.

Filip Iusein brings to the fore the mental health of young people in Romania at UNESCO workshop

Paris, 15 may 2025

The young Romanian Filip Iusein, Member of the Alumnus Club for UNESCO from the Romanian Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO, was one of the key speakers in the UNESCO International Workshop on Mental Health of Young, held online on 15 may 2025.

The event represented a continuation of the first global youth forum in UNESCO clubs and associations (Rye) and gathered participants from all over the world to discuss the impact of contemporary crisis on the mental health of young people. Under the UNESCO patronage, The program included moderate sessions of international experts and presentations supported by representatives of UNESCO clubs in Jamaica, Senegal, Dominican Republic and Romania.

In his intervention, Filip Iusein held a speech entitled "Behind the Filter: Social Media and Mental Health in Romania”, in which he emphasized clearly the major challenges faced by the Romanian young people in the digital era. It was drawn to the fact that over 13 Millions of Romanians are active on social networks, But that this intense connection comes with an emotional cost, especially for teenagers. Citing studies conducted by WHO and UNICEF underlined the fact that 22% Of the Romanian teenagers show signs of problematic use of social networks, and almost half had suicidal thoughts.
The discourse transmitted a message of hope and balance. Social networks should not be demonized, but understood and used in charge. S- have proposed concrete solutions, such as introducing digital education into schools, easy access to psychological counseling, and promoting offline interaction through sport, volunteering and camps without technology.

"Life does not need filter. The real connection, Healing and joy are found outside the screens ”, was his ending message, received with appreciation by participants.

The event was moderated by UNESCO officials and enjoyed interventions from personalities such as Xing Quit, director general adjunct al UNESCO, and Xueli Abbing, Ambassador of goodwill for the fight against racism, Assee utgevoca, Focal point within UNESCO on UNESCO clubs and associations. Alexandre Navarro, secretar general, The French Commission for UNESCO, Bolat Akchulakov, President of the World Federation of Associations and Clubs for UNESCO.

Filip Iusein's participation confirms the active involvement of Romanian young people in UNESCO initiatives and reaffirms the commitment of the Romanian Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO to support sustainable development, the education and mental health of young people.

19-23 March 2025
Greece

The 5th Congress of the European Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO took place in Athens, Greece, during 19-23 March 2025, and has adopted organizational changes and celebrated the renaming in the European and North American Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO. The key results were the revision of the Federation Statute for aligning the global standards and choosing a new management, with the purpose of extending its geographical coverage and impact.
Daniela Popescu, Founding member and the president of the federation from the last two mandates was chosen the president of honor, Continuing to activate with the new executive board, Leaded now by President Ioannis Marininis.