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For the 40 children who benefit from the Valentina Day Care Center, 2024 was full of new experiences and fascinating activities. Museum visits, educational film screenings and science workshops (how excited they were when they built a volcano!) were just a few of the memorable moments. Their enthusiasm was indescribable every time they faced a new challenge.
Now that they have learned the secrets of writing and reading, homework seems easier to do, even if its difficulty has increased. And after homework and lunch, how impatiently they wait for creative activities, such as painting and quilling, to begin, within the theme of “Your Fantastic World”! Other personal development activities included theater lessons and workshops on anger management, supported by professionals. Throughout the year, the children also attended foreign language lessons (English and French), some of which were supported by native volunteers. A pilot digital education project was also launched, where three children learned to code with the help of a volunteer mentor. Education on hygiene and nutrition was supported by a pediatrician, and outdoor activities such as gardening and sports played an important role in their program.
Although they still play with dolls and cars and watch cartoons, the children in the project already have a clear idea of what they want to be when they grow up: “make-up artist, teacher, police officer, rapper.” To help them learn more about the professions of the future, the Day Center organized the project “I Can Be Anything I Want.” A visit to Destiny Park gave them the opportunity to step into the shoes of the heroes they admire, receiving costumes and the necessary props to make their dreams come true.
Sessions on history, geography and natural sciences, educational and recreational activities organized by the Anna de Noailles French School, visits to educational farms, participation in cultural activities (plays, among others) and sports, guitar lessons taught by a French volunteer completed the extremely varied program of the children, stimulating their creativity.
In May and June, when the city was starting to be suffocated by the heat wave, the children took swimming lessons (for the second consecutive year), an activity that brought them energy and enthusiasm. And when their schoolbags were hanging on the nail, 25 children participated in the summer camp in Odobești, where they discovered unsuspected talents and learned about self-improvement and teamwork.
These activities, and many others, were possible thanks to the financial support provided by the United Way Romania Foundation. Together, we create value and lay the foundation for a quality education for these children, helping them build a better future. The joint efforts have led to remarkable academic progress: most of the children have passed their class and achieved good results, and three of the eighth-grade students have been admitted to high school. Another young man has been admitted to a vocational school with a commercial profile.
Cheerful and full of energy, ready to tell funny stories from school, eager to do their homework, the beneficiaries of the program are the best proof of the positive impact of the projects carried out within Casa Valentina, with the invaluable support of the United Way Romania Foundation!
