23 YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF ROMANIAN HERITAGE AND COMMUNITIES
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Bucharest, March 9, 2021
For the year 2021 Pro Patrimonio Foundation and UiPath Foundation announce their actions to continue the program “The Children’s Academy for Music and Education” carried out in the communities around the George Enescu House in Mihăileni, a historical monument in Botoşani County, as well as the initiation of a new project, “The Experimental Center for Studies and Education – Neamţu Manor, Olari”- historical monument in Olt County.
The educational program dedicated to the children’s community in Mihăileni and surrounding areas scheduled to begin in February 2020, has been adapted along the way, influenced by national and regional restrictions caused by the pandemic. Thus, some of the activities took place in July – September 2020. The George Enescu House in Mihăileni was inaugurated on August 19, 2020 with a piano concert, in the context of nine days of non-formal education workshops attended by 20 children from Mihăileni.
24 children from Mihăileni and Vârfu Câmpului localities follow their passion for music within the program “The Children’s Academy for Music and Education” (CAME). In October 2020, the children received musical instruments – blockflöte – and began the lessons in the study of the instrument and musical culture. More than 600 hours of music education took place both in the yard of the George Enescu House and online, depending on the weather. The program continues throughout 2021.
The year 2020 also marked the partnership between UiPath Foundation and Pro Patrimonio Foundation in the implementation of the educational program “Future Acceleration Program” in Botosani County. Through this program, 20 children from vulnerable families from three communities around the George Enescu House benefit from integrated support designed to ensure their access to education: monthly scholarships, clothing, school supplies, sanitary articles, tablets, and online educational activities. In September 2020, all children participated in the UiPath Foundation Virtual Camp – an interactive educational camp, with workshops on various topics: programming (Scratch), STEM, architecture, photo editing, drawing, sports and healthy lifestyle. Since October 2020, children from Botoșani County have participated in approximately 800 hours of tutoring lessons in Romanian language and literature, Mathematics and English.
The children in both programs also benefited from over 500 hours of non-formal education activities – practical workshops and online camps – not only to bring them closer to the history and culture of the place they come from, but also to encourage them to discover the potential and explore the world we live in.
In parallel with the activities in Botoşani, in 2021 the partnership between the two organizations will be extended in Olt County, in the communities around the Neamţu Manor in Olari. Thus, non-formal education workshops will be organized for children from Olari, within the project “Experimental Center for Studies and Education – Neamţu Manor, Olari” and the work site for the mansion restoration that was interrupted last year will be resumed.
“We’ve managed to overcome the difficulties encountered. The action that was started last year has overcome the difficulties caused by the pandemic. The solutions were verified over time, satisfied the wishes of the foundation and delighted the beneficiaries, the children in the community. Due to the good results on both sides, through a judicious analysis, a new intervention is being started in another area, with problems specific to southern Romania, such as the one in Olari. We start from the micro-geographical and socio-cultural irradiation area of the monument and extend the strategy to the macro-exploration and rediscovery of the territory. We try to rebuild territories, to coagulate communities, to map their resources, to experiment responsibly. We have adapted and we are moving forward in the two communities with specific approaches to each one.” said Serban Sturdza, President of the Pro Patrimonio Foundation.
“The last year has significantly affected access to quality education for children from disadvantaged families and the integrated support offered by the Future Acceleration Program has made a real difference in the lives of children in Botosani County, as well as in the other four areas of the country where we work with partners such as the Pro Patrimonio Foundation. With the limitations generated by the pandemic, the development and consolidation of innovative educational hubs in the heart of rural communities offers a real chance for a better future for children from vulnerable backgrounds. We are happy to contribute through this partnership with the Pro Patrimonio Foundation to the development of sustainable educational ecosystems in Botoșani County and, this year, in Olt County, in the communities around the Neamțu Manor in Olari. ” Raluca Negulescu-Balaci, Executive Director of UiPath Foundation.
