CURRENT PROJECTS
Gardenproject
The garden project is one of the largest projects in the association’s history. Starting in 2024, the association committed to supporting YANA Romania financially for at least five years, until 2028, as well as through on-site work during the camp. The project pursues three main goals:
First, it ensures that the kitchen in the multipurpose building can partially supply itself with vegetables. This kitchen prepares daily meals for around 100 children from YANA’s four day centers. As part of the project, five greenhouses with a total area of about 275 square meters are cultivated. To manage these, a part-time gardener has been employed since 2025.
The second goal is to introduce the children from the day centers to gardening. They learn to appreciate resources and develop important practical skills through gardening activities.
Finally, the project aims to generate financial support for the entire organization. In addition, the sale of garden and kitchen products helps raise extra funds.
Summer camp
In 2013, Gabriela and Augustin Mateiu from YANA Romania and Andreas Aczel launched the Lărguța Camps.
By 2024, the 20th camp had already taken place. As every year, the camp was marked by intense work, meaningful encounters, and a strong sense of community.
A central project at the last camp was supporting a family in the village of Nicolae Bălcescu. Their house received a roof repair, and with the start of a water connection construction, the foundation was laid for a future bathroom. In parallel, participants worked on the garden project. Various painting tasks were also on the agenda: the classrooms and doors of Casa Yana received a fresh coat of paint, and the primary school was beautified with handmade decorations.
Additionally, a varied summer program was organized for the children in Lărguța during the camp. Beyond the work, community also played a central role in the camps — singing, laughing, and sharing experiences around the campfire.
“Lărguța — the word actually means something ‘small,’ a small village hidden somewhere in the woods. At the same time, however, this place holds such great meaning for us — a place that has room for everything and everyone.”
Alexandru (Dumi), Camp Leader
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