Tour of Romania

Bucharest – When you arrive in Bucharest, you can feel the dynamism and energy with which the city is developing. The monumental buildings with their characteristic socialist architecture are surrounded by new, modern urban building complexes with large mirror-glass windows. Drawn to Romania as a result of the low salaries paid here as well as the low tax rate, multinational companies have invested large amounts of capital in the country. Since joining the European Union in 2007, the country has made good use of the funds it has received.

On a small football pitch on the northern outskirts of the capital – a place which is continually evolving – Inter Campus gives football and life lessons to about 50 boys and girls from two institutions (an orphanage and a day centre) through three local instructors. The project has been running since 2012 in collaboration with the Parada association, which provides assistance to children living on the street or in residential institutions through various forms of intervention such as social art, educational and health services, mobile units as well as a day centre.

After Bucharest, the Inter Campus delegation went to Valcea and worked with a local partner in the form of Inima pentru inima, an association that provides assistance to many children experiencing family problems. Inter Campus and its local partner aim to promote social inclusion through the game of football, with 100 boys and girls benefitting from the programmes offered in schools in Vladest and Ocnele. During this visit, discussions took place about integrating a new element into the programme: a school to be attended by children from the city and by 40 children requiring ‘maternal assistance’ – that is, they are looked after by the authorities as a result of family problems.

After five days of training sessions and demonstrations given by instructors Andrea Galbiati and Paola Balconi, the delegation set off for Slatina where, in collaboration with Pirelli Romania, a project concerning ethnic integration is running for the benefit of 100 boys and girls. In addition to two days of training sessions, an opening ceremony for the new season took place. This involved over 100 girls and boys, and they all received new shirts. The Inter Campus delegation met with CEO Wolfgang Meyer in Pirelli’s factory in Slatina, and he expressed his support for the project.