The Children in Distress Foundation (CID) has launched a ‘Be a volunteer from a young age’ campaign about the importance of volunteering. last week announced its first event in the spirit of solidarity and Christmas.
In 1985, the UN decided that International Volunteer Day would be celebrated on December 5 every year. The theme of Volunteer Day 2024 was human solidarity as the most sustainable resource for a sustainable future for all.
Volunteering means people become part of the solution. Volunteering allows people and communities to participate in their development. As the world faces increasing challenges, volunteers are often the first to help. People become actors of change and equal partners in achieving local, national and international progress towards sustainable human development and global peace.
Volunteering is a culture and a way of life. That is why education about its benefits should start at a very young age. At this time today’s children live in competitive or very competitive environments, so for them to understand and adopt the spirit of volunteering and cooperation is a way to balance and connect with the values of humanity: free will, commitment, fairness, solidarity, compassion, empathy and respect for others.
Children’s volunteering means the whole family gets involved and therefore actions aimed at educating children about volunteering are actions aimed at a broader change in society.
That is why the Children In Distress Foundation (CID) has set itself the goal of starting a public awareness campaign about the importance of volunteering starting in schools.
The first step in volunteering: a helping hand!
CID has been acting for 35 years in Romania to support vulnerable children and their families. It is the foundation that created the standards in the treatment and recovery of children infected with HIV and AIDS and which is now involved in the recovery of children with serious medical diagnoses, with various disabilities and in supporting their families, who are facing extreme difficulties.
The construction of the House of Trees in Zărnești is the latest and most ambitious project of the CID Foundation. It will bde the first center in the country created, built and dedicated to offering these families therapy and reconnection care, without which their lives are very challenging. The House of Trees is a place of joy and arediscovery of humanity for the most severely challenged children and their families.
It is a very ambitious project that requires a lot of effort and is of vital importance to support of communities.
The community spirit begins with care and attention given to one’s own children. Starting from the idea that Santa’s elves themselves are little volunteers, CID in partnership with the Little Genius School offers the children in the school and their families a precious exercise of solidarity with children with disabilities from disadvantaged families who are protected by the Foundation.
The Little Genius School in Bucharest prides itself on its goal of raising children who become empathetic, strong and responsible. This year on Christmas Eve it is asking its students to volunteer for a project that will directly answer the question: How can we make a real change in the lives of those who need us the most?
Each class in the school is called upon to create a reinterpreted Christmas tree, using the color orange – the color of CID – as a symbol of courage, hope and a better life for children in difficulty. Orange is the color of courage, warmth and hugs. It is the color that soothes fragile souls, that brings light where there is darkness and that gives strength to those who struggle every day.
Each tree created symbolizes a ray of light for the children and families who will benefit from the support offered by Casa dintre Brazi. The trees created by the children will use sustainable materials (recycled paper, textiles, wood, reused plastic, etc.). Each class that creates an orange tree is asked to think about the story of the tree they created – implicitly their message will be a message for a disadvantaged family and they will all have one thing in common; “You are not alone. We are here to help you.”
The trees created will be exhibited during a special event on December 16 at Hotel Caro, and their stories will be shared to inspire even more people to join the CID mission.
The Be a Volunteer at a Young Age! campaign initiated by CID is just the first step. It will continue on the eve of the holidays as an orange and optimistic solidarity chain that will pass through communities in Romania, Great Britain, Germany and the United States, countries in which CID has partner foundations.
In the future and in preparation for the large-scale Casa dintre Brazi project, CID’s public awareness and solidarity actions will continue throughout the year, with activities at schools or high schools over the country every month. Several important dates for the Foundation will be marked: February 29 – International Rare Disease Day, May 15 – Family Day, September 5 – Charity Day.
For support, volunteering and donations, you can donate 2€ via SMS with the word ”ZILE” on 8844.
For volunteering and donations, go to: https://casadintrebrazicid.com.ro/
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