Sometimes, to make a difference in a child’s life, you don’t need anything extraordinary. You need a heart that notices. Hands that get involved. People who say, “We can do something here, too, for our children.”
In Turda, for five days, Central Park became the setting for a special experience: “Camp in Your Town,” a project dedicated to the community’s children, including those for whom going to a camp far from home isn’t always possible.
Behind this initiative were the Apah Transilvania Association and “Ianna Floare aleasă,” alongside volunteers, and among those constantly present among the children were the organizers Simona Anca and Cătălina Pitaroiu. And perhaps this is precisely the beauty of this story: some women chose to turn their concern into action.
The children played, laughed, and participated in creative workshops and games, but they also went home with something more. They learned about responsibility, empathy, and inclusion, as well as how to reduce food waste and administer first aid. Moreover, they took part in fundraising efforts for charitable causes, discovering at a young age that joy lies not only in what you receive, but also in what you can give to others.
Day after day, children, parents, and grandparents gathered in the park. Friendships were formed, memories were made, and it was proven once again that doing good doesn’t necessarily have to start with huge projects. Sometimes it starts with someone who looks around and refuses to remain indifferent.
For us, as women, such initiatives also present a beautiful challenge: What need exists right next to me? Which child could I encourage? What can I do with the time, skills, and resources I have? Maybe we can’t change the whole world. But we can change a few hours of a child’s world. And sometimes, a few beautiful hours become a memory that child carries with them for years to come. Thank you to everyone who gave of their time and energy to make “Camp in Your Town” a reality, because when care turns into action, the community becomes a little warmer.