Looking back on a year together

The end of 2016 is approaching and we want to join you with good thoughts and news about us.

Because we frequently receive questions about how and when the Foundation was formed, we wanted to tell you our story.

Founding members

Foundation ROMPRO Romanians for Romanians Netherlands was officially registered on 16 February 2016 by Cătălina Negru, Dana Popa and Ana-Maria Murariu. Together with friends and acquaintances, they created a non-governmental organization, which aims to bring Romanians in the Netherlands together and unite them in a strong community.

Premise

Part of the current team has set up in February-March 2015 Net-Pro, a professional group started by ING Amsterdam employees, which organised events for our community in the area and investigated the possibility of creating a Romanian school and churches.

In October 2015, when the Colectiv tragedy happened, our group already had experience in providing help during hospitalization, being involved and coordinating in December 2015 the support to the family of a Romanian child hospitalized in Utrecht. When the Colectiv victims arrived in the Netherlands, we organised ourselves to provide aid to patients and their companions, this time solidarity bringing together around 180 volunteers and financial supporters.

Cooperation

Collective brought us closer and kept us closer. We were impressed that people who don't know each other personally can be united by solidarity, work together and inspire each other.

I understood then that we have the same ideas and aspirations, and that together we are better. This has become our divide. As an old African proverb says:

"If you want to get there fast, go by yourself.
If you want to go far, go with others."

Setting up the Foundation was a financial challenge, but together we found the energy and creativity to manage without funding at the beginning. We have with us not only Romanians, but also Dutch and other nationalities, people of all ages and talents, who constantly join us and stimulate us to continue and improve.

Current activities

The following projects have now successfully moved from the initial pilot phase to the development phase:

• Școala Românească Amsterdam, coordinated by Ana-Maria Murariu and Cătălina Robu, with an exceptional team of enthusiastic teachers, where 50 students are already enrolled.
• Interconnections Online School, coordinated by Dana Popa, Maria Popescu, Ruxandra Aelenei, Jenica Otilia Curelaru and Carmen Popescu, which offers Dutch language courses, and which was attended by 60 participants at its first edition. An ambitious programme of webinars on various topics of interest for the future is also in the pipeline.

Projects in preparation

• Romanian Business Community, coordinated by Ramona Sandu, Irina Arhip, Anca Dranca, Johann Stan and Marius Lepindea.
• The Road to Successa series of 52 stories of Romanians in the Netherlands that will be published weekly.
• Romania on the map of the Netherlands, a programme presenting businesses started by Romanians in the Netherlands.
• Easter DayOn 24 June, we want to organise simultaneous events in as many places in the Netherlands as possible.
• Romanian Community Daysin September.

Volunteers

Our team continues to grow. We work in tandem so that we can continue smoothly when there are downtimes. Our free time is often taken up by our tasks, but we work with a lot of pleasure. We have become a family, we look after each other and support and sustain each other.

Coordinators

If you would like to join the Foundation Romanians For Romanians Netherlandsyou can do it by clicking here. We are waiting for you with open arms!

For 2017 we want to achieve as much as possible. We remain enthusiastic, because we believe in what we do and because we have you on board with great ideas and initiatives.

We wish you a wonderful and blessed end of the year!

#ogetherweareunited