The Romanian delegation of Terre des hommes Foundation (Tdh) is looking for virtual ”swimmers ”/ fundraisers / supporters for a special Swimathon Bucharest event that will take place online between June and July 2020. Due to current health concerns, the local Swimathon will be organized online and consists of encouraging friends to donate. That is why swimmers are now called simply fundraisers / supporters and their contribution consists only in encouraging donations within their personal /professional network.
At this event Tdh is trying to raise funds for the young people in detention in Craiova, Romania, where the Detention Center currently holds 198 minors, most with a low level of education and difficulties in basic social interactions. They have emotional difficulties, and many are not supported by their families. The Covid-19 pandemic has meant extra isolation that has aggravated these problems. The detained minors need to develop personal and social competences in order to build a normal future.
”After being released, this girl used to sleep in a field neaby, as she had no place to go, and survived with the food the caretakers offered her” Read at this link an article about the life of Romanian minors in detention
But Tdh believes 'Sport and games save the future of youth', so it plans to help local detention center staff offer psycho-social support to these minors through the Movement, Game and Sports methodology. The organisation has been using games and interactive experiences as a teaching method to help young people manage their emotions, build resilience, rebuild the dynamic of their group, and to rebuild trust. This method has already been tested in countries affected by war and catastrophe.
The idea is that young people in detention can learn to collaborate in team sports, which empowers them, models their behaviour and reduces conflicts, and Terre des hommes proposes to teach the Craiova Center staff the model to work with detained youth and help them become integrated adults. However, these games require 10 sports kits, worth 22,500 lei. Therefore, the virtual swimmer/fundraiser will be invited to raise money from friends, acquaintances (anyway he feels comfortable : by phone, email, or any other way - for example posting funny photos). Several encouraging messages and photos explaining the cause and requesting donations are usually necessary, as well as a registration fee of 80 lei. Any amount will be appreciated, so the more supporters, the better.
If you have questions, please contact the Foundation at the email indicated here or register directly at this link by June 18th, and choose the ”Sports and games save the future” cause! Donations can be made by card here
The Swimathon Campaign has raised over 500,000 euros for almost 150 projects since 2013. In 2019, 444 swimmers raised 623,090 lei from 4,062 individual donors and companies, for 24 social projects. It is the first time Terre des hommes has taken part in this campaign and they invite their supporters to join them.