Community center as a second home
A second home
At Zalomi Foundation, we believe in the concept of a community center.
The community center is named ‘Lumina,’ which is Romanian for Light. We believe in Jesus’ command to be a Light in the community.
This community center is a pleasant, safe place where children and young people can participate in educational activities in a playful manner. This allows local children and young people to become familiar with the Christian gospel.
At the same time, we pay a lot of attention to social, emotional, and spiritual education.
Why in Codlea?
Codlea has several underprivileged neighborhoods. The community centers are located in a densely populated area with much social and spiritual poverty. Parents are often at work, leaving their children to fend for themselves. Teenagers mostly hang around outside. The education is poor, the classes are large, and the teachers are unqualified. Families live in small apartments, often with just one bedroom. There is a high rate of alcohol and drug addiction among adults, and we are also seeing an increase in drug use among the youth. In short, there are plenty of causes for problems.
Motivation
Problems such as poverty, poor education, and the lack of (good) parenting often lead to new problems.
What is missing is love, hope, and attention. hese are perhaps the most important components you need in your life. And that is what we want to provide with a community center.
A safe place where love is central and where we provide education in a fun way. Education leads to growth and inspiration. By investing in children and young people, you are building for the future.
Children: learning through play
The children’s club is accessible, playful, and enthusiastic. The activities are closely related to a theme. The subjects of the themes are diverse, such as how the world was created or how words can impact others. We also show how to provide first aid, how to use a compass, or how to deal with sadness or disappointment. So, there’s plenty of variety!
Youth: engaging in dialogue
With young people, we engage in discussions and hold studies on (Biblical) themes. Topics include the dangers of the internet, drugs, and alcohol, as well as how to deal with negative feelings or how to work on your future. In addition to discussions, there is also space for games and shared activities.
Making an impact
We believe in 100% focus. Only then can you make an impact. We seek help from local residents who know the culture, norms, and values. There is one paid full-time employee, Tania, who has years of experience in care and as a youth worker. Tania is present in the community center every day.
We also have volunteers, including Cris, Teo, and Mihai.
Our goal is to allow the Lumina community center to operate largely independently in the future—a community center driven by the local population.
Onze projecten
Codlea
The Lumina community center is located in the city of Codlea. Codlea is within the Brașov district and is situated fairly centrally in Romania.
Codlea has approximately 16,000 inhabitants. It is a relatively prosperous city, but there is a vast disparity between rich and poor. It is a mix of densely populated neighborhoods with many 15 m² apartments, gypsy neighborhoods without running water, and areas where horse-drawn carts are still in use. However, there are also spacious villas on plots of 500 m².
Codlea is an old town with much character and atmosphere. Old historical buildings add charm to the city. It is officially classified as a city, but it feels more like a pleasant village.
Codlea has various industries, and the agricultural sector is an important local element. It is a city that has developed quite well in recent years.
However, the greatest surprise of Codlea is the stunning surroundings! Almost from every point, there is a view of the beautiful, immense mountains, known as the Carpathians.