Context

The direct beneficiaries of the project are children from across the LAG territory and their families. The day centre is a place where children and young people from the villages served by the Covurlui LAG can meet, participate in constructive activities, develop social and personal skills, and integrate into society.

Covurlui LAG has partnerships with the 16 schools in the area. Based on these partnerships and its collaboration with local public authorities, the LAG agrees on how, when, and with how many beneficiaries it will carry out activities.

The day centre is a real necessity for the LAG, which includes 16 administrative units, as there is currently a lack of specialised services in the area. In the 16 municipalities served, there are no day centre services, and children from vulnerable families or at risk of social exclusion do not have access to educational support, psychological counselling or recreational activities.

Furthermore, the entire LAG territory is classified as disadvantaged, as it is a rural area which is underdeveloped. Many children who live there have difficulties integrating, and some have parents who have gone abroad, and as such are at risk of dropping out of school. The most important aspect is that parents or guardians also participate in the day centre's activities.

Objectives

The primary aim was to create a safe and hygienic centre. This would then enable the LAG to care for a significant number of children, increasing their self-confidence and promoting their health and well-being. This, in turn, would create jobs, and an improvement in the quality of services provided, which is another objective, would furthermore help to stem the tide of depopulation. 

A project of this nature, if successful, also increases interest in culture and developing a healthy lifestyle among children and their families.

Activities

The relatively small amount of funding received was used to equip the day centre. A display area was set up, with an interactive smart board and a mobile videoconferencing stand. Other, more general, purchases were made, such as tents, folding tables and chairs, multifunctional equipment, office supplies, board games (Monopoly, backgammon, chess, and Settlers of Catan), cards, and equipment for outdoor games such as table tennis, football, handball, volleyball, badminton and basketball.

To get the project off the ground, a great deal of networking was required. Perhaps the most significant collaboration was with Suceveni municipal council, which offered a building free of charge and supported local administrative procedures.

The project managers also had to reach out to the community to generate involvement, and received a good response from teachers, young people and retirees volunteering to organise regular activities for the children. They also had to establish partnerships with local schools, which helped identify children at risk and promoted the centre among families.

As mentioned above, the initial funding was modest. Project managers therefore had to approach potential donors, including NGOs, private individuals and local businesses, and this resulted in the provision of books, games and supplies. Similarly, local craftsmen and service providers also had to be called up, and they responded by contributing to the building’s renovation and maintenance.

Gender equality

Women played a central role in the design, coordination and implementation of the project. Out of over 30 people directly involved (volunteers, coordinators and collaborators), approximately 70% were women, most from rural areas. Through their involvement, the project strengthened the role of women in rural communities and promoted a genuine and sustainable model of female leadership.

The project was coordinated by a woman, Mrs Veronica Dumbrava, who is the manager of the Covurlui LAG, with other women part of the management and decision-making structure of the project. Mothers from the community actively participated in and supported the day centre’s activities, while female teachers ran educational workshops and offered guidance to children.

Generational Renewal

The project has encouraged rural generational renewal by involving young people in meaningful roles and offering them opportunities to contribute to community life. Through their participation, the project fosters local identity, leadership skills and interest in rural development.

It has involved young volunteers, aged 16–35, who regularly coordinate and facilitate educational, cultural and sports activities at the centre. They have gained experience in working with children, and in organising events, team coordination and basic project management. The centre has also created a space where young people meet regularly, collaborate and plan future initiatives. Many young people began to see value in staying and contributing to their home villages rather than migrating to cities. A number of them are now expressing an interest in careers in education, rural development or agritourism as a result of their exposure to teamwork and responsibility. Many young people took part in the local promotion of the centre, gaining a voice and presence in the community.

Main Results

A day centre was successfully established and fully equipped in a repurposed former school building provided by the local council. It has already provided social benefits for approximately 120 children per month from 16 rural municipalities who participate in educational, recreational and social inclusion activities. Furthermore, over 300 children have participated in weekend workshops and creative sessions since the centre opened. Indirectly, over 300 family members benefit from the centre’s support of their children.

The building renovation covered over 200 m² of rehabilitated interior space using the project’s own funds, while a library was also set up using donated books and materials, and is accessible to all children in the area.

The project runs thanks to over 100 volunteering hours per month, with teachers, young people and community members organising activities. Overall, it has created a safe, inclusive and stimulating environment for children in rural areas, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. It directly contributes to social inclusion, early education support and community building, in an area facing population decline and limited infrastructure.

From an economic perspective, the project has revitalised a neglected building with minimal resources, showing a sustainable and cost-effective model for rural development. It has stimulated local involvement and volunteering, building a strong sense of ownership in the community. It demonstrates how a small rural community can implement a low-cost, high-impact social project with long-term benefits, and how public spaces can be brought back to life through collective effort and vision. 

Key lessons

The project is based on a low-cost, community-driven model and could be implemented in any rural or underprivileged area, provided that local authorities, volunteers and donors can be found. Transforming abandoned infrastructure into a multifunctional building requires buy-in from a number of stakeholders, and the cross-sector synergy between civil society (the LAG), public authorities and the local population is absolutely crucial in ensuring sustainability and local ownership.

An initiative like this needs to combine vision, empathy and concrete action. Transforming what was a forgotten village school into a lively, attractive and friendly space requires responsibility, involvement and the ability to mobilise the community.