VIP Romania by foreign affairs

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER!

Volunteers for Ideas and Projects Student organization

ADRIAN COMANECI BOGDAN MIHALCEA CRISTIAN FRANCU DAN CATANET LAURENTIU DINU LUCIAN DESPOIU MIRUNA GEORGESCU TUDOR DIMOFTE VLAD BUSILA COSMIN DRAGAN DIANA COTRUTA DIANA POP IULIA ANTONESCU MADALINA LOLOT MIHAI BOTEA MIHAI DRAGAN MIHAI SECELEANU MIOARA BANCESCU VASILE TROACA ADRIANA PLAVICIOSU ADRIAN TUFA ALINA BARBULESCU ALINA FLOREAN ALINA SCURTU ARINA DRUTA BOGDAN ANDREI BOGDAN DANAILA CLAUDIA BRAILEANU CRISTINA MATEICIUC GEORGE CARAMIDARU GEORGIANA RADU HORATIU BICA IULIA CARPOV LAURA MOLNAR MIHAI ALEXANDRU POP MIHAIL VASILESCU MIRCEA BOISTEAN MIRELA GHITA RALUCA PERCEC SIEGFRIED MURESAN STELIANA COSTACHE ADRIAN GHEORGHE ADRIANA BANTU ALEXANDRA ANGHEL ALIN TORTOLEA ANDRA SERBAN ANDREEA ROSU ANDREI GHINDAOANU AURELIA TUDOR BOGDAN IGNAT CATALINA BOGOI CIPRIAN MATEI CRISTI MANOLE DACIANA IVAN DANIEL ALEXANDRU DANIELA STAICU DUMITRU POSTORONCA ILEANA COCIAS IOANA BARBU IULIA VADEANU IULIANA GRECESCU LAURA BERTALAN LUMINITA POENARU MADALINA MOROIANU MADALINA TEODORESCU MARINA NEAGU MIHAELA CRISTEA OANA MELINTE RALUCA BANUTA RAZVAN MACAVEIU SOFIA NITU ALEXANDRA BARSAN ALEXANDRA CUZUB ANDREEA OLTEANU DAN MARIUS DANIEL NASTASE ELENA BUCUR GJORGJIEV KOCE IOANA PETRACHE IULIA SERBULEA IULIANA VASILE LIANA NICOLAE LIVIA RADULESCU MAGDA OPRIS MONICA MIHAILESCU NINA PLAIU OANA POPESCU OANA ZSETKEI OVIDIU MIHALCEA RADU PERIANU RALUCA HATMAN RALUCA SIMION SILVIA NICOLESCU SILVIA SULEA STEFAN FARKUTIN VICTOR MIHAIU ADRIAN UNGUREANU ALEX BERNEA ALEX MOLNAR ALEXANDRA BOTEANU ALEXANDRA VLAD ALEXANDRESCU BOGDAN ALEXANDRU GOTCA ANA TONITA ANAMARIA MATEI ANCA COSTAN ANDRA MARIN ANDREEA AGLICERU ANDREEA ARABOAEI ANDREEA FOLEA ANDREEA MANEA ANDREEA RUCAREANU ANDREEA TUDOSE ANDREI DUMUTA ANDREI POTLOGEA CRISTI CONSTANTIN CRISTIAN FATU DAN CROITORU DRAGOS PRIOTEASA ELIZA SPATARU GENA TURCU IOANA CRETU IOANA MERODE IONUT ONOFREI IULIA GUS KARINA SEMENIUC MARIA ANITAS MARIA POLIPCIUC MIHAELA DINU MIHAELA IONESCU MIHAI VARUTOIU MIRUNA AMARIE MONICA NEAGU PETRA NEGRU RADU CIUBOTARU SIMONA MARCU SIMONA STEFANESCU STEFAN IORGULESCU TUDOR TROF VERONICA PREOTU VICTOR TEIOSANU ADINA IACOB ADINA MARINCEA ALEXANDRA NASTASE ALEXANDRU ADRIAN COMANECI BOGDAN MIHALCEA CRISTIAN FRANCU DAN CATANET LAURENTIU DINU LUCIAN DESPOIU MIRUNA GEORGESCU TUDOR DIMOFTE VLAD BUSILA COSMIN DRAGAN DIANA COTRUTA DIANA POP IULIA ANTONESCU MADALINA LOLOT MIHAI BOTEA MIHAI DRAGAN MIHAI SECELEANU MIOARA BANCESCU VASILE TROACA ADRIANA PLAVICIOSU ADRIAN TUFA ALINA BARBULESCU ALINA FLOREAN ALINA SCURTU ARINA DRUTA BOGDAN ANDREI BOGDAN DANAILA CLAUDIA BRAILEANU CRISTINA MATEICIUC GEORGE CARAMIDARU GEORGIANA RADU HORATIU BICA IULIA CARPOV LAURA MOLNAR MIHAI ALEXANDRU POP MIHAIL VASILESCU MIRCEA BOISTEAN MIRELA GHITA RALUCA PERCEC SIEGFRIED MURESAN STELIANA COSTACHE ADRIAN GHEORGHE ADRIANA BANTU ALEXANDRA ANGHEL ALIN TORTOLEA ANDRA SERBAN ANDREEA ROSU ANDREI GHINDAOANU AURELIA TUDOR BOGDAN IGNAT CATALINA BOGOI CIPRIAN MATEI CRISTI MANOLE DACIANA IVAN DANIEL ALEXANDRU DANIELA STAICU DUMITRU POSTORONCA ILEANA COCIAS IOANA BARBU IULIA VADEANU IULIANA GRECESCU LAURA BERTALAN LUMINITA POENARU MADALINA MOROIANU MADALINA TEODORESCU MARINA NEAGU MIHAELA CRISTEA OANA MELINTE RALUCA BANUTA RAZVAN MACAVEIU SOFIA NITU ALEXANDRA BARSAN ALEXANDRA CUZUB ANDREEA OLTEANU DAN MARIUS DANIEL NASTASE ELENA BUCUR GJORGJIEV KOCE IOANA PETRACHE IULIA SERBULEA IULIANA VASILE LIANA NICOLAE LIVIA RADULESCU MAGDA OPRIS MONICA MIHAILESCU NINA PLAIU OANA POPESCU OANA ZSETKEI OVIDIU MIHALCEA RADU PERIANU RALUCA HATMAN RALUCA SIMION SILVIA NICOLESCU SILVIA SULEA STEFAN FARKUTIN VICTOR MIHAIU ADRIAN UNGUREANU ALEX BERNEA ALEX MOLNAR ALEXANDRA BOTEANU ALEXANDRA VLAD ALEXANDRESCU BOGDAN ALEXANDRU GOTCA ANA TONITA ANAMARIA MATEI ANCA COSTAN ANDRA MARIN ANDREEA AGLICERU ANDREEA ARABOAEI ANDREEA FOLEA ANDREEA MANEA ANDREEA RUCAREANU ANDREEA TUDOSE ANDREI DUMUTA ANDREI POTLOGEA CRISTI CONSTANTIN CRISTIAN FATU DAN CROITORU DRAGOS PRIOTEASA ELIZA SPATARU GENA TURCU IOANA CRETU IOANA MERODE IONUT ONOFREI IULIA GUS KARINA SEMENIUC MARIA ANITAS MARIA POLIPCIUC MIHAELA DINU MIHAELA IONESCU MIHAI VARUTOIU MIRUNA AMARIE MONICA NEAGU PETRA NEGRU RADU CIUBOTARU SIMONA MARCU SIMONA STEFANESCU STEFAN IORGULESCU TUDOR TROF VERONICA PREOTU VICTOR TEIOSANU ADINA IACOB ADINA MARINCEA ALEXANDRA NASTASE ALEXANDRU ADRIAN COMANECI BOGDAN MIHALCEA CRISTIAN FRANCU DAN CATANET LAURENTIU DINU LUCIAN DESPOIU MIRUNA GEORGESCU TUDOR DIMOFTE VLAD BUSILA COSMIN DRAGAN DIANA COTRUTA DIANA POP IULIA ANTONESCU MADALINA LOLOT MIHAI BOTEA MIHAI DRAGAN MIHAI SECELEANU MIOARA BANCESCU VASILE TROACA ADRIANA PLAVICIOSU ADRIAN TUFA ALINA BARBULESCU ALINA FLOREAN ALINA SCURTU ARINA DRUTA BOGDAN ANDREI BOGDAN DANAILA CLAUDIA BRAILEANU CRISTINA MATEICIUC GEORGE CARAMIDARU GEORGIANA RADU HORATIU BICA IULIA CARPOV LAURA MOLNAR MIHAI ALEXANDRU POP MIHAIL VASILESCU MIRCEA BOISTEAN MIRELA GHITA RALUCA PERCEC SIEGFRIED MURESAN STELIANA COSTACHE ADRIAN GHEORGHE ADRIANA BANTU ALEXANDRA ANGHEL ALIN TORTOLEA ANDRA SERBAN ANDREEA ROSU ANDREI GHINDAOANU AURELIA TUDOR BOGDAN IGNAT CATALINA BOGOI CIPRIAN MATEI CRISTI MANOLE DACIANA IVAN DANIEL ALEXANDRU DANIELA STAICU DUMITRU POSTORONCA ILEANA COCIAS IOANA BARBU IULIA VADEANU IULIANA GRECESCU LAURA BERTALAN LUMINITA POENARU MADALINA MOROIANU MADALINA TEODORESCU MARINA NEAGU MIHAELA CRISTEA OANA MELINTE RALUCA BANUTA RAZVAN MACAVEIU SOFIA NITU ALEXANDRA BARSAN ALEXANDRA CUZUB ANDREEA OLTEANU DAN MARIUS DANIEL NASTASE ELENA BUCUR GJORGJIEV KOCE IOANA PETRACHE IULIA SERBULEA IULIANA VASILE LIANA NICOLAE LIVIA RADULESCU MAGDA OPRIS MONICA MIHAILESCU NINA PLAIU OANA POPESCU OANA ZSETKEI OVIDIU MIHALCEA RADU PERIANU RALUCA HATMAN RALUCA SIMION SILVIA NICOLESCU SILVIA SULEA STEFAN FARKUTIN VICTOR MIHAIU ADRIAN UNGUREANU ALEX BERNEA ALEX MOLNAR ALEXANDRA BOTEANU

purpose is to replace an “Education’s empty mind with an open one. ” Malcolm Forbes

“ Try to learn something about

everything and everything about something.

”

Thomas H. Huxley

it “IfYouyoucancandodream it! ”

Walt Disney

Table of Contents

• Romania • VIP Romania as we know it! • Volunteers for Ideas and Projects – General aspects

Our projects

International projects National projects Local projects

VIP Romania and Youth in Action

DINU MIHAELA IONESCU MIHAI VARUTOIU MIRUNA AMARIE MONICA NEAGU PETRA NEGRU RADU CIUBOTARU SIMONA MARCU SIMONA STEFANESCU STEFAN IORGULESCU TUDOR TROF VERONICA PREOTU VICTOR TEIOSANU ADINA IACOB ADINA MARINCEA ALEXANDRA NASTASE ALEXANDRU NEAGU ALIN BEG ALINA MORARU ANA MARTINOVICI ANAMARIA BOIOGLU ANDREEA BICU ANGHEL NEGRIU AURAS GEAMBASU CARMEN NAIDIN CLAUDIA LANGA CORINA BRATU CRISTINA MOISE DANA COTOROBAI DENIS GOREA DINU GRIGORE

Romania

“Few regions offer a more dazzling display of cultural and artistic treasures than Romania.” (Smithsonian Journeys) Romania offers a rich tapestry of tourist attractions and experiences unique in Central-Eastern Europe: medieval towns in Transylvania, the world-famous painted Monasteries in Bucovina, traditional villages in Maramureş, the magnificent architecture of Bucharest, the romantic Danube Delta, fairy-tale castles, the Black Sea resorts, the majestic Carpathian Mountains, spas and much more.

Attractions in Romania SIBIU – European Capital of Culture In 2007, Sibiu was the European Capital of Culture (along with Luxembourg). It was the most important cultural event in the city’s history and a great number of tourists were expected, both domestic

Volunteers for Ideas and Projects www.vipromania.ro

and foreign. The city of Sibiu and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas in Romania. It holds one of the best preserved historical sites in the country, many of its medieval fortifications having been kept in excellent state. The Sibiu area has many important museums, with 12 institutions housing art collections, paintings, and exhibits in decorative arts, archaeology, anthropology, history, industrial archeology and history of technology and natural sciences. The Danube Delta - paradise among the waters The Danube has, for over ten millennia, carved the third largest delta in Europe - after the deltas of Volga and Kuban - and the 22nd in the world. A corner full of mistery, the Daube Delta brings together approximately 300 species of birds, 160 species of fish and 1,200 species of plants, trees and bushes on 5,640 sq. kilometres.

DINU MIHAELA IONESCU MIHAI VARUTOIU MIRUNA AMARIE MONICA NEAGU PETRA NEGRU RADU CIUBOTARU SIMONA MARCU SIMONA STEFANESCU STEFAN IORGULESCU TUDOR A TROF VERONICA PREOTU VICTOR TEIOSANU ADINA IACOB ADINA MARINCEA ALEXANDRA NASTASE ALEXANDRU NEAGU ALIN BEG ALINA MORARU ANA MARTINOVICI ANAMARIA BOIOGLU ANDREEA BICU ANGHEL NEGRIU AURAS GEAMBASU CARMEN NAIDIN CLAUDIA LANGA CORINA BRATU CRISTINA MOISE DANA COTOROBAI DENIS GOREA DINU GRIGORE

A fragile paradise, the Delta has numerous areas that were declared natural reservations and included on the United Nations’ list of natural monuments. Dracula’s Castle - The Legend In 1897 Bram Stoker wrote a terrifying story about Count Dracula. A century after, there are still people who believe in it. Even researchers are trying to find out the truth about Dracula. All are trying to clear the mystery: was there or wasn’t there a vampire in Transylvania? How many of these fabulous stories are legends and how many say the truth ? Here is the legend about Dracula: Stoker’s story is based on the life of Vlad Ţepeş/Vlad the Impaler (14311476), a ruler revered by Romanians for standing up to the Ottoman Empire. Known as one of the most dreadful enemies of the Turks, Vlad started organizing the state and enforcing the law by applying the death penalty and impaling all those

he considered enemies: robbers, cunning priests, treacherous noblemen, beggars. In fact he fought against everybody who tried to replace him either with his step brother Vlad the Monk or with his cousin Dan the Young. Historians named him Vlad Ţepeş while people named him Count Dracula because he used to sign with his father’s name, Dracul (The Devil). Dracula is derived from the Romanian word for devil or dragon. Dracula’s Castle was built on the edge of the Bran pass and nowadays attracts tourists who wish to see the legend of the Count Dracula for themselves. Bucharest - city of contrasts Bucharest is a city that cannot be treated with indifference. Houses covered with ivy discreetly survive in the shadow of a neo-classic buildings, daring sky-lines and cutting-edge architecture. The elegance of an old small church, ornamented with stucco works,

Romania

blackened by smoke and time, opposes the steel and windows of skyscrapers. With a population of almost two million inhabitants, Bucharest is the most important Romanian city. Its culture results from a mixture of Eastern and Western European influences, with art galleries and nightlife pulsing in clubs and casinos, a unique experience for any tourist.

Figures of Romanian culture Constantin Brâncuşi (1876–1957) Romanian sculptor whose works defined modern concepts of form in sculpture, painting and industrial design. His masterpieces include: “The Infinite Column” (Coloana Infinitului), the” Kiss Gate” (Poarta Sărutului) and the “Table of Silence” (Masa Tăcerii). All of them can be visited in Târgu Jiu (aprox. 350 km from Bucharest)

Volunteers for Ideas and Projects www.vipromania.ro

Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) Writer and philosopher who became known as an encyclopedic spirit always seeking the true nature of the individual. At the age 21, he set out to see India, where he studied Sanskrit, yoga and Indian philosophy. His PhD was entitled: “Yoga: an essay on the origins of the Indian mysticism”, the first exhaustive study on yoga written by a Westerner. Eugen Ionesco (1912-1994) Father of absurd theatre, a true innovator of dramatic techniques. His works render his vision on the individual’s struggle to survive in a society that isolates and alienates people. Some of his famous works are: “The Lesson” (Lecţia), The “Chairs” (Scaunele) and “The Rhinoceros” (Rinocerul).

Nadia Elena Comăneci (born November 12, 1961) She is a Romanian gymnast, winner of five Olympic gold medals, and the first gymanast ever to receive a perfect score in an Olympic gymnastic event. She is one of the best-known gymnasts in the world and, along with Olga Korbut, is credited with popularizing the sport around the world.

“No journey to Eastern Europe would be complete without paying a visit to Romania… Outstanding landscapes, a huge diversity of wildlife…” (The Rough Guide)

VIP Romania as we know it!

“Back in 1998 a handful of students wanted to make a difference. They wanted to learn more than what college could teach them, they wanted to help others learn more and above all they wanted to work together to make a difference. And so Volunteers for Ideas and Projects was born. Starting small with a summer school they worked harder and harder, added new members to the team and brick by brick built VIP into what it is today: one of the best student NGO’s in Romania. As members of VIP we all take pride in our projects, our values and, above all, our organization. Whether we are part of one of the 6 departments or of one of our two clubs we enjoy working in VIP, each of us giving their best to make sure we are the best. We strive to make our projects as varied as they are interesting, projects which reflect our areas of interest. We have projects for those who are barely starting and need a

Volunteers for Ideas and Projects www.vipromania.ro

helping hand (Personal Develoment School). We have projects for those who are already on their way to success (Impact Marketing School, Good 2 Go, Economics through a Macrofying Glass), and projects for those who have already achieved it (Student of the Year, XXI st Century Romania - Summer School, Investment School). We have come a long way since 1998 because now we don’t work together to make a difference - together we are the difference. Together we are stronger. “ Gabriela Radu - Alumnus VIP

VIP Romania - General aspects

Volunteers for Ideas and Projects is an organization composed 100% of students enrolled in the Academy of Economic Studies, the University of Bucharest, the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, Spiru Haret University and the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. Every year, VIP organizes over 10 programs and projects for personal and professional development dedicated to university and master students. VIP Romania benefits from the support of companies, mass-media and Romanian officials.

VIP departments are:

The national VIP network includes the most important university centers in Romania: Bucharest, Iasi, Timisoara, Cluj, Brasov, Sibiu, Craiova, Oradea, Constanta and Pitesti.

Econosofia is addressed to students who plan on (re)discovering the fields of economics, policy making and financial markets.

Internal Structure Volunteers for Ideas and Projects encompasses the activity of six departments and two clubs: Business Club and Econosofia.

• • • • • •

Human Resources Public Relations External Affairs Marketing Sales Financial

VIP Romania Clubs For those students interested in business or economics our organization has developed two clubs: Business Club and Econosofia.

Business Club is a community which brings together the representatives of the national and international business environment and students who are passionate about this field, encouraging the spirit of initiative and entrepreneurship.

Our projects

International projects Intercultural Communication The project focused on intercultural communication and learning, which suited the activities to be held under the wing of this year’s European topic: ”European year of Equal Opportunities”. The location chosen for the project was not accidentally: Sibiu was the Cultural European Capital in 2007. Romania, France, Germany and Finland began their collaboration in 2004 in France. In 2007, Romania ended this series of 4 projects. International Entrepreneurship Week This project was held in Bucharest The concept of the project – entrepreneurship - has been discussed in more than 10 projects during the last 8 years, with different aspects debated by our members and participants

Volunteers for Ideas and Projects www.vipromania.ro

The aim was to offer the participants valuable insight on entrepreneurial issues and an international perspective on conducting business in 4 different countries

National projects

• Impact Marketing School • XXIst Century Romania - Summer School • Student of the Year Awards • Good to Go

Local projects • Get BRANDed • Business School • Investment School • Economics through a Macrofying Glass • Econosofia Debate Sessions • Personal Development School

VIP Romania and Youth in Action

In 2005 we developed a new department: External Affairs, whose aim is to find, and build partnerships with, Youth NGOs all over to word. This department was created because the organization reched a point where an international dimension was not only possible but also beneficial to our activity Since 2005, we have created a strong connection with Youth NGOs all over Europe. Therefore, we have travelled and change experience with organizations from: • Armenia • Azerbaidjan • Bulgaria • Germany • France • Finland • Italy • Latvia • Macedonia • Poland • Slovenia • Spain • Turkey

If you are a member of a youth NGO with initiative, ideas and searching for intercultural experience and cross border friends, do contact us! We are opened to partnerships all over the world!

Volunteers for Ideas and Projects

Telephone: +40 748 243 077 Fax: +40 0213 121 682 Website: www.vipromania.ro E-mail: rex@vipromania.ro