Windows to the Future: Every building has a story to tell

‌every building has a story to tell‌

Windows to the Future

1871

One of the oldest educational institutions in Sacele was the Superior Vocational School established on the 6th of November 1871

Sacele, located in the centre of Romania

1963

The Workshops

In 1963, during the communist regime, a new building was added to the original establishment: The Workshops. This new addition was going to serve as a skill centre for the students going to be employed in the large communist factories across the country

The Workshops

1989 Changes in Romania

The Anti-Communist Revolution in 1989, has brought many structural changes within the Romanian society, both the educational system and the labour market being massively affected

The large communist factories across the country closed down, leaving thousands of people unemployed and a massive number of students with very uncertain futures

2009 Unattended

Like many other old buildings in Romania, the Workshops stopped being used for educational purposes and were left unattended

By 2009, the Workshops have become totally disfunctional and in a very advanced state of disrepair

2013 A building with no future

Once a glorious building serving nearly two thousand students each year, the Workshops have become a disapointment to our community, a mere resemblence of times long past, a hopeless construction, with no future and a very sad story to tell

Municipality of Sacele A challenging mission

2014 Stepping out in faith

Local Council of Sacele decides to give FAST the free use of the Workshops, with the mandate of restoration and rehabilitation. We agreed to take on this mission, not really knowing where the funding would come from or how we were going to complete such a massive task

2015 A reassuring message

Unusual words found written on the rooftop of the building

With the support of the Velux Foundations, Erste Foundation and FAST friends from abroad, we decide to launch our biggest and most challenging project ever: Windows to the Future

WINDOWS TO THE FUTURE funded by

With the very kind support of the Erste Foundation and FAST friends from abroad

Lots of architecture plans

Andrew Bateman and family

PLANNING STAGE Our architect friends from Glasgow

Colin McIntyre

January 2015

Beniamin George Avram Ion Andrei

February 2015 In-house team

Avram

Andrei George

Thank you, Jay, Alison, Jodie & friends from St. Andrew’s (Gloucester, England) e And

March 2015

Our friends from abroad

Very grateful for the ongoing support provided by our many friends and volunteers from abroad Thank you, Barbara & Elsa (England)

Very special thanks to CAROM for supporting our apprenticeship program

Thank you, Bolton at Home & Bolton College

April 2015 Contractors

Site Manager and demolition man, Andrei Szakaci Iosif a

Our contracted workers have really enjoyed being part of the FAST team

Our friends from abroad: Thank you, Trinity Church School (Radstock, England)

Thank you, Sue & Sophie (London, England)

Linda Caton (Warrington, England) Thank you, Linda! Always happy to have to have you with us, teaching the art of sewing in the Training Centre

Thank you, Margaret & Judy and our friends at Tavistock Methodist Church Thank you, Nigel, Charlotte, Sarah, Mark, Tony, Becky, Ian, Sue, Helena, Mary, Keith and all the friends at Central Hall (Plymouth, England)

Thank you, QP and all our friends in Glasgow

A very big thank you to our friends in Farnham

May 2015 Demolition work

The old concrete floors had to be completely removed

All hands on deck

The demolition process was difficult, but we were able to save bricks and pipes for future use

Demolition work completed

June 2015 Digging

Connecting new gas, electricity, water and drains: a massive task

Old pipes replaced with new ones

July 2015 Access road

Vehicle access to the centre, a necessary investment

Access road completed

Our friends from abroad Helen & Della and the team from Barnwood Park Arts College (Gloucester, England) Thank you!

Thank you, Niall and team from Queens Park Baptist Church (Glasgow, Scotland)

Very many thanks to our Tasmanian friends for their repeated support throughout the years Thank you, Julie-Anne, Paul, Jack and the whole team

Thank you, Stacey and King’s Youth Team (Warrington, England)

August 2015 Structural reinforcement

New reinforced foundations

New interior drainage system

Reinforced concrete flooring and new pillars to sustain the upper floor

Structural reinforcement completed

Friends of FAST

Thank you, Andrew, Gille and team (Farnham, England)

Thank you, Joyce (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Thank you, Sarah & Ellen (Sheffield, England)

Thank you, Bolton at Home, Forrest and Bolton College (Bolton, England)

September 2015 Bricks and walls

Plasterboards and rendering

Interior walls completed

Equipment delivery – car elevator for the mechanics workshop

Window-making machinery

Window frames

October 2015 First visitors, our future students

Windows to the Future is envisaged to be an exemplary Vocational Training Centre aiming to equip young people with skills and confidence for a successful career

More friends of FAST: Jonathan & Beverly, Rodney, Kathy and Deana (Texas,USA) – Thank you! ;

Even more friends of FAST

Thank you, Mike & Jacqui Kelcey (Newcastle, England)

Kathy Mitchell (Radstock, England)

Thank you, Pam & Niall and Team from Queens Park Baptist Church (Glasgow, Scotland)

Thank you, David & Rhiannon (Warrington, England)

You’ll never walk alone! – GO LIVERPOOL!

Thank you, Phil & Jean (Plymouth, England)

Winter approaching ‌too early

Hope the weather gets better again so we can fit the windows and doors before winter

November 2015 All windows and doors are manufactured by our in-house team

WINDOWS & DOORS

Andrei Our window specialist

Windows and doors completed, just in time before winter

WELL DONE, FAST TEAM Thank you, Costina, Edy, Adriana and Liz for being part of the FAST team!

Thank you for your hard work and friendship throughout the years

December 2015 Inside work

January 2016 Brand new plumbing

February 2016 Wiring and Electrics

March 2016 Plastering, painting and tiling

April 2016 Friends of FAST

Thank you, Jay, Alison & friends from St. Andrews (Gloucester, England)

Thank you, Rob, Sue and family (London, England)

Thank you, Linda (Warrington, England)

Thank you, David and Hazel Menorca, Spain

May 2016 Mechanics Equipment

A batch of broken go-karts have to be fixed by our students

And some new equipment for those who behave

June 2016 More windows and doors

More Friends of FAST Thank you, Bolton at Home Bolton College Forrest

Thank you, Helen & Sarah and team, Barnwood Park Arts College (Gloucester, England)

Thank you, Pam, Elizabeth and Queen’s Park Baptist Church (Glasgow, Scotland)

July 2016

Thank you, Sarah, Darren & Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (Dartford, England)

August 2016 Scaffolding, insulation and rendering

September 2016 Flooring

October 2016 Friends of FAST

Thank you, Margaret, Nigel, Helena and Central Hall Methodist Church (Plymouth, England)

Thank you, Pam & Niall & all our friends at Queen’s Park (Glasgow, Scotland)

Thank you, Andrew, Morag, David, Tim, Emma, Claire, Jim, Lisa-Joy, Mary & all our friends at FAST UK (Farnham, England)

November 2016 Furniture and equipment

All furniture is made by George and our in-house team at FAST carpentry workshop in Zizin

Windows to the Future is aiming to support Roma youth in their efforts to acquire an education and start a career The Training Centre will provide hands-on, skill-building opportunities in various areas carpentry plumbing mechanics cosmetics catering computers tourism hospitality and more

December 2016 Students

Since it was established in 1998, FAST Foundation has gained valuable experience in the field of educational development and social integration of families and children at risk

Our projects improve living conditions for families in critical poverty situations, provide ongoing educational support to help children meet basic school requirements and create job opportunities for the young people in our area Founders of FAST charity, Daniel & Ema Hristea

January 2017 Before & after

Official opening of the Vocational Training Centre September 2017

Every building has a story to tell.

Our story is one about faith, perseverence and working together. If it wasn’t for Windows to the Future, the Workshops would have been demolished by now.

Instead, they were saved and our story goes on.

The next chapter is about people.

It is about hope, dreams and restoration of dignifying lives.

Become a Supporter of FAST, be part of the story and let’s write the next chapter together!

If you wish to become a Supporter of FAST, please contact Daniel & Ema at fastromania@gmail.com

Founder of FAST and Project Manager Daniel Hristea

www.fastromania.eu tel. +40 732 281 283