Newsletter June 2019

Dear colleagues from Humana,

Spring passed by us and left us with beautiful experiences and achievements. Now we are preparing for summer, customers are relaxed, and is good energy around. We wish you to have a time of joy, both personal and at work.

In this newsletter you will find out about the Humana projects starting with this year, the trip to India at the end of 2018, Peace Conference in Denmark and the experience of the young Andreea in Botswana.

Achievements of the beginning of 2019 for HUMANA People to People Romania

Year 2019 began with great projects! We opened two new HUMANA stores in the same city: Piteşti. Both are located in commercial galleries and have a modern design. We are glad that our team is expanding, and we want to have dedicated people close aboard.

Auchan Bradu store in Pitesti is 272m2 and Auchan Găvana has an area of 865m2 -in this shop, customers enjoy a relaxing space where they can serve coffee and besides the multitude of clothing, shoes and accessories, they can enjoy a department with original household items that can change the banal look of a home.

At the end of February, the beginning of March, the event White Night of Sales took place. It enjoyed success, the queues at some shops reaching the entrance door. Discounts of 50%, respectively 30% for exclusive items, took place between 18.00 and 21.00 p.m. White Night of Sales brought 4,926 customers to stores and sold over 19,000 items.

Another event that we gladly remember is Children Day. The offer for May 31 and June 1 consisted of a free article on the purchase of an article from children's or toy’s section. Humana stores have also provided children with balloons, candy and coloring books. The teams in the shops enjoyed the kids with smiles and nice atmosphere on a sunny day.

Projects in INDIA

Our colleagues visited Humana India in 2018 when the company celebrated 20 years birthday. In 1998 Humana India started with one Community Development project in Rajastan, one of many districts in India, with 7 employees reaching 2 400 people in need. Until 2018, HPPI has implemented 74 projects across whole India from which benefitting around 2 million people in 2017 and 2018.

Rodica Bulăceanu, comercial manager: The journey to India has been one that changed my vision of life in so many ways. I am grateful and I feel lucky and proud that I was part of this project and I had the opportunity to discover a new world, a world of contrasts, with good and bad ones, of which we had so much to learn. We had the opportunity to visit Humana People to People India in 2018 when they celebrate 20 years of birthday.

We had the opportunity to visit almost all types of projects that HPP India is doing and I was impressed by the impact that they have on people's lives. Participation in a project changes the trajectory of a child's or a woman's life.

Now I really understand the importance of work that each of us is doing in this organization and how important we are to help achieve great goals.

I was also more than impressed to discover the Indian culture, amazing buildings and places I knew only from movies, smiling and nice people and, of course, spicy but tasty food.

Thank you so much Humana People to People that you have made this trip a reality!

Corina Dragomir, shop manager Ploiesti: I've been working in Humana since 2011.

We have discovered that India is a country where the customs of the modern world are in harmony with the tradition of people marked by spirituality and positive energy.

The inhabitants' lifestyle, hospitality and respect that they have shown throughout the entire project make India a fascinating country.

 We spent a wonderful week with great people in incredible locations, giving us the opportunity to see the 5 great projects supported by HPP in India: Education; Health, Environmental Sustainability, Livelihood and Community Development and Microfinance. The presentation of the projects was made at the same time as visits to certain historical places, as well as traditional cities: Jaipur, Pink City, Dausa, Mathera, Nathupur, New Delhi. During this visit, I discovered the daily effort that these people make, engaging in projects. The curiosity and affection of the groups we met during this visit have shown us that little things make the difference and that Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

 It is impossible for me to express in words the many experiences and feelings born on this journey. Personally, I enjoyed every moment I was on Indian soil. I will never forget the daily emotions we lived when we went to school to met children, teachers, women, farmers and all the people known during this period.

Mariana Flutur, shop manager Galati : INDIA .... Magnificent and Wonderful India.

 For me, my childhood India was the India of movies, music and dance. Can you imagine how many days I stayed in the house and lived with Indian movies? You can not. And how many dreams I've made, that I will once visit India.

Then, in maturity, India in my imagination embodies misery, poverty, lack of education. A great contrast, richness and poverty, agony and ecstasy. Still, I still wanted to see it. Who? Her, Magnificent India.

And as nothing is accidental, my fate has led me at Humana People To People. This is now for me India: People for People. The desire to offer from your knowledge, from your material and spiritual experiences to less favored by fate. The desire to help them rise up, progress, so that they can offer the same further.

India, beautiful, simple, warm, gentle, kind, smiling. That's how I met this country. With warm and devoted people involved in many projects, along with Humana People To People India.

Thank you, Humana Peolple To People Romania, that through you I saw what it means to give, to help, to raise small people to become great people. I have realized what Humana means in the world ..... one human, two humans, more humans gathered for all the people. Namaste Humana Romania and India.

Peace and Justice Conference in Denmark 10-12 May 2019

The Peace Conference takes place every year at the Tvind International School Center in Ulfborg, Denmark. 3 days of interactive programs, speeches and workshops. Main themes of this year were: Global Perspectives, Humanity in Action and Open Future.

One of the guests was Ron Ridenour, a journalist and author from America. He rejected the American Dream in 1961, and has since acted as an anti-war, solidarity and radical activist. He has lived and worked in many countries, also for Cuba’s Editorial Jose Marti and Prensa Latina (1988-96).

Jesper Wohlert, Director European Partnership at Humana People to People speech about peace was to inform about the scope and type of activities which are carried out by the member organizations of Humana People to People. He’s presentation analyzed in which ways HPP programs and projects address underlying causes of conflict and develop the capacity to address conflict. Both two approaches are recognized as part of peacebuilding.

Trine Wendelboe is Director for One World Center in Dowagiac, Michigan, USA and her speech was about the movements in the USA and why collective forces are needed for another world. ‘I think knowledge and understanding about smaller and bigger issues in our lives and in the world are important preconditions for setting the directions for our actions leading to a better future for the planet and people.’

They were more guests and each of them presented unique experiences and meaningful lessons.

Testimonials:

Helle Christensen, country manager: What has impresed me the most was the good preparation and all the young people energy. I’m sure that they will use this as a base to take part of improving this world for the better.

Emilia Tranca, human resources manager: I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the conference. I met wonderful people, whose actions can change the world for us and for the next generations. Definitely a location and a special event that motivates you not to stand out and want to get involved.

Iancu Patricia, marketing specialist: It was a pleasure to listen to extraordinary people who think outside the ego and have decided to fight for communities in need of help. I am impressed by the structure of the school, the programs this school offers.

The Necessary Teacher Training College prepares teachers who are fighting the real challenges of today's times. This non-traditional educational program sends you in the world where the help is needed and teaches you to apply the methods you learn in the courses. Talking with the young people at the conference, I discovered their ardor to go to Africa, India, or places where systems are deficient and implement ways to help them grow. For me, these young people are a life lesson. To give up to ordinary desires and comfort of routine for others is a sign of much courage and force.

I also loved the wooden houses on the campus, the tasty food prepared by the students, the art and meditation workshops during the Conference. I’m grateful for this experience and proud to be part of Humana People to People.

Loredana Asandulesei, shop manager Piatra Neamț: I was very happy to be part of this wonderful team. A unique experience, which I will love to remember. I have known so many people, so different as culture, religion, etc., and I am grateful to them for helping me appreciate more of what I have today. This conference has had a very strong impact on me, thinking that I can do a lot of things and that I have much more resources than other people do. I realized I must cherish my chances and can give out more of what I have.

Romanian Volunteer in Botswana

Andreea (22, Timisoara) followed the studies of One World Institute college in Norway, based on Worldwide Cooperation and Development. Here she accepted the challenge of volunteering in underdeveloped countries, in collaboration with Humana People to People. She was part of an educational project, "Child Aid", in Botswana, where she managed to make progress in rural schools in the African community. Her greatest desire is to continue collaborating, supporting the community education and development.

Andreea’s testimony

Africa has shown me that there are millions of reasons for which I deserve to be grateful. It has been a continuous process of development, both for me and for the African community I have been part of for 6 months.

The opportunity was given to me by the One World Institute college in Norway, where I joined the Fighting with the Poor program. Here I have accessed the level of information needed to develop future projects in Africa. I participated in seminars, workshops and courses on real problems found in underdeveloped countries, how to implement a project and how to get favorable results. Of course, the travels made through Europe and Asia have provided me with a wide range of useful information that I have successfully applied.

With passion for culture and education, I chose 'Child Aid' project in Botswana, a project in a small town in the north of the country, Selebi-Phikwe. Here, the African community suffers financial degradation due to the closure of the largest source of income - the BCL mine. People are using now more than ever the services offered by the Humana People to People's Child Aid Project, which offer government-recognized training such as IT, tailoring, agriculture and business management. All these sectors are important sources of information for those who want to change their living standards, and fortunately, more and more people are taking advantage of this opportunity.

My role in the 'Child Aid' project was to improve the level of education and to actively be involved into the community work. From the beginning I participated in local events that gave me an authentic perspective on African lifestyle. I met important community representatives and personalities, analyzed the needs of the inhabitants and struck the action plan for the next 6 months.

Because of the need to cover as many school and community activities as possible, I created the "We grow together" program to support our actions: The Teachers Training Club brought new volunteers to ensure a good education for the children of Selebi - Phikwe. Together with each volunteer I created a plan of activities, usually based on the talents of everyone: drawing, theater, dance, sports, mathematics, etc., and they now have weekly classes with children. "Clean up your closet" has meant collecting clothes, shoes, educational materials, and food for underprivileged families. All goods were collected at the center, selected and then distributed. Thus, I succeeded in mobilizing an entire community to support each other and to learn, as well as the recycling model. I initiated an online fundraising project, from which we managed to buy basic hygiene products, so at the regular meetings with parents we also provided a personal care package. I created a club of music lovers and we refurbished the musical instruments specific to that region, marimba, so children can perform actively and attending cultural events. One of the greatest achievements was the creation of a community network with international influence. More and more people are informed about our projects and support development movements.

The project "We grow together" has meant a substantial development for the community and the future of the children. Now I can observe reciprocity and constant support among people, a common desire to improve the present and hope for a better future!

The project ‘’Child Aid’’ in Botswana has given me a unique experience and a far more prosperous future. I was pleasantly surprised to see how an entire community is mobilizing itself and acting together for a better living, which inspired and motivated me to support this change. I returned home with new ideas on my future, I learned how to be more gracious and grateful. I would repeat this experience endlessly and I'm sure every time I have something new to learn.

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