FAST: chronological timeline 1998-2018 by Rețeaua CAN Brașov

FAST Activity Report 1998 - 2018 FAST was established by Daniel and Ema Hristea in 1998 with the vision of helping the disadvantaged people in Romania in their fight against poverty and discrimination. Present Board of Trustees:

Chronological Highlights:

Daniel Hristea President

Ruxandra Oprică Vicepresident

Viorel Călin Advisor

1998 – constitution papers and establishment as a new Registered Charity in Romania 1999 – educational and recreational activities in various orphanages in Brasov 2000 – social events, building local supporters, activities with the elderly 2001 – establishment of an educational centre in Sacele: Kidland 2002 – educational activities for the Roma children in nearby villages Zizin and Tarlungeni 2003 – establishment of Roma Kindergarten in Zizin: Cinderella 2004 – building a Day Centre for the Roma School in Tarlungeni 2005 – starting the construction of a large educational Centre in Sacele: New Day 2006 – setting up the Community Aid Network for the NGOs in the county in Brasov 2007 – starting Better Homes Project, improving living conditions for families & children at risk 2008 – governmental accreditation as a social service provider in community development 2009 – finishing the construction of New Day Educational Centre for youth and children at risk 2010 – visits to the UK, making long-term relations with friends and sponsors internationally 2011 – Mission House and soup-kitchen for the Roma children in Tarlungeni: Muriel’s Kitchen 2012 – starting a social enterprise: carpentry workshop in Zizin 2013 – establishment of Integration Centre in Sacele 2014 - Multimedia for Livelihoods, youth project starts in the Integration Centre 2015 - construction work starts for the Vocational Training Centre 2016 - Ziurel building is given back to the local town hall for a social services agency 2017 - official opening of the Vocational Training Centre 2018 – FAST is oficially certified as a social entreprise according to Romanian legislation Fundatia pentru Asistenta Sociala si Tineret Foundation for Social Assistance and Youth Sacele 505600 Cod Fiscal 11216671 Bd. George Moroianu. Nr. 17 Nr. Inregistrare 71/1998 Judetul Brasov, Romania Tel/Fax 0268-274365 email: fastromania@gmail.com web: www.fastromania.eu

Year 1998 – Establishment of FAST. The birth date of FAST is September 16th 1998. Registration number: 71/1998 Fiscal Code: 11216671 Mission: To help the disadvantaged people in Romania in their fight against poverty and discrimination. Year 1999 – programs for children in orphanages. To answer the specific needs of the time, FAST supports local orphanages with educational activities, material help, computer classes and donations of computers, clothing and food. Budget for the year: 2,750 EUR.

Food for street children

Recreational activities

Computer lessons in orphanages

Year 2000 – aid distribution, programs for the elderly. In 2000 FAST diversifies its activities by bringing and distributing humanitarian aid from abroad and by engaging in various occupational programs for the elderly. Budget for the year: 4,800 EUR.

Support from Deutsche Post

Programs for the elderly

Singing with us, at 90 years old

Year 2001 – Kidland Educational Centre. In collaboration with local company Electroprecizia and Town Hall of Sacele, FAST engages in providing ongoing educational activities for the children in our area. Budget for the year: 8,700 EUR.

Non-formal educational activities

Logo of Kidland Centre

Fundatia pentru Asistenta Sociala si Tineret Foundation for Social Assistance and Youth Sacele 505600 Cod Fiscal 11216671 Bd. George Moroianu. Nr. 17 Nr. Inregistrare 71/1998 Judetul Brasov, Romania Tel/Fax 0268-274365 email: fastromania@gmail.com web: www.fastromania.eu

Engaging the teenagers

Year 2002 – educational activities for the Roma children. In 2002 FAST takes the first step towards helping the Roma communities in our area. The situation is overwhelming: lack of education, poor health and abject poverty. Budget for the year: 15,200 EUR.

First Roma village: Zizin

Homework support

Critical living conditions

Year 2003 – local Roma kindergarten Cinderella. With support from The Cleaford Christian Trust in the UK, FAST opens the Cinderella kindergarten in the Roma village Zizin. At present the kindergarten is fully taken on and all costs covered by the local school. Budget for the year: 19,320 EUR.

Preschool educational activities

Learning through playing

Cinderella becomes a Princess

Year 2004 – construction of Day Centre in Tarlungeni. With support from UK Charity Voluntary Design & Build, a brand new Day Centre is built in Roma community Tarlungeni, to serve over 100 children on a daily basis. Budget for the year: 61,580 EUR.

Planning together with VD&B

Wood donated by Local Council

Fully completed in 2007

Year 2005 – New Day Educational Centre Sacele. With a donation granted by The Cooperating Netherlands Foundations for Central and Eastern Europe and sustained support from the UK charity STEPS, a new educational centre in established for the disadvantaged children in Sacele. Budget for the year: 65,275 EUR.

Old boiler house given by Local Council

Fully finished by 2009

Activities with children since 2007

Year 2006 – Community Aid Network (CAN). FAST is playing an instrumental role in setting up the Community Aid Network, a project aiming to unite all the NGOs in the county of Brasov. At present 72 NGOs are members of CAN. Budget for the year: 112,720 EUR.

Meetings with NGO partners

Logo of CAN

CAN coordinator, Ruxi Oprica

Year 2007 – Better Homes Project. Improving the living conditions for the children in Roma communities becomes critically urgent. With the sustained support of QP Baptist Church in Glasgow and The Cleaford Christian Trust, between 2007-2013 FAST helps 49 families rebuild their homes and their hopes. Budget for the year: 113,580 EUR.

Old home

New home

Working with local Roma builders

Year 2008 – governmental accreditation. Demonstrating consistency, determination and professionalism, FAST is officially recognized by the Romanian government as one of the main social service providers in the area, specializing in community development. Budget for the year: 104,320 EUR.

Approaching Roma village Garcini

FAST – a social service provider

Promoting Roma culture

Year 2009 – consolidation and development. New Day Educational Centre is now officially open. Team grows to 9 fulltime members of staff. Volunteers from all over the world come to work with FAST on regular basis. Budget for the year: 129,500 EUR.

Team grows to 9 staff members

Grand opening of New Day Centre

Regular volunteers from abroad

Year 2010 – UK Appreciation Tour. Daniel & Ema visit our supporters abroad to discuss future collaboration. As a result of this visit, our friends and volunteers in England decide to open a sister organisation called FAST UK. Budget for the year: 144,760 EUR.

UK Appreciation Tour

www.fastcharity.co.uk

DHL UK supports children’s camp

Year 2011 – Mission House and soup-kitchen for the Roma children in Tarlungeni. Mission House is built with support coming from our friends in the UK. In memory of his lovely wife, Dean Johnson sponsors the soup kitchen and the children in Tarlungeni can now enjoy a warm meal each day - Muriel’s Kitchen. Budget for the year: 127,500 EUR.

Mission House in Tarlungeni

Muriel’s Kitchen

More help from volunteers

Year 2012 – carpentry workshop in Zizin. After winning a 16,000 EUR Award in 2011, FAST decides to start a social enterprise in Zizin. The carpentry workshop was built in George’s yard, for self-sustainability purposes. Budget for the year: 125,840 EUR.

Carpentry Workshop in Zizin

Vocational training in the village

Proud of their work

Year 2013 – Integration Centre. Local Council in Sacele provides a modern facility for educational activities serving children coming from disadvantaged families. Roma, Romanian and Hungarian children find that they are all the same. Budget for the year: 105,370 EUR.

Integration Centre

International Erste Award

Children together

Year 2014 – Multimedia for Livelihoods, Youth Project. A dedicated team of 2 employees and 4 volunteers provides appropriate resources and communication tools for Roma and non-Roma youth, who are empowered through hands-on multimedia training to improve their skills and become both leaders to their peers and positive role models for the entire community. Budget for the year: 151.531 EUR.

Local events

Group meetings

IT courses

Year 2015 – Windows to the Future. Over the following years, FAST intends to establish a large Vocational Training Centre with the aim to equip 350 disadvantaged children and youth each year with skills and confidence for a successful career. The location is a derelict building provided by the Local Council. Budget for the year: 181.042 EUR.

An old disused building provided by the Local Council

Interiors of the building

Year 2016 – Work in progress on our largest construction site. Things are moving forward with our new premises, the first training centre in our town. Throughout the year, volunteers from abroad get involved in teaching various skills to children from the Integration Centre. Mission House develops its mother-toddler support programme. Budget for the year: 382,893 EUR.

Ready and willing to start construction training

Toddler activities in Tărlungeni and workshops in Săcele

Year 2017 –Vocational Training Centre is ready to start its work! After its official opening in October 2017, the centre took on the name “ZIUREL” and welcomed students, teachers, volunteers and friends from abroad also. The whole space has been equiped for a variety of workshops: construction, mechanics, carpentry, craft design and technology, multimedia, kitchen & hospitality, hairsdressing. All with the support of our friends from Velux Foundations, ERSTE Foundation, FAST Uk and Bolton at Home. Budget for the year: 345,219 EUR.

Outside building

Close teacher – student relationship

Year 2018 – Ziurel Bed & Breakfast welcomes its first public guests. This year represents a whole new beginning for FAST as legal paper work and documents have been registered so that we can open our own company, through which we can operate economic activities. Its profit would therefore support our social and educational programmes, aiming to become sustainable on the long term. Budget for the year: 307,029 EUR.

Ziurel reception and breakfast area

Single and double occupancy rooms, all ensuite