“There are always flowers for those who want to see them” – Henri Matisse

Dear friends and partners,

We are writing you in this awakening time of the year when we celebrate Easter.

We are four European Solidarity Corps volunteers – Marina, Marina, Margarida, Cristian – at YMCA Romania, in Baia Mare, serving together in the project “Building stronger communities”, involving youth work, activities related to SDGs, social inclusion programs with Rroma and vulnerable communities and other community programs.

Spring has arrived and we feel more connected to each other and to everything that surrounds us. As we are working at the YMCA, we are grateful for the sounds of the birds coming through the window, for the warm wind swaying the trees and for the sun’s warmth that is putting a smile on our face.

In these difficult times, we value the little things like going out for lunch in a restaurant or grabbing a coffee, doing outreach youth work in vulnerable communities, hiking and discovering Romanian sights …we are doing our best to adapt to the situation being more creative and resilient, getting motivated and inspired by the impact and results that we are creating in solidarity with the communities.

Everyone deserves an Easter egg with as much sweetness as the chocolate.

Happy Easter!