AIDA|About us

Welcome on Alternatives - Sustainable Initiatives Associations’ page! AIDA is an education oriented organisation born from the determination and passion of a group of young people who put their knowledge, financial resources and time in the service of an idea in which they devotedly believe.

You are invited to take a few minutes on this page for a better understanding of what AIDA means.

Welcome to our NGO's page!

ABOUT US

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What is AIDA?

AIDA or the Alternatives - Sustainable Initiatives Associations is a non-governmental organisation, non-profit, set up on 29th of May 2009 to actively contribute to the sustainable development of the community in which it functions. AIDA has its headquarters in Buzau and another 3 branches in Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest and Arad, all of them being easily identifiable with the fiscal registration code 25657937.

AIDA functions on the social economy principles and its main field of interest is education.

The association works for children and youth and supports adults who work with them through different specific programmes.

What does AIDA do?

AIDA is a project-based organisation. Up until the autumn of 2013, our team has implemented over 30 projects in different educational areas, from trainings and various projects focused on informal education for young people, to long-lasting development educational projects, social-cultural animation projects and art and culture projects.

Starting with the month of October 2013 AIDA will be implementing projects on only 3 wide areas: school projects for children and youth, personal developments and training projects and social-cultural animation camps.

However AIDA will remain open to partnerships and invitations from other institutions, organisations or even individuals. For partnerships please consult the Contact page.

What is AIDA's mission?

Our mission is to contribute to the improvement of Durable Development Education in Romania and to the sustainable improvement of the communities in which it functions through the implementation of educational projects, trainings, personal development and through civic implication.

What are our values and principles?

In AIDA we base our work on a series of values and principles. In our organisation they are even more present as time goes by and we hope that they are noticeable also on the outside of our team as they are the ones guiding us in our projects and partnerships.

Values:

Transparency: in what we do, motivation and resources.
Professionalism: everything we do is guided by the constant wish of getting the best results, with high personal impact, low costs and without damages to the environment.
Respect: towards diversity, animals, nature, natural resources, organisation’s resources, people and humanity.
Solidarity: in team and community we support each other and we progress together.

Principles:

Volunteering has as main elements learning and personal and professional development.
Intercultural learning is an opportunity which we will always be fond of.
Learning by doing is a principle of all AIDA projects and of the volunteering programme itself.
Experimental learning is a principle of all AIDA projects and of the volunteering programme itself.
Project-based learning and situation-based learning are at the core of AIDA initiatives for each and every community in which we engage in our activities.

Who is AIDA?

Sinziana Buliga She graduated in “Environmental Science” and has an MSc in “The management of natural resources in the context of sustainable development”. She teaches English to children and she has participated in a number of national and international youth projects during the last 3 years. She loves her country and relaxes while reading. She entered AIDA in the autumn of 2012. In AIDA she is the President and the coordinator of ODD project, non-formal education facilitator and animator.	Sonia Donca-Bercuci PHD in Educational Sciences at the University of Bucharest, MA degree in “Social work and social economy” and “Communication, society and mass-media” at “Babes-Bolyai” University from Cluj-Napoca, graduated in Pedagogy at the University of Bucharest. She is a Youth in Action trainer in the National Pool of Trainers, a social-cultural animator (2004) and intern animator in France (2011). Sonia is passionate about learning, education and Africa. She is FR Officer and Learning Manager of AIDA.	Simina Tureac Vice president, specialist PR & Marketing, project writing and coordinator, youth worker. Founder member of AIDA because she can actively involve in the community, to spread the values of education for sustainable development, to work non formal with youngsters. She like good books and movies, travelling and nature. She dreams to work in the field on international assistance for development.
Florina Stefan undergraduate at the University of Bucharest at the faculty of “Psychology and Education Sciences”, specialised in Pedagogy. She is passionate about animation, theatre, DIY (handmade) activities, children, ponies and dreams about being a children parties’ organizer. She has been working in AIDA ever since 2009 and she is in charge of animation projects and ODD.	Nadia Al-Sagban She is a 2nd year student at the University of Essex, studying Law and Human Rights. She is a convinced vegetarian and she loves animals as much as she loves music festivals and volunteering. Her dream is to live for a few months in at least 5 countries until the age of 30. She has been working in AIDA since 2011 and at the time being she is a member and in charge of Human Resources.	Voicu Rob Voicu is a graduated from the The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, specialised in Industrial Robots and hired as mechanical engineer. Among his hobbies are technology, literature and sports. He dreams about having his own business which will help him support a different type of orphanage. He has been a volunteer since 2012 and active member of AIDA since 2013. He is a member and responsible for visual identity and promotional AIDA products for projects.
Mihaella Ion She is a PhD, editor and art critic after graduating from an undergraduate program and two masters in the field. Also she is an art gallery manager in Bucharest, PR Atelierul Magazine and president of the Atelierul de Creatie Association. In AIDA she is a member since 2010.	Raluca Gruia She graduated from “International Studies” faculty and currently psychology student, project manager on ODD project in AIDA Cluj. She was born when she felt like she had to send a message. Although not very talkative she is energetic, optimistic and always smiling. She proclaims her job is to be volunteering.	Catalina Bordianu She is certified in teaching children with special needs and educational project manager in AIDA. She thinks that animation is the daily dose of happiness and that she will always be an animator. She is creative, perseverant and open-minded.
Bianca Herescu Bianca is a high school student in her final year. She is really passionate about music and a volunteer in AIDA since 2012. In 2014 she coordinates the international project "ECO-citizenship".	Marta Neagu Student at Pedagogic High School “Spiru Haret” on the course of Animator-Instructor. She is full of life who loves to learn new things and a well developed sens of humor. She is passionate about animation and traveling and she wishes that in the future she will become a member of AIDA. She coordinates AIDA Animation Camps in 2014.	Mălina Andreea Student in the 10th grade at Pedagogic High School “Spiru Haret” in Buzău. She is very sociable, she adapts easily to different situations, she loves to sing, dance and spend time with kids. To teach them that through games thay can dis cover themselves, improve communication and to know themselves better. She loves working in the field of education both with kids and youngsters. In AIDA she coordinates ODD Ora De Dirigenție Buzău.
Gabi Spistyak After many volunteering adventures in different national organizations and trips around the world, Gabi arrived in AIDA in 2012 as a youth worker. In our association, he is responsible with video editing.	Elana Bratosin Student in the 10th grade at Pedagogic High School “Spiru Haret” in Buzău. She is passionate about education and music. She is a volunteer in AIDA since 2013.	Cristian Neagu Cristi is a 10th grade student in Spiru Haret Pedagogic High School Buzău. He is currently studying to be an animator. Cristi is part of the AIDA Buzău team, being involved with ODD Ora De Dirigenție and AIDA Animation Camps.