Remembering 20 years of Familia AMURTEL!
“Twenty years, it was hard but it was worth it,” said Mirela Birla, director of the Familia AMURTEL home. “To get up every time that you fall down, to blossom with each obstacle overcome” has been a motto that motivates all of those that have dedicated themselves with devotion and commitment to children at the home.
Saturday, September 19 2015, AMURTEL Romania celebrated 20 years of dedicated work in Panatau, Romania at the Familia AMURTEL home. Seventy guests joined the children and young adults that grew up in Familia AMURTEL and our team, including representatives from the local authorities, the highschool, the Verein Kinderheim Panatau association from Swtizerland, clients of the AMURTEL Bio Garden, Morningstar Holistic Center and other partners.
The Familia AMURTEL home was founded 20 years ago, and brought Cornelia Fischer, a nurse from Switzerland, who would later become known affectionately as “Mommy” to Romania especially for this purpose. Moved by the situation of the children in state institutions, Cornelia ended up deciding to dedicate her life to creating and running a loving, creative home for abandoned children. In the meantime, the Association has continued to diversify its activities which currently include an after-school center “Fountain of Hope” and a social enterprise “AMURTEL Bio Garden”.
The ceremony was opened by Cornelia “Mommy” Fischer, the host of the event and the initiator of the project, followed by other collaborators, including the current director of Familia AMURTEL home, representatives of the project’s main Swiss donor organization ‘Verein Kinderheim Panatau”, Nicoleta Albu, director of the highschool in Patirlagele, who congratulated the team for way that they have raised the children and given them responsibility.
Local officials, including Corina Braniste, representing the child protection department of Buzau, Roxana Visan and Vasilica Stoica, on the behalf of the Panatau townhall, Dr. Aurelia Diaconescu, the local doctor also participated and spoke.
The day began at the children’s home in Panatau, which was festively decorated and where different snacks were offered. The children were the protagonists of an impressive artistic piece which they improvised with characteristic flair and the creative encouragement of Mommy. Each young person had the chance to shine on the stage – demonstrating their talents and courage to perform in public and allowing us to get to know them better. The oldest ones, now adults, shared their successes in integrating in adult life, while the younger ones talked about their plans for the future. Those who also were responsible for so many miracles – the AMURTEL Panatau team, also presented themselves on stage, as well as sponsors, local partners, donors and friends of the association.
The day continued at the Fountain of Hope after-school center where a slideshow of 20 years of memories was displayed – bringing laughter and tears to the eyes of many present.
The day ended at the Valea Lupului hotel, a new business project of Cornelia Fischer, where we were invited to a meal and where she performed a spontaneous puppet show in Swiss German and Romanian – assisted by some of our children, now experts in foreign languages. She organized a tour of the hotel and surroundings. Some of the guests also visited the organic farm in Poieni, which produces food for the Familia AMURTEL home and serves 35 clients in Bucharest.
After a day full of emotions and suprises, everyone returned home with joy in their hearts.