The Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland is delighted to report that Három Galamb in Romania is continuing to go from strength to strength, achieving a major milestone with the official opening of its new, purpose-built Day Centre on the 14th of May.
Három Galamb supports vulnerable young adults through meaningful work, therapeutic activities, and social care. The completion of the new Day Centre marks a significant step forward in the community’s vision to provide high-quality, person-centred support in a region where dedicated services for people with learning disabilities remain limited.
The Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland is privileged to have supported this inspiring project from its earliest stages. In 2020/21, a grant of £8,063 provided seed funding for the architectural design brief for the Day centre, helping to turn a long-held aspiration into a tangible plan. More recently, the Foundation awarded a further grant of £11,600 towards the construction of the new kitchen and the completion of the entrance gate.
The months leading up to the opening were focused on completing and furnishing the new building which has been thoughtfully designed around the needs of the young people who attend the centre. The spacious facility includes a craft room, therapy room, lounge, and quiet spaces, all filled with natural light from specially designed skylights and open ceilings. A covered porch extends the usable space for activities, meals, and social gatherings throughout the year. At the heart of the new building is the beautifully designed, fitted kitchen which has already become a vibrant centre for shared meals, baking, preserving and daily social life.
The centre has also benefited from generous donations of furniture, equipment, and materials. A contribution from Scotland provided everything from garden tools to craft supplies and household goods, while further support came through Alice and Gerrit Westerveld in the Netherlands. The result is a welcoming, well-equipped environment that is already enriching life for both the young people and staff team.
The new electric entrance gate has created a safer and more accessible arrival point for participants and visitors. The old traditional style of the wooden gate, arched over with a tiled roof reflects the architectural heritage of this historic Szekler community and in a fitting reflection of the determination behind the development, the new entrance gate was completed only hours before the official opening ceremony!
Significant work has also been undertaken around the site. Courtyard paving, created using stones reclaimed from the old buildings that once occupied the ground, is nearing completion, while extensive landscaping and planting are helping to transform the surroundings into a beautiful and sustainable environment.
In addition to funds granted by the Foundation, the development has been made possible through a remarkable partnership of supporters. A grant of 2 million RON (approximately €400,000) from the Romanian Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity was awarded on the condition that a further €200,000 was raised independently. Major contributions from Michael Stiftung and SAGST AG helped meet this target, alongside support from Három Galamb Scotland – the Camphill Social Fund, Christine Sadler and many other generous donors.
Zsuzsa Filipov-Soó, Három Galamb’s Founder, reflects on the opening of the Day Centre and shares her appreciation for the support that they have received to date:
“Our opening celebration on the 14th of May was attended by many people – appreciative words sounded from the Mayor, County Social Services, parents, Három Galamb staff, the project’s architect and also a blessing from the priest of the village. Our young people sat through this long ceremony with a truly touching discipline and peace, a real testimony to how much they have grown and matured.
As the heat of the Summer is growing, we’re settling more and more into this new space. Our rainwater collecting tank is full of water from the Spring rains, the garden goods are growing and so is our confidence in a more stable, sustainable future for the wonder of Három Galamb.
Thank you to everyone who contributes to the existence of this truly vibrant, special haven.”
Two trustees of Három Galamb Scotland also attended and contributed to the opening ceremony, bringing gifts from Camphill in Scotland. Their attendance also marked Három Galamb formally celebrating becoming Három Galamb Camphill following its attainment of full membership of the Association of Camphill Communities.
The Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland extends its warmest congratulations to everyone at Három Galamb Camphill and is proud to have played a small part in this remarkable achievement.
Thank you to our loyal supporters whose donations enable us to help bring such wonderful projects to life.
If you would like to donate to the Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland and help us support similar projects, please click here to find out more.
