During 28-30 July Ceva de Spus board and employees went in training at Debrecen.

We stayed in a beautiful area and was great to be far away from agitation, to wake up in the morning enjoying peace, sun and fresh air.

For 3 days we worked in teams, we found out new things about each other but most of all we connected as a group.

In the first 2 days we made a plan for the next years on accessibility and deinstitutionalization. We shared our dreams, fears, but most of all we established the objectives we want to reach.

We know these themes are not easy but we do our guts untill we succeed.

Of course, fun didnt missed.We ended those 3 days in the most pleasant way: enjoying a walk in the forest by carriage. 

The journey back home was filled with good music but most of all many laughs because we had to guess the songs the one who hummed the songs in headphone.

Yes, persons with disabilities can work, can have fun and enjoy life.We fight for all of these to be possible for all persons with disabilities.

Raluca Popescu

During 23-27 May, at Barcelona took place the anual meeting of Open Society Mental Health Initiative partners.

At this meeting participated NGOS,experts in media campaigns, movie producers and ex-activists Green Peace.

They presented for 4 days workshops where we learnt how to emphasise our difficulties in a video, how to make efficient campaigns and to use art in activism.

We presented the ROvinHUd wine fair as a fundraising idea, where we could bind passion for quality wines, with ABILITIES of persons with disabilities.

I discovered that Barcelona is very accessible for wheelchair users but doesen’t have acoustic traffic lights for people with visual impairments.

We thank to organisers that we could bind work with pleasure, and we could learn useful things. We hope to apply what we learnt at this meeting soon .

Simona Smultea
Vice-president

Here camed the time to stop from our daily activities and to reflect.

What we did until now, what was good, what we can make better from now.

In a warm and friendly atmoshpere, we gathered at Ambasada for a new General Assembly.

I presented the Anual report with all activities we did until now. And there were many activities.

In the same night, our team renewed.We had elections for a new secretary and elections were woned by our colleague Andreea Herbei. We congratulate her and wish her good luck. We have allot of work to do!

Of course we couldn’t end the night without to look towards future. We made an action plan with everything we want to do in 2016 for accessibility, deinstitutionalisation, raising awareness events, and strenghtening the self-advocacy movement.

We want to thank everyone who stayed close to us.

For 2016 we have many plans and our fight for a better life continues.

As long as we have Ceva de Spus!

Raluca Popescu
Co-president

Recently I had the chance to partipate to an open-heart event and filled with emotions. People from the Sensory Theater Labyrinth offered me to play the role of my life. It is not necessarily the desirable role but it is one that I have been forced to play, maybe to learn to really see. Although I cant see, I had the joy to see heartfelt emotions, tears , laughs, warm, simplicity,closeness, all in a stunning labyrinth.

All of these happened in the show Hospice made by Sensory Theater Labyrinth.Its not a usual theater It is rather an interaction between people and stories, all felt in the register and the viewer’s own rythm.

If you choose to be a spectator at this piece of theatre you will have the opportunity to experience different situations of life and you will find out how you are doing in relation to each. This will make you think of you and the way you react and you will get to know yourself better.

I invite you to try such an experience. If you’re curious, go to the website asylumlabyrinth.ro for more details

Simona Smultea
Vicepresident

This year we celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities in a special way, taking care of our souls to be happy.

Our colleague Daniela Maier launched her poetry volume ”Hidden thoughts, real thoughts” in Carturesti Iulius Mall.

Sourrounded by friends, with wine and hot tea, Dana started with the poetry : „Confession” as a tribute to her mother. It was a touching moment which reached to our souls.

We all felt her excitement but in the same time the strenght of her words.The entire poetry volume was dedicated to her mother.

Unavoidable we all felt her excitement, and the feeling was nice.

I had also the pleasure to read another 2 poems like:Identity and Hidden thoughts, real thoughts

Dana succedeed very well to emphasize that persons with disabilities have ABILITIES, and we believe she is a real example.

We all left from the book launch with our soul happy.

Thank you Dana for the beautiful ABILITY you have: to get to the hearts of those who get to know you, through rymes.

Raluca Popescu
Co-president

The week-end of 13-15th November found us excited and enthuziastic of a new edition of ROvinHUd 2015

For 3 days, lovers of quality wines could enjoy and learn from the best Masters of Wine: Julia Harding,Caroline Gilby,Gabriella Meszaros, Yiannis Karakasis, Zoltan Kormos joined our cause and held workshops pro-bono.

Of course, Ceva de Spus self-advocates didn’t missed and we worked with volunteers from morning until night, washing 2000 glasses, checking bracelets, at dressing room, changing ice for the exhibitors and taking care of everything was needed .

This year we succeeded once again to brake barriers,overcome limits, to descover beautiful people and to show that ABILITY exists beyond every disability.

We want to thank everyone who supported us.Our souls are more rich: we have new friends who support us in our fight.

Raluca Popescu
Co-president

On 14th of October, I participated at the European Parliament in Brussels at the presentation of the report Community not confinement –the role of UE to promote and protect the right of persons with disabilities to live in community”which was presented by Open Society Mental Health Initiative.

At the presentation of this report participated self-advocates from Romania and Croatia,representatives of European Parliament and Open Society Mental Health Initiative.

I talked about how important is for us to live independent, to have community based services according to our individual needs but also about the situation of personal assistants in Romania.

That was the moment when I literally started to cry,thinking about how much effort members of families from my country make when they take care of a child or young with disabilities.

I talked also about the struggle that often families and youngs have:”What will happen with me after my parents won’t be with me any longer?” Was o hard for me to ask this question,but I had to, because is a real fact for us.Unfortunately.

Not less, I said that time has arrived to change the image persons with disabilities.Having the right support,we can become valuable members in our communities and contribute just like anyone ealse.

Mrs Daciana Sarbu, presented also at the meeting, assured us of her support and reminded us that we are not alone in our fight.

It was among our less meetings when we had an open conversation, where I really felt that our voice matters and we have Something to Say!

Raluca Popescu
Co-president