When we started organizing Children’s Day, we expected around 50 children, not because we didn’t want more, but because there have been other events for children in the area in recent years, and this year there were even activities taking place at the same time as ours.
So we planned for 50 children and there were almost 100. As it turns out, plans made don’t always match reality.
The day began with volunteers and neighbors running around the yard and along the road, chasing balloons that the wind kept carrying away one by one, seemingly determined to attend the other events instead. It wasn’t exactly part of the program, but it was a good way to warm up before the children arrived.
The first ones showed up almost half an hour before the official start. They headed straight for the playground while we were still putting the finishing touches on everything.
Then a few more children arrived, and a few more. and then another group. At some point, we stopped trying to estimate how many there were and focused on what needed to be done.
The inflatable slide was busy almost nonstop. There was always someone waiting for face painting. The sports competitions brought together children of all ages, who were patient enough to wait while we redesigned the course… more than once. Everywhere you looked there was laughter, running, and that endless energy that only children seem to have and that we try our best to keep up with for a few hours.
We had planned other activities too: running after the Goose, a UNO tournament, and a paper airplane competition, we never got to them. The truth is that we weren’t organized well enough. As usual, we overestimated the time and energy we had available and underestimated how quickly a few hours can disappear when you have nearly 100 children in your yard. Fortunately, the children didn’t seem too bothered by that.
After four and a half hours of games, competitions, and activities, we were still being asked: “Are there more activities?”, not because they were bored, because they didn’t want the day to end.
There were nearly 100 children, aged 2 to 16, most of them from the village and surrounding community, but also some from farther away.
There were around 10 volunteers who ran, explained rules, handed out prizes, improvised, answered questions, and solved whatever needed solving as the day went on.
There were neighbors chasing balloons.
There were people who donated money, sweets, and prizes.
There were people who shared our posts and helped us reach more families.
And there were many people who, in one way or another, contributed to this day. We thank all of them.
Dumbrava is not just the volunteers you see in photos. It is also the people who donate €2, those who bring a box of sweets, those who share a post, those who answer when we ask for help, and those who choose to stand beside us even when nobody notices.
At the end of the day, there were drawings, a few burst balloons (some of them probably made it all the way to Dej), forgotten wrappers scattered around the yard, and volunteers waking up the next morning with sore muscles.
But there were also memories.
If you couldn’t make it this time, don’t worry, we’ll see each other again soon, before the new school year begins, we’re planning another event for children, and we hope to see you there, with even more children, even more volunteers, and probably fewer balloons.
We’d love to have you with us. ❤️