Beyond Senses, by the sea

Between August 31 – September 4, 2025, Sense International Romania and The Association Beyond Senses —the association of people with deafblindness in Romania—organized in Constanța a summer camp for 18 people with deafblindness and their family members: parents, brothers, sisters, a husband, a daughter, and even a cat!

We enjoyed five wonderful days together, filled with joy, new friendships, visits to the dolphinarium and the Constanța Casino, as well as valuable discussions. The energy of each participant and the happiness of being part of a community where everyone is valued and respected made this camp a truly memorable moment.

We started the camp with an icebreaker: each participant spoke about their favorite object, revealing new things about their passions and talents.

Then, we revisited together the priorities of the Association Beyond Senses, identified in previous meetings. Among these, participants showed the greatest interest in the topic of personal autonomy and proposed ideas for future activities: monthly online meetings, socialization workshops, personal development activities, and even social economy initiatives to showcase their talents.

One of the most emotional parts of the camp was a role-play activity, where young participants staged situations which can occur at work, addressing themes such as discrimination, the importance of sign language interpreters in facilitating communication with colleagues, teamwork, and taking responsibility.

Meanwhile, parents brought their own perspective: the need for safety and autonomy for their children, along with the desire to support the association in the future.

“I saw the young people, our children, being courageous, strong, eager to be seen and respected as they deserve. It is something wonderful in this context! People who cannot see or hear, yet who can feel and understand each other so deeply. Thank you!” — S.T., parent

At the end of the camp, participants organized a special moment: a flashmob, where they expressed—through signs and spoken words—a message that touched everyone’s hearts:

“We are Beyond Senses. We are the Association… Butterfly (the association’s symbol).”

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Rodica Haluș and Monica Cătuțoiu (Coda Association) for their support in communication, as well as to the team at Hotel Continental Forum Constanța, who welcomed us with hospitality and openness!

This activity was carried out with the support of the Nelumbo Foundation, as part of the “Global Inclusive Education Project” (August 2023 – July 2026).