“Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves.”

These words belong to Helen Keller (June 27, 1880 - June 1, 1968) and were the motto of the Festival of Joy, a campaign organised by the Sense International Romania in June, on the occasion of the Helen Keller International Celebration, which has already become a tradition for us and our partners since 2011.

18 special education schools, partners of Sense International Romania, got involved in this festival of joy. For all those who participated, 578 children and young people with deafblindness, together with 309 parents and teachers, these workshops meant moments of joy, enthusiasm and cheerfulness.

The activities were possible thanks to the generosity of the companies that chose to direct 20% of their profit tax to Sense International Romania in the winter of 2023, to whom we want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts!

The diversity of creative workshops gave students the chance to express their artistic talents. In the glass painting workshop, students created unique objects under the guidance of experienced glassmakers, discovering the joy of working with this material. Sensory activities in the jewellery workshops developed fine motor skills and encouraged collaboration between children. Students also made flower arrangements and turned plain paper into works of art through origami.

The festival also included educational activities that combined learning with fun. Students took part in nature trips and visits to various locations such as animal farms, zoos and factories, where they were able to learn about industrial processes and the environment.

In the multisensory workshops, children explored various textures and materials, stimulating their senses and motor skills. They also participated in sensory trails, psychomotor exercises and games with different sensory materials in the pool, picnics, skill games and sports activities, all of which helped to strengthen the bonds between peers.

Artistic and recreational activities brought a lot of joy to the children, and not only to them. Workshops such as making masks, therapeutic puppets, painting on canvas or decorating t-shirts raised many smiles and helped to develop creativity.

Dance-therapy moments and theater performances were among the students' favorites, giving them the opportunity to move freely and express their emotions through movement.

Congratulations to all the partner schools for the wonderful activities they have carried out and we thank them for the dedication with which they are involved each year!