Active Schools Fund Expands to Five New Rural Communities in Brașov County

The Țiriac International Foundation announces the expansion of its flagship educational program to support an additional 175 children in vulnerable communities across Brașov County.

Building on the success of its pilot phase, the Active Schools Fund — a partnership between Țiriac International Foundation and Fundația Comunitară Brașov — has expanded to include five new rural schools in Augustin, Budila, Crizbav, Racos, and Râșnov.

The program addresses one of Romania’s most pressing educational challenges: preventing school dropout in disadvantaged communities. Through a holistic approach that combines literacy and numeracy training with sports activities and socio-emotional development, the initiative aims to transform how children experience learning.

“We believe that education is most effective when it engages the whole child,” said the program coordinator. “By integrating physical activity and emotional support into the learning process, we’re seeing remarkable improvements in student engagement and attendance.”

The expansion will benefit 175 children aged 6 to 8, while also providing professional development opportunities for 21 local teachers. Parents will be supported through monthly “Schools of Parents” meetings, creating a comprehensive support network around each child.

Three schools — Budila, Crizbav, and Racos — have already qualified for follow-up grants totaling €184500, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness and the communities’ commitment to sustainable change.