Arts Lab 7.0: Anes Taki Eddine Zerrouni - Month I

Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing well. I wanted to share a recap of my first month here in Târgu Frumos with the Arts Lab 7.0 project run by Super Tineri Asirys. 

I got here on September 22 after a long and pretty tiring journey, with a stopover before finally reaching Bucharest, followed by a bus ride to the city. The next day, I met the other volunteers who arrived before me, and we immediately clicked. There was a really friendly and cooperative vibe from the start. After settling in for a few days, Mihaela took us to visit the schools where we’d be holding the Folklore Residencies workshops . It was decided I’d be based at the local high school. 

During a trip to Iași, we visited a museum that told the harrowing stories of the city’s Jewish community and the suffering they endured in the past. It was a deeply moving and sobering experience that gave us important historical context before our next stop. Right after that in the same day , we went to the French Institute in Iași to join an interactive cultural session with a group of Romanian teenagers, where we talked about our favorite childhood books. It was a simple and enjoyable meetup, and a beautiful way to connect culturally. We also organized a casual hangout with some local volunteers, where we played group games and did interactive activities that helped us get to know each other and build team spirit. The atmosphere was full of fun and positive energy. 

After that, we officially launched the Folklore Residencies workshops at the high school, which I ran together with my teammate Salma from Egypt. We had an amazing turnout of more than 24 teenagers in just the first three days*. We worked with them on various art activities: Drawing a map of Romania featuring their favorite cities and cultural landmarks. Carving a giant folk spoon from foam, as a symbol of Romanian folk heritage. Sculpting their own personal spoons inspired by folk designs, using modeling clay. Various games. The students were fantastic the workshops were buzzing with creative energy. 

Midway through the program, we took a trip to Heleșteni to help with preparations for the Folcloristica festival. We were warmly welcomed with traditional Romanian way. We visited the town hall, sampled local drinks, and wandered through heritage rooms filled with old weaving and sewing tools, plus photographs telling the stories of past generations. We also visited a lovely family farm in the village, where a local family welcomed us, offered traditional food, and let us see their elaborate folk costumes, beautifully embroidered with colors and traditional symbols. Afterwards, we headed to an old house that a local grandmother had turned into a small museum, displaying costumes and items over a hundred years old. To wrap up the day, we visited two Orthodox churches and spoke with the priests about the connection between faith, history, and culture in Romania. Their words were filled with kindness and wisdom. The day ended with a traditional dinner at a local family’s home, where I felt completely at home, as if I were with my own family.

After returning from Heleșteni, we continued our work at the school to finish the remaining Folklore Residencies art workshops. Looking back, I can confidently say we wrapped things up successfully. We won the students over and created some wonderful memories together. This month has been incredibly rich with experiences, full of learning, collaboration, and unforgettable moments. At first, I felt tired and a bit homesick, but as the days passed, that transformed into a feeling of comfort and belonging. I found so much support and warmth from my fellow volunteers and the people here, making it feel like a second home. I also felt proud to be part of activities that carry the spirit of art and heritage, and to see how engaged the youth were with our ideas and their own creativity. 

This month taught me a lot about myself and others. I’ve become more open in communicating with people from different cultures and gained new skills in organizing art workshops and teamwork. My understanding of Romanian culture deepened, and I discovered how much we as people have in common, despite differences in language and customs. 

In the coming months, I hope to further develop my skills in managing art activities and participate more actively in the preparations and events for the Arts Lab 7.0 project. I want to keep learning from my colleagues and help create a collaborative environment that spreads the values of art and cultural exchange among young people from different countries. 

This monthly report was written by Anes Taki Eddine Zerrouni, our Algerian volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.