The program “A friend for you!” offers any person interested in volunteering the opportunity to spend a few hours of their spare time in the company of a person with intellectual disabilities, to go for a walk, to sit at a terrace, to go to the cinema or to the theatre. The program aims at inclusion of the individuals with intellectual disabilities and was launched in June 2006 by Pentru Voi Foundation.

“Many persons with intellectual disabilities live isolated from the rest of the society. We initiated this programme in order to take them out of their isolation, by involving even more the local community in what we call inclusion. Laws can grant you rights, but they can't grant you friends, which is what we all need to be fulfilled”, said Laila Onu, executive director of “Pentru Voi” Foundation.

The mentor meets their disciple (a person with intellectual disabilities) at least four hours per month, attending together cultural, social or sports events. A certain amount of money is allotted for every meeting to cover expenses such as transportation, tickets or the like.

The program has a one-year span and it addresses volunteers of over 18, not only to the young, but to any person willing to offer a bit of their spare time to somebody who needs a friend.

The idea of this project belongs to a German volunteer, Dominic Samuel Fritz, who has been on a six-month volunteer internship at Pentru Voi. He noticed that volunteering is beneficial not only for the persons with disabilities, but to the volunteers themselves. “The horizons of the volunteer are widened, he/ she has a special experience and learns to be responsible. By getting involved in this project, the life you may change can be… yours!”, Dominic says.

For more details, please phone us at 0256 228 062, 0356 421 216 or write us at voluntar@pentruvoi.ro