Asociatia M.A.M.E.
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Mission Statement
The M.A.M.E. Association is a non-profit organization that has been operating for more than 12 years for the benefit of people diagnosed with cancer and other severe diseases in Romania, especially children. The organization's mission is to improve the quality of life of patients by facilitating access to a various appropriate psycho-socio-medical services that they need during the period of confrontation with the disease.
About This Cause
The M.A.M.E. Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 by Maria Culescu, after she personally fought cancer. She underwent in Romania the specific treatment of the disease, but, because her health condition did not improve and the disease progressed, she had to go to a clinic abroad to benefit from a high-performance treatment, which was not accessible in our country. There he had the opportunity to see what possibilities a modern medical system offers to cancer patients and, after overcoming the disease, she returned to the country with the desire to help other Romanians who are struggling with a serious illness. PROJECTS AND CAMPAIGNS: Throughout the 12 years of activity, we have implemented projects and carried out campaigns to support children and young people diagnosed with cancer and other serious diseases. Thus, since 2012 and until now we have organized over 550 information sessions on the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle to prevent, over time, the occurrence of serious diseases among over 10,000 students and high school students in Bucharest and adjacent areas. We also organized over 250 information and awareness sessions on the bullying phenomenon among over 6,000 students in Bucharest and surrounding areas. We especially wanted to make them aware of the issue of acceptance and integration in the group of children with special needs, diagnosed with chronic diseases, as well as those with disabilities. Between May 2010 - June 2011, we carried out an advocacy campaign “Appeal for the maternity leave” with the objective of convincing authorities to maintain the rights related to maternity leave at the level of May 2010, fighting for maintaining the amount of the child support offered as well as the period of time for which it is provided and also for the protection of parents during the pregnancy time and after their return to work. 80.000 parents benefited from the advocacy campaign for mothers allowance and child raising leave. Through the entire 2011 year, we carried out the campaign called “An hour with your child”, drawing people’s attention towards the quality of the time spent by parents in the current society together with their children. In this respect, M.A.M.E. Association team carried out several educational and creative activities in various public places where parents were invited to come and spend quality time with their children. More than 2.000 parents and children benefited from this campaign. In April 2012, M.A.M.E. Association finalized the project called "Childhood must not be lived in a hospital". This fundraising campaign raised 52,000 Euros, used to renovate and ecquip the following rooms within the Pediatrics Section of the Fundeni Institute: a room equipped according to European standards for the best monitoring of the youngest patients, 2 blood drawing and treatment rooms as well as 4 restrooms. 500 sick children benefit annually from the renewal of Fundeni Hospital, Department of Pediatrics. In June 2012, M.A.M.E. Association has finalized the project called "A safer playground for the children in Fundeni" a project that was meant to redesign the playground located in the courtyard of Fundeni Institute. The space has been equipped with modern play sets, worth 16.000 euro, according to safety standards. All assemblies are made of pine, with finished surfaces; edges were rounded and polished and were left no danger of pinching or cutting, painted with non-toxic acrylic lacquer in various colors. Of this playground benefit annually over 5.000 children who are hospitalized or in ambulatory care. Since March 2013, in partnership with ARC Romania and the mobile networks, we have been implementing the project called “SMS for Life” through which we allocate short SMS numbers to adult patients with serious illnesses, thus giving them access to a simple and efficient fundraising method. necessary for the payment of some surgical interventions / medical treatments that cannot be performed in Romania. So far, over 950,000 euros have been donated, money that supported the payment of medical services that benefited the people for whom the SMS campaigns were carried out. Within the project "Pink Planet - support and counseling for breast health", since June 2014 and until now we have helped over 400 women diagnosed with breast cancer to benefit from free medical, psychological and nutritional services. Also in 2014, the Star Center was established, a center for support, counseling and psycho-socio-medical recovery in which, until now, over 500 children diagnosed with severe diseases have benefited free of charge from various therapies. complementary to medical treatment. With the support of ING Bank Romania, in 2017 we developed the project "The Multisensory Room form the Little Stars Day Center", in order to arrange and equip the multisensory room in the Star Center to support children by providing free access to a type of therapy innovative, Virtual Reality therapy. The results obtained and the impact of this therapy were the basis for the continuation of activities in the case of children diagnosed with cancer or other serious diseases, hospitalized in the oncopediatrics department of the Oncological Institute from Bucharest benefited from Virtual Reality therapy. Thus, during 2018 we implemented the project "VR for children in hospital" and we managed to offer the approximately 285 sick children the chance to escape from the pain and invasive treatments they perform during hospitalization. The project "Fun & Learning in VR" took place during 2019 and aimed to facilitate access to innovative means of learning, intuitive and experiential, but also relaxation with the help of VR technology (Virtual Reality) through interactive, socio-educational activities for approx. 800 sick children (100 sick children from the Stars Center and 700 children hospitalized in Grigore Alexandrescu Hospital). Starting January 2019, we are carrying out the project "NAO - ROBO-therapist for sick children", through which we aimed to improve the psycho-emotional state of 1,200 children diagnosed with cancer or other serious diseases during a year, by integrating the NAO Robot, an innovative and interactive technology, as a mediator between therapists and young patients, but also as a tool for relaxation for their good mood and cooperation. Starting with 2018, we are carrying out with the support of the United Way Romania Foundation, projects through which we came to support over 250 children diagnosed with serious diseases and children from disadvantaged backgrounds, in order to help them regain their health and to gain the skills of independent and balanced living through physical and emotional recovery, by developing a positive perception of life and building healthy eating and hygiene habits. In 2020, with the support of the Vodafone Foundation Romania we developed the “Together for Health” project. The aim of the project is to provide support, advice and guidance for both patients with serious illnesses and their families in order to meet their needs with during the struggle with the disease. Furthermore, a platform was created within the project, since that would give rise to develop a network of solidarity, designed to bring together those in need with those who can help by providing goods and services. Starting with October 2020, we are carrying out the project “Main factors for maintaining good health: nutrition and movement”, financed by the “ Enhancing general wellbeing” program, supported by Kaufland Romania, through which 90 children diagnosed with serious illnesses will receive both nutritional counseling and medical recovery through kinesiotherapy free of charge in order to enhance wellbeing and develop skills for healthy living. CHARITY EVENTS: The M.A.M.E. Association was also actively involved in organizing fundraising events for the benefit of children diagnosed with serious illnesses. Since 2011, we have organized the "Little Stars Ball", a charity event that brings together individual donors, partners and sponsors who support our cause. Also, since 2009, we organize annually the sports event "Kangoo Jumps for Life" attended by people who love sports and movement, instructors both in the country and abroad, children and community members, in order to raise funds for to come to the aid of children diagnosed with serious diseases in Romania. EVENTS AND CAMPAIGNS FOR CHILDREN: Through the active involvement of good people, partners and sponsors of the organization we organize annually a series of events for the benefit of children in the care of the M.A.M.E. Since 2012 we organize annually "Little Stars Camp", an event through which we offer a group of children of about 20 children from families with difficult socio-material situations the opportunity to spend 7 days full of surprises, activities and educational and development workshops personal. Within the “ABC of Good Deeds” campaign, we come to the aid of over 120 seriously ill children from disadvantaged families, beneficiaries within the Star Center - support center, counseling and psycho-socio-medical recovery, by offering backpacks equipped to start a new school year full of success and beautiful results. On this occasion, we also organize various recreational activities such as: creative workshops, moments of entertainment, games and activities that bring children joy and good cheer. "Santa's Wish Factory" is also one of the important campaigns carried out by the M.A.M.E. in which we bring to the souls of the little ones the joy and magic of the winter holidays. Annually, distribute letters to about 120 children, beneficiaries of the organization. In this, we annually involve over 50 elves (employees of companies or individual donors) and 15 volunteers who take care that each child receives the long-awaited gifts.