On 5 June, OIPA Romania proudly took part in Dream Night Event, an international initiative organized by Târgu Mureș Zoo and dedicated to children living with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and difficult life circumstances. Celebrated annually on the first Friday following International Children’s Day, Dream Night takes place simultaneously in participating institutions around the world, creating special moments of joy, inclusion, and discovery for children and their families.
The initiative is built on a simple but powerful idea: every child deserves the opportunity to feel welcomed, valued, and included. For one evening, children who often face significant daily challenges are given the chance to simply enjoy being children, surrounded by activities designed to inspire happiness, curiosity, and connection.
In Târgu Mureș, the event brought together specialized schools, associations supporting children with disabilities, volunteers, local authorities, community organizations, educators, and inclusion specialists. Thanks to the collective efforts of all partners involved, the event was offered entirely free of charge, ensuring accessibility for all participating children and their families.
Throughout the evening, children enjoyed a wide variety of engaging activities, including creative workshops, face painting, puppet shows, dancing, interactive games, guided visits, and opportunities to interact with animals with love and compassio in a safe and educational environment. Each activity was carefully designed to encourage participation, build confidence, and create positive memories.
For OIPA Romania, Dream Night represented not only an opportunity to support social inclusion, but also a meaningful occasion to promote empathy, kindness, and respect for animals.
The activities coordinated by OIPA Romania and its partners attracted significant interest from visitors, demonstrating how animal welfare education can successfully complement initiatives focused on inclusion and community engagement. The event highlighted the strong connection between caring for animals and fostering empathy, responsibility, and respect for all living beings.
OIPA ETS warmly thanks all volunteers, educators, specialists, partner organizations, community members, and local institutions whose dedication, generosity, and enthusiasm contributed to the success of this initiative.
Special thanks go to the partner associations Canino Artis, Second Life, Blue Paws, and Alte Pfoten (Germany), whose collaboration helped make this event possible. We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Monica Farcas, elementary school teacher; Ioana and the Mega Happy Events team; Klara Fulop, specialist in Special Psychopedagogy and Inclusion; Loredana Daria Sfiriac, actor and community supporter; Irina Lupu, kindergarten teacher; Ramona Negrușa, English teacher; and Tudor Teșcoveanu, architecture teacher and author of Născut din Țărână, for their commitment and valuable contribution to creating a memorable experience for the participating children and their families.
Their collective efforts helped transform Dream Night into a meaningful celebration of inclusion, compassion, and respect for animals, demonstrating the positive impact that can be achieved when communities work together towards a common goal.
