Over the years, we have been honoured to contribute to the development, inclusion, and empowerment of young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.

While awards are not our ultimate measure of success—the happiness, growth, and achievements of our beneficiaries will always remain our greatest accomplishment—we are grateful to have received recognition from respected national and international institutions.

Awards & Nominations

• 1st Place – SanThe Herbal Tea House – Great Initiatives: Trisomy 21, Brussels, Belgium
• 3rd Place – Local Government–NGO Partnership Awards, Social Inclusion Category, Bucharest, Romania
• Award Recipient – National Gala of Good Deeds, Ministry of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities, Bucharest, Romania
• Special Award – Woman of the Year Gala (Georgeta Bucur), Association for Dialogue and Universal Values, Bucharest, Romania
• Nomination – Capital Gala: Top 100 Successful Women (Georgeta Bucur), Bucharest, Romania
• 1st Place – Bosphorus International Dance Festival, Istanbul, Turkey
• 1st Place – Christmas Gala, Social Impact Category, Bucharest City Hall, Romania

Our journey has provided us with extensive experience in promoting the social inclusion of young people with Down syndrome.

Creativity has always been the defining element of our work and the driving force behind many of our projects. This unique approach led us to the TEDx stage, where we shared a powerful message about the courage of young people with Down syndrome to try, learn, and grow without limits.

Our TEDx talk highlighted a simple truth: when given the right opportunities and support, extraordinary results can follow.

Down Plus Bucharest Association had the distinguished honour of receiving the Order of Merit for the Promotion of Human Rights and Social Commitment, with the rank of Knight, awarded by the President of Romania.

This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusion, equal opportunities, and the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities.

Participation in 2023, 2024 and 2025

As part of Romania's leading conversations on diversity and inclusion, representatives of our association have participated in the Open Minds Conference for several consecutive years.

In 2024, Larisa Bucur represented the association in a keynote presentation focused on neurodiversity and the achievements of Down Plus Bucharest Association.

In 2025, both Larisa Bucur and Georgeta Bucur joined the panel discussion “When Neurodiversity Finds Its Place Within the Family”, sharing insights, experiences, and perspectives on inclusion and family support.

Our experience and advocacy efforts inspired us to create a dedicated platform for discussing Down syndrome, inclusion, and disability rights with the wider public.

Through a dedicated column on Ziare.com, we regularly publish articles that explore both the challenges and achievements of people with Down syndrome, while raising awareness and encouraging a more inclusive society.

The column serves as an educational resource for families, professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the realities, opportunities, and potential of people with Down syndrome.

Read the articles here:
https://ziare.com/invitati/larisa-bucur/