EmpowerDS is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project implemented by Down Plus Bucharest Association in partnership with the Romanian National Agency for Community Programs in the Field of Education and Vocational Training (ANPCDEFP).

The project supports young people with Down syndrome in their personal, social, and emotional development through educational, interactive, and creative activities carried out in an international environment.

Participants took part in:

• Learning through play activities
• Personal development workshops
• Team-building exercises
• Environmental awareness activities
• Artistic expression and communication sessions

EmpowerDS promotes social inclusion, self-confidence, active community participation, environmental responsibility, life skills development, and critical thinking.

The project demonstrates that young people with Down syndrome can become active, engaged, and valuable members of society when given the right support and opportunities to express themselves.

We have always loved exploring new and unconventional ideas. That is how the first retreat dedicated to people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities in Romania came to life.

In August 2023, together with the incredible Dharma Project team, we travelled to Wonderland Cluj to experience a unique program designed to promote wellbeing, personal growth, and connection.

Activities included:

• Horse riding
• Zipline adventures
• Hiking
• Outdoor creative workshops
• Meditation and nature connection
• Daily fitness sessions
• Team games
• Football matches
• Social gatherings and parties

The retreat became one of the most memorable experiences in our association's history and proved that inclusion, adventure, and personal development can go hand in hand.

Sport has the power to bring people together, and that belief inspired the creation of United Through Sport in 2022.

The event combines multiple sports disciplines:

• Football
• Handball
• Basketball

Each match featured unified teams made up of professional athletes and young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.

The goal was not competition, but inclusion, teamwork, mutual support, and celebrating the abilities of all participants.

In this event, everyone is a winner.

Born from a love for Romanian traditions and cultural heritage, this annual festival brings together more than 300 participants from across the country.

The event aims to preserve and promote Romanian identity for future generations through:

• Traditional costumes from different regions
• Traditional poetry
• Folk music
• Regional dances and customs

The festival celebrates diversity, heritage, and the importance of preserving cultural traditions.

Monochrome is a fashion project based on a simple idea: colour comes from the people wearing the designs, not from the garments themselves.

For several months, young people from our association stepped into the role of fashion designers and created their own clothing collections. The garments were later customised through artwork inspired by the participants' creative vision.

The project culminated in a fashion show held on October 4, 2020, where participants proudly presented their creations on stage under the message:

I AM MY OWN DESIGNER

A unique event where fashion, art, and emotion came together beautifully.

heART COUTURE is an artistic project developed in 2019.

Over several months, our young artists created paintings using unconventional materials such as fruits, vegetables, chocolate, and toothpaste instead of traditional paint.

The artworks were later interpreted by artists from Roxy & Kids Art Association and transformed into a collection of ponchos and traditional Romanian garments.

The project concluded with a fashion show attended by more than 400 guests, where our participants proudly presented their creations.

World Down Syndrome Day, celebrated every year on March 21, is one of the most important events in our calendar.

Following the international theme established each year, we organize Romania's largest cultural and sports event dedicated to World Down Syndrome Day.

The celebration includes:

• A sports event where more than 200 young people with disabilities receive recognition for their achievements
• A cultural event showcasing artistic performances that highlight the talents and abilities of people with Down syndrome and other disabilities

Sport Together, Active Forever was an Erasmus+ project implemented between 2018 and 2020 in partnership with the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Bucharest and organizations from Spain and Latvia.

Through this project, participants learned and practiced Bocce, one of the most inclusive sports worldwide, and took part in national and international competitions.

This artistic gymnastics competition celebrates the hard work, determination, and achievements of our young athletes.

The competition includes different levels of difficulty and multiple disciplines, such as:

• Floor exercises
• Balance beam
• Parallel bars
• Pommel horse
• Vault
• Rings

The event provides participants with an opportunity to showcase the skills they develop throughout the year.

Swimming Together is a competition created for young swimmers who train regularly and wish to challenge themselves alongside peers with similar abilities and achievements.

The event promotes healthy lifestyles, confidence, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

And this is only the beginning—new projects and ideas are always on the horizon.

Sustainable Service in DS is an Erasmus+ project focused on involving people with Down syndrome in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through service-learning activities.

The project brought together organizations and institutions from Romania, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, and Greece, creating opportunities for international collaboration, inclusion, and active citizenship.

By combining community service with learning experiences, the project encourages participants to become active contributors to a more sustainable and inclusive society.

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