Mara Vaț, 10D
Due to the significant impact of the epidemic on us, it is natural that we look for alternatives to restore that normal lifestyle that seems foreign to us now. Since life was quite stagnant during that period of time, we all felt that we were wasting those years and not putting them to good use. However, joining extracurricular activities, such as volunteering clubs, is one way to make up for the lost time.
“Simbio” is one volunteering club that operates in our town, in which students from “Moise Nicoară” National College and other schools gather together to make a difference in our tiny community.
After talking with the head of the board of “Simbio”, Darius Ciocîrlan and his vice presidents, we learned how these clubs operate. As Darius mentioned: “When establishing Simbio, I did not want to create a duplicate of something that already existed. Simbio is an association made by teenagers, meant for teenagers that want their voices to be heard. Its whole purpose is to open the door for these youngsters and provide them with a safe place where they can help their community.” He describes Simbio as a truthful community, not a marketing scheme. It has been created by people with pure intentions for the future. The profit is the final purpose, but the thought of doing something for their county.
Despite “Simbio” having many quarters around the country, Darius was the one to open one in Arad. He was hesitant; establishing something is no easy task, especially when your finals are right around the corner. “People associate volunteering clubs with crazy parties and competition. I did not want to partake in such acts.” Despite his hardships, he carries on and formed his team, consisting of two vice presidents, Rusu Bianca and Glavan Maia, as well as the secretary Lulușa Selena. We also talked about their recruitment system. “There is no program or complicated interview. We do not endorse elitism by any means, we welcome every teenager. After all, we want to unite our forces, not divide and create useless competition.”
In the last part of the interview, Darius mentioned how Simbio wants to be perceived. “Being unique is not necessarily the best way out. We want to be transparent when it comes to our projects. If our audience wants to change something or needs help expressing their thoughts, we are more than welcome to make their wish come true. After all, if you want something, you can make it happen.”
Despite being at the very beginning, Simbio members are working hard to spread the word, not only in the small county of Arad, but also throughout the country. Now, Simbio has started acquiring new and exciting projects, and the planning does not stop there.
For more information on Simbio, contact:
Contacts for other volunteering clubs:
Leo Maris Arad: 0752126717
Interact Arad: 0773730166