‌every building has a story to tell‌
Windows to the Future
1871
One of the oldest educational institutions in Sacele was the Superior Vocational School established on the 6th of November 1871
Sacele, located in the centre of Romania
1963
The Workshops
In 1963, during the communist regime, a new building was added to the original establishment: The Workshops. This new addition was going to serve as a skill centre for the students going to be employed in the large communist factories across the country
The Workshops
1989 Changes in Romania
The Anti-Communist Revolution in 1989, has brought many structural changes within the Romanian society, both the educational system and the labour market being massively affected
The large communist factories across the country closed down, leaving thousands of people unemployed and a massive number of students with very uncertain futures
2009 Unattended
Like many other old buildings in Romania, the Workshops stopped being used for educational purposes and were left unattended
By 2009, the Workshops have become totally disfunctional and in a very advanced state of disrepair
2013 A building with no future
Once a glorious building serving nearly two thousand students each year, the Workshops have become a disapointment to our community, a mere resemblence of times long past, a hopeless construction, with no future and a very sad story to tell
Municipality of Sacele A challenging mission
2014 Stepping out in faith
Local Council of Sacele decides to give FAST the free use of the Workshops, with the mandate of restoration and rehabilitation. We agreed to take on this mission, not really knowing where the funding would come from or how we were going to complete such a massive task
2015 A reassuring message
Unusual words found written on the rooftop of the building
With the support of the Velux Foundations, Erste Foundation and FAST friends from abroad, we decide to launch our biggest and most challenging project ever: Windows to the Future
WINDOWS TO THE FUTURE funded by
With the very kind support of the Erste Foundation and FAST friends from abroad
Lots of architecture plans
Andrew Bateman and family
PLANNING STAGE Our architect friends from Glasgow
Colin McIntyre
January 2015
Beniamin George Avram Ion Andrei
February 2015 In-house team
Avram
Andrei George
Thank you, Jay, Alison, Jodie & friends from St. Andrew’s (Gloucester, England) e And
March 2015
Our friends from abroad
Very grateful for the ongoing support provided by our many friends and volunteers from abroad Thank you, Barbara & Elsa (England)
Very special thanks to CAROM for supporting our apprenticeship program
Thank you, Bolton at Home & Bolton College
April 2015 Contractors
Site Manager and demolition man, Andrei Szakaci Iosif a
Our contracted workers have really enjoyed being part of the FAST team
Our friends from abroad: Thank you, Trinity Church School (Radstock, England)
Thank you, Sue & Sophie (London, England)
Linda Caton (Warrington, England) Thank you, Linda! Always happy to have to have you with us, teaching the art of sewing in the Training Centre
Thank you, Margaret & Judy and our friends at Tavistock Methodist Church Thank you, Nigel, Charlotte, Sarah, Mark, Tony, Becky, Ian, Sue, Helena, Mary, Keith and all the friends at Central Hall (Plymouth, England)
Thank you, QP and all our friends in Glasgow
A very big thank you to our friends in Farnham
May 2015 Demolition work
The old concrete floors had to be completely removed
All hands on deck
The demolition process was difficult, but we were able to save bricks and pipes for future use
Demolition work completed
June 2015 Digging
Connecting new gas, electricity, water and drains: a massive task
Old pipes replaced with new ones
July 2015 Access road
Vehicle access to the centre, a necessary investment
Access road completed
Our friends from abroad Helen & Della and the team from Barnwood Park Arts College (Gloucester, England) Thank you!
Thank you, Niall and team from Queens Park Baptist Church (Glasgow, Scotland)
Very many thanks to our Tasmanian friends for their repeated support throughout the years Thank you, Julie-Anne, Paul, Jack and the whole team
Thank you, Stacey and King’s Youth Team (Warrington, England)
August 2015 Structural reinforcement
New reinforced foundations
New interior drainage system
Reinforced concrete flooring and new pillars to sustain the upper floor
Structural reinforcement completed
Friends of FAST
Thank you, Andrew, Gille and team (Farnham, England)
Thank you, Joyce (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Thank you, Sarah & Ellen (Sheffield, England)
Thank you, Bolton at Home, Forrest and Bolton College (Bolton, England)
September 2015 Bricks and walls
Plasterboards and rendering
Interior walls completed
Equipment delivery – car elevator for the mechanics workshop
Window-making machinery
Window frames
October 2015 First visitors, our future students
Windows to the Future is envisaged to be an exemplary Vocational Training Centre aiming to equip young people with skills and confidence for a successful career
More friends of FAST: Jonathan & Beverly, Rodney, Kathy and Deana (Texas,USA) – Thank you! ;
Even more friends of FAST
Thank you, Mike & Jacqui Kelcey (Newcastle, England)
Kathy Mitchell (Radstock, England)
Thank you, Pam & Niall and Team from Queens Park Baptist Church (Glasgow, Scotland)
Thank you, David & Rhiannon (Warrington, England)
You’ll never walk alone! – GO LIVERPOOL!
Thank you, Phil & Jean (Plymouth, England)
Winter approaching ‌too early
Hope the weather gets better again so we can fit the windows and doors before winter
November 2015 All windows and doors are manufactured by our in-house team
WINDOWS & DOORS
Andrei Our window specialist
Windows and doors completed, just in time before winter
WELL DONE, FAST TEAM Thank you, Costina, Edy, Adriana and Liz for being part of the FAST team! Thank you for your hard work and friendship throughout the years
December 2015 Inside work
January 2016 Brand new plumbing
February 2016 Wiring and Electrics
March 2016 Plastering, painting and tiling
April 2016 Friends of FAST
Thank you, Jay, Alison & friends from St. Andrews (Gloucester, England)
Thank you, Rob, Sue and family (London, England)
Thank you, Linda (Warrington, England)
Thank you, David and Hazel Menorca, Spain
May 2016 Mechanics Equipment
A batch of broken go-karts have to be fixed by our students
And some new equipment for those who behave
June 2016 More windows and doors
More Friends of FAST Thank you, Bolton at Home Bolton College Forrest
Thank you, Helen & Sarah and team, Barnwood Park Arts College (Gloucester, England)
Thank you, Pam, Elizabeth and Queen’s Park Baptist Church (Glasgow, Scotland)
July 2016
Thank you, Sarah, Darren & Wilmington Grammar School for Boys (Dartford, England)
August 2016 Scaffolding, insulation and rendering
September 2016 Flooring
October 2016 Friends of FAST
Thank you, Margaret, Nigel, Helena and Central Hall Methodist Church (Plymouth, England)
Thank you, Pam & Niall & all our friends at Queen’s Park (Glasgow, Scotland)
Thank you, Andrew, Morag, David, Tim, Emma, Claire, Jim, Lisa-Joy, Mary & all our friends at FAST UK (Farnham, England)
November 2016 Furniture and equipment
All furniture is made by George and our in-house team at FAST carpentry workshop in Zizin
Windows to the Future is aiming to support Roma youth in their efforts to acquire an education and start a career The Training Centre will provide hands-on, skill-building opportunities in various areas carpentry plumbing mechanics cosmetics catering computers tourism hospitality and more
December 2016 Students
Since it was established in 1998, FAST Foundation has gained valuable experience in the field of educational development and social integration of families and children at risk
Our projects improve living conditions for families in critical poverty situations, provide ongoing educational support to help children meet basic school requirements and create job opportunities for the young people in our area Founders of FAST charity, Daniel & Ema Hristea
January 2017 Before & after
Official opening of the Vocational Training Centre September 2017
Every building has a story to tell. Our story is one about faith, perseverence and working together. If it wasn’t for Windows to the Future, the Workshops would have been demolished by now. Instead, they were saved and our story goes on. The next chapter is about people. It is about hope, dreams and restoration of dignifying lives. Become a Supporter of FAST, be part of the story and let’s write the next chapter together!
If you wish to become a Supporter of FAST, please contact Daniel & Ema at fastromania@gmail.com
Founder of FAST and Project Manager Daniel Hristea
www.fastromania.eu tel. +40 732 281 283