Young Romanians from Ukraine and other countries discovered Romania’s heritage and cultural values through the ARC 2026 Programme

The ARC 2026 Programme Brought Together More Than 8,400 Young Romanians from the Diaspora

The Department for Romanians Abroad (DRP) has announced the conclusion of the 17th edition of the ARC Camps Programme, one of the most extensive projects dedicated to Romanian children, pupils and young people living outside the country’s borders.

Held between 30 June and 1 September 2026, this year’s edition included nine consecutive sessions and brought together 8,430 participants from 21 countries. Throughout the programme, participants had the opportunity to discover Romania, become familiar with Romanian values and traditions, and build connections with young people from Romanian communities around the world.

ARC, a Programme Strengthening Ties with Romania

According to the DRP leadership, the ARC Programme also has an important identity-building component, contributing to strengthening the connection between young people from the diaspora and Romania and its cultural heritage.

“The ARC Programme is an anchor of identity. The days these children spend in Romania are more than just days of holiday; they are experiences that bring them closer to the country, their roots and Romanian values,” said Cristina-Lavinia Arnăutu, Director with the duties of a State Secretary within the DRP.

She emphasized that the experiences offered through the camps, as well as the interactions among participants, are intended to contribute to shaping generations who know their origins and maintain a lasting connection with Romania.

More Than 400,000 Kilometres Covered for Participants

The scale of the programme was also reflected in the extensive logistical effort required to organize the nine sessions. More than 400,000 kilometres were covered across the country for the transportation of participants and travel related to the programme’s activities.

Alongside the DRP team, more than 200 volunteers, teachers and companions contributed to organizing the programme and delivering activities for the 8,430 participants.

Eight Centres and Partner Locations across Romania

The activities of the ARC 2026 Programme were organized in eight recreational centres and partner locations: the “Arcul de Triumf” National Sports Centre in Bucharest, the Gălăciuc Recreation Centre in Vrancea County, the Oglinzi Recreation Centre in Neamț County, the Codrii de Aramă Recreation Centre in Botoșani County, Caraiman Monastery in Bușteni, Prahova County, the “Liviu Rebreanu” Technological High School in Bălan, Harghita County, the Straja Camp in Hunedoara County, and the IC Ponor Padiș Holiday Village in Cluj County.

Participants took part in Romanian language, history and geography workshops, activities focused on traditional crafts and music, sports competitions, excursions to cultural sites, and preventive education sessions.

Inclusion at the Heart of the Final Session

A distinctive element of the 2026 edition was the final session, which also included children with Down syndrome, placing emphasis on inclusion, friendship and equal access to the experiences offered as part of the programme.

For the participants, the camp represented not only a series of educational and recreational activities, but also an opportunity for interaction, developing friendships and discovering Romania in an environment based on inclusion and solidarity.

Institutional Support and the Continuity of the Programme

This year’s edition was held with the institutional support of the National Sports Agency, the Romanian Patriarchate and the “Liviu Rebreanu” Technological High School in Bălan.

The DRP expressed its gratitude to the teachers, companions, volunteers, institutional partners and everyone involved in organizing and delivering the programme.

For the 8,430 children and young people, the ARC 2026 experience has come to an end, but the programme aims to ensure that the connection created with Romania continues after participants return to their countries of residence. Through such initiatives, the DRP seeks to strengthen the relationship between the Romanian diaspora and Romania and support new generations in preserving their identity and maintaining their ties with the country.