What we do – Forum ONG

Every time we’re asked how we started, we turn to history.

It was 2017, and the protests brought us to the streets. From there, into a café. A handful of people who didn’t know each other, but who felt the same frustrations and realized they couldn’t keep doing this forever—they couldn’t keep fixing things only when they broke. It would be better to put their efforts into something with a longer-term impact.

That’s how Forum Apulum was born, out of a desire to stop reacting like firefighters and instead try to build a world that “breaks” less often.

We support non-formal education, we confront uncomfortable history, and we promote critical thinking. We channel all of this into our work with young people; we try to do civic education in a less formal way. To expose them to relevant information and people, to dismantle myths or half-truths they carry with them. To offer them, really, transformative experiences.

Every now and then—more and more often—we get a message thanking us for this. And that gives us the energy to keep going.

Casa Forum

In official documents, Casa Forum is the association’s headquarters. For us, it’s much more than that: every time we go there, we say we’re going “to the house.” It’s not any of our own homes, but it is our home.

That’s because it’s much more than just an office — it’s an exhibition space, a place for screenings, meetings, interviews, podcasts, hosting (in special conditions) two cats, or grilling in the yard during summer.

Casa Forum, as the sign at the gate says, is a house, not just a headquarters. A house built almost 100 years ago, whose atmosphere we’ve preserved. The small built-in wall shelves, the double-hinged doors with tiny glass windows, the massive chandelier with many arms and a metal figurine, or the black-and-white tile floor in the kitchen where we often make cheesecake — all these constantly remind us that we’re in a place full of history, not just “at the office.”

Perjovschi Wall

“My kid could’ve drawn that,” is something Dan Perjovschi hears quite often. He always replies calmly and with a hint of amusement: “Yes, but you didn’t.”

At Forum, we never thought we could draw like Dan, or understand the world the way he does. That’s why we were thrilled to start collaborating with him back in 2017, during the first edition of our civic engagement festival, CivicOn, where Dan gave a fascinating presentation in his signature style.

The “Perjovschi Wall,” as we proudly call it, is actually a mini-exhibition and an integral part of the new Casa Forum, after first coming to life in our original space. The wall is a moment to “stop and think,” a younger sibling of the well-known “Perjovschi Wall” in Sibiu.

We are Forum

Future Plans

“Education, arts, attitude” is written on the wall at the entrance to Casa Forum, and it’s probably the most concise expression of our vision.

We aim to remain a positive influence for the young people we work with, to expose them to as many experiences and inspiring figures as possible—people and ideas that can help them grow. We want to fill the gap left by the absence of civic education—often a vague memory at best (unless a truly gifted teacher happened to cross their path)—and encourage critical thinking, a kind-hearted questioning of everything society puts in front of them.

We believe that “the kids are alright.” They’re not that different from how we were—or how our parents’ generation was, for that matter. They’re no less rebellious, restless, or curious about culture (“young people don’t read anymore”). They are, without a doubt, more overwhelmed by information, more exposed to manipulation (because it’s more frequent and more aggressive), but not any less capable. They just need to be challenged the right way, and they’ll respond. We’ve seen it happen—right here, in our own backyard.

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We build with pride
@Forum Apulum
from 2017.

Casa Forum

Perjovschi Wall

We are Forum

Diana Filimon

Alexandru Ciocan