Paulina Mandache

Learning Assistant Pregătitoare Delta

My name is Paulina Mandache, and I come from the seaside, from Constanța, where my paternal grandparents are from. My maternal grandparents were from Bucovina. Thanks to them, I had a very beautiful childhood in which I learned to love nature. I come from a large family, with 4 sisters and 2 brothers, to whom I am very grateful because they taught me many values, principles, and games.

Initially, I wanted to be a pediatrician and heal all the children. I dreamt of building a glass hospital in the middle of the forest where patients would recover thanks to nature and clean air, using the space as a therapeutic environment. Later, while volunteering in children’s hospitals, I was overwhelmed. I was coming home filled with emotions and a heavy heart. I had to leave behind my dream of pursuing medicine, but I continued to explore nature.

Because I volunteered for 6 years and participated in numerous national and international youth projects, I decided to study at the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Bucharest. I aimed to be a different kind of doctor for children, one who would be close to their hearts and could help them holistically within their communities.

Through the Erasmus program, I studied for a semester at VIA University College in Aarhus, Denmark, in the program “Working in Context of Conflict and Disaster.” Through studying, reading, and discussions with professors and experts, I realized that lack of education is the source of the most of the problems. That’s when I decided that I didn’t want to be at the end of the problem but at its source, where I could prevent it.

In 2021, I began studying for a Master’s degree in Alternative Pedagogies and Theater Arts in Education at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the University of Bucharest.

In 2021-2022, I worked at a school where I learned that a confident, independent, autonomous, free child who knows how to choose for himself is the one who benefits from an educational experience in which play and non-formal education complement traditional teaching methods.

I love nature, traveling, sitting on the beach to watch the sunrise, playing with children, spending quality time with family, enjoying home-cooked meals, and creating a “home” wherever I am. I really enjoy cooking and like to experiment with recipes from all over the world.

My journey continues at Avenor, and I am extremely excited to be part of this beautiful community. I am happy that my dream of working with children in the middle of the forest is coming true here. Throughout the past school year, I had numerous opportunities for learning and professional development that I look forward to leveraging in the new school year.