Mrs. Laura Bush participates in a civic education forum at the Central University Library of Bucharest. April 4, 2008 (White House photo by Shealah Craighead)

Embassy Highlights

Students Brief First Lady on Community Service Projects

On April 4, the last day of the Bucharest NATO Summit, Mrs. Laura Bush met Romanian high school students from around the country to hear about their community service projects and discuss volunteerism. The meeting was hosted by the Central University Library in Bucharest.

Four teams of students, from Bacau, Bucharest, Constanta and Craiova, who participate in a PD Bucharest-sponsored Civics Education Program, along with a fifth team of students from Tulcea, Husi and Tecuci, working under the Democracy Small Grants program, presented their projects to the First Lady and top Romanian education officials. The projects included: promoting school attendance by Roma children; supporting orphans, the disabled and the elderly; promoting democratic student elections; promoting a healthy lifestyle and discouraging the use of drugs and alcohol among students; and establishing student newspapers, press offices, radio and TV stations in rural areas of Romania.

Mrs. Bush listened attentively to the students and asked questions. She expressed her support for their commitment to their communities, and encouraged them to continue volunteering. She answered questions about volunteerism in America and the importance of adult role models. Mrs. Bush also engaged the Minister of Education on ways of keeping at-risk students in school. She offered special thanks to the teachers for cultivating their students’ civic commitment and said the U.S. will continue to support those working to strengthen Romanian democracy.

back to top ^