WISE is created by the biggest Work Integration Social Enterprise in Romania, being declared „Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2016” within Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year world competition. Throughout time, we provided social aid to over 150.000 beneficiaries, created over 100 jobs, out of which at least 40% are dedicated to disabled people.
WISE is developed and fully owned by Close to You Foundation (ADV), a humanitarian organization established in February 2002 by Holt International Children’s Service USA, whose mission is the integration of people with disabilities or other vulnerable groups.
Its national headquarters is in Iasi and it is registered as a Romanian foundation, independent from state authorities, not conditioned by any certain ideologies, doctrines or religions.
Close to You Foundation has developed over 75 projects/programmes in the last 16 years, financed by international bodies, local authorities and from its own funds. The programmes of the foundation carried out at a local, national and regional level and at the cross-border/transnational level, are in the domain of social services and social economy, innovative services targeting the inclusion and employment of vulnerable groups, particularly young people. In parallel, the lobby and advocacy component for the NGO sector has been developed by the promotion and defense of the direct beneficiaries – people from vulnerable groups and a development assistance component – granted to NGOs from the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and Nigeria.
Close to You Foundation is currently providing the following services:
In 2015, the United Nations adopted 17 sustainable development goals. These goals build on the preceding Millennium Development Goals and seek to tackle the world’s economic, social and environmental issues by 2030. In our entire history as a humanitarian organization, we have put great efforts in helping communities affected by various social issues, building networks of concepts similar to ours, and also on making a richer experience to our travelers. We have created, and are part of, several networks either for lobby and advocacy purposes, trading good practice models, or joining for the same projects in the community.
All the revenues made by WISE are donated either to Close to You Foundation or to other partner charities, according to our affiliate program. In addition, these non-profit organization earn funds by promoting social or commercial activities. As many of our clients are companies, based on the GRI Index requirements, they can find NPOs that can help them with their Corporate Social Responsibility campaigns. On the brand page of each NPO, you can see the Global Goals it is currently working on, and the milestones achieved on that matter, next to volunteering opportunities or paid experiences.
Educated as a social assistant, with a Master's degree in integrated education at Al.I. Cuza University of Iasi and currently a Ph-D. candidate in `strategic management of social economy businesses`, during her 15 years of activity with Close to You Foundation, Angela has carried out the management of more than 75 European projects.
Ana Drelea has started her activity with Close to You Foundation in 2004, as a volunteer. She became very attached to the foundation's values and in 2006, she applied for the position of financial assistant, being, as a result, employed within the organization.
At the beginning of 2004, I came into contact with Close to You Foundation, as a beneficiary. I found people determined to help for the better those in need. I was fascinated by the way they helped the beneficiaries with the problems they had and I decided that I wanted and could do more for those around me.
Ana Vasilache is an architect and town planner, with a vast experience as trainer and facilitator of participating processes of strategic planification in communities and organizations. Ana is founding member of FPDL - Partners for Local Development Foundation, a non-governmental organization
Olivia Baciu is working in the field of local and international development, being consultant and trainer in the development of organizations/institutions and transition governance for the representatives of civil society organizations and of local and central public administrations and their partners, as well as for the coalitions and federations
”Social Entrepreneur Of The Year” Prize in 2017
”Social Entrepreneur Of The Year” Prize granted to Angela Achitei for the establishment of UtilDeco as a social enterprise within Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Programme, the only global entrepreneurial competition taking place in more than 145 cities from 60 countries, covering over 94% of the global economy.
the European Commission published us on its website as a good practice model representative for Romania on the disabled people’s protected employment.
"For us, Close to You Foundation is a trendsetter through what they have been doing for years in the social economy sector, fighting for the interests of social organizations at a national level so the work of the sector is respected and recognized." "They prove each day that organizations outside Bucharest can successfully promote public policies at a national level."
"I'm a big fan of Close to You and of Angela Achitei (and not because she is my namesake). What Angela Achitei has started in Iasi is in fact, a way of believing in people and in their power, sometimes still undiscovered. The network she has created within the social services and the social economy structures constitutes a vivid demonstration of what it means to be a person of the citadel, for the community of Iasi and more. It is a model to be followed for both local and national public policies."
"During my 15 years of activity in the non-governmental sector, I have had the opportunity to witness many projects develop and I have watched them with the care of someone who knows how serious are the challenges with which they will be faced in order to ensure their continuity. Close to You Foundation has managed to find, quite naturally, because the foundation's programmes are really the expression of the local needs, a way of efficient development by establishing UtilDeco. I was impressed by the evolution of UtilDeco, going from the stage of an idea, several years ago, to the stage of a truly effective social enterprise and, at the same time, a model of the involvement of the beneficiaries - people from vulnerable groups, in various activities, turning to advantage their talent and dedication. It can be done! Close to You Foundation is showing, thanks to UtilDeco, that this can be done in Romania as well! Not only by knowing the beneficiaries' real needs, but also through clear management abilities and a lot of dedication, extraordinary longstanding projects are born, both in the capital city and in other locations in the country."
"The visit to UtilDeco has provided me with a lot of information and has deeply impressed me. I appreciate the efforts made to improve social services and to influence and change the way in which social services and social enterprises are regarded. I would like to come back because here I have discovered an overall thinking and a concrete system of providing improved services, including to people in rural areas."
“Close to you” Foundation is involved at national and European level into advocacy endeavors aimed at improving and regulating some aspects related to social services, social economy, the rights of disabled people, the development of the NPO sector, European funds, transparency and social equity. In this sense, as the founding member, it has laid the foundations of several national platforms and networks.
We are the member of the National Committee of Integration and Fight against Poverty attached to prime minister Dacian Ciolos’ cabinet.
Close to You Foundation is registered with the Unique Registry of the Transparency of Interests, RUTI, implemented by the Romanian Government.
Educated as social assistant, with a Master’s degree in integrated education at Al.I. Cuza University of Iasi and currently a Ph-D. candidate in `strategic management of social economy businesses`, during her 15 years of activity with Close to You Foundation, Angela has carried out the management of more than 75 European projects, has attracted over 17 million euro for the community and has consolidated UtilDeco (WISE), that throughout time, has created over 100 jobs, out of which over 40% for disabled young people and a turnover of more than 5 million euros / year. She began her career right after college in social assistance in 1997, at D.G.A.S.P.C. Vaslui, then she continued at D.G.A.S.P.C. Iasi. In 1999, she left to work for Holt International Children’s Services in the USA, that later on, in 2002, has founded Close to You Foundation, being the first employee of that new organization.
In 2017, she was awarded the ”Social Entrepreneur Of The Year” prize within the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme, the only worldwide entrepreneurial competition, held in more than 145 cities from 60 countries, covering more than 94% of the global economy. In December 2015, she was awarded the `Business with social impact` prize, within Business Days for the development of UtilDeco (WISE) and in March 2014, Angela received the recognition of `social economy entrepreneur` within the Feminine Models Gala. In September 2013, the European Commission has published UtilDeco on its own website, in the section `Employment, social business and integration`, as a good practice model representative for Romania regarding the protected employment of disabled people.
Apart from the position within Close to You Foundation, Angela has greatly invested into the development of the Romanian NPO sector, as well. Thus, between 2012-2014, she founded the NPO Commission of Iasi and in 2014, with other 9 NPOs from Iasi, she established FONSS – the Federation of Non-Governmental organizations for Social Services, occupying the position of president.
She is involved in policies targeting the domain of structural funds, social economy, cooperation for international development, health and social services, providing the basis for important Romanian coalitions and networks, such as RISE, FOND, NPO Coalition for structural funds and the Social Economy Coalition. In 2014, her involvement in the development of the sector was recognized through Dan Manoleli prize, awarded by FDSC within the Civil Society Gala. As of 2007, the expertise of the foundation is capitalized by programme replication and the development of the sector in the Republic of Moldova as well, particularly in the domain of social services, social economy and project management.
In 2013, Angela Achitei has been awarded the Order of Charity of the Republic of Moldova for her contribution to the development of the Republic of Moldova. In 2016, she also got awarded by Save the Children Iasi and Star of Hope Romania Foundation for activity. As of 2007, she is an active member of Europe Club, developed by the European Commission, providing feedback on different European subjects of interest. Since 2015, Angela is a voting member of the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Operational Programme, providing a significant contribution to the implementation of the structural funds dedicated to investments and since 2016, she is part of the National Coalition of Integration and Fight against Poverty of Romania.
The motto that defines her best is:
„What we do daily, defines our future!”
Ana Drelea has started her activity with Close to You Foundation in 2004, as a volunteer. She became very attached to the foundation’s values and in 2006, she applied for the position of financial assistant, being as a result, employed within the organization. She graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, department of Economic Engineering, followed by a Master in “Management and Marketing, Communication and Negociations” at the same university. She also has a Master in “Economic Sciences and Business Management” at the Technical University of Moldova in Chisinau. At this moment, she is a Ph.D candidate, her study thesis is “Financial management of social economy businesses” at the Technical University of Moldova.
As of July 2010, until now, Ana Drelea has been holding the position of Economic Director and since 2016 she has become a member of the Executive Council of Close to You Foundation. Moreover, since 2014, she is censor at FONSS – Federation of Non-Governmental organizations for Social Services, Close to You Foundation being one of its founding members.
Throughout 12 years of activity, she has handled the financial management of over 60 European projects developed by the foundation; since 2008, when UtilDeco has been created, she has been developing the economic side of the foundation. Ana Drelea ensures a complex financial management, consisting of non-profit and economic activity, managing until now over 30 million euros, non-refundable funds, and economic incomes.
The motto that defines her best is:
The impossible can be any time divided into possibilities!
At the beginning of 2004, I came into contact with Close to You Foundation, as a beneficiary. I found people determined to help for the better those in need. I was fascinated by the way they helped the beneficiaries with the problems they had and I decided that I wanted and could do more for those around me. Thus, I applied for the foundation’s volunteering programme and in the summer of the same year, I became a volunteer for Close to You Foundation, where I began to develop different educational activities with the beneficiaries in the hospital, information campaigns in the community, to support the organization of camps and trips for children and even the establishment of a Day School within the hospital, to support the continuation of the education process, including during the hospitalization period.
In 2006, within the 5th edition of the Volunteers’ Gala organized by Bethany Foundation of Social Services, the results of my work as a volunteer were appreciated, being named “Volunteer of the year” for the most active volunteer of a non-governmental organization.
In 2006 I was also invited to adhere to the Executive Council of Close to You Foundation, as the beneficiaries’ representative. Ever since, as member of the Executive Council I have developed several activities for the foundation’s beneficiaries, as well as many interventions when their right to life was violated by the interruption of the treatment, including by appraising the People’s Advocate, by adopting firm positions when the disabled children and young people’s companions were not remunerated on time by the city halls in their capacity of employers, through lobby and advocacy for the acceptance of disabled people by the society as active members without discrimination, including by ensuring their right to health, education, social services, and employment. I periodically brought a series of issues identified in the domain to the attention of decision-makers within various forums and conferences I used to participate to.
In May 2007, Her Royal Majesty, King Mihai I of Romania awarded me the Annual Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award, initially offered to the King by The Prague Society. I received this award for my involvement in social causes.
I have graduated from the Gheorghe Asachi University of Iasi and the Gr.T. Popa University of Iasi, currently working in the healthcare system. I would like to thank the beneficiaries, the volunteers, the employers and the collaborators for accepting me and for allowing for our beautiful growth together!
The future is in our hands, it’s up to us how the world will look like!
Ana Vasilache is an architect and town planner, with a vast experience as trainer and facilitator of participating processes of strategic planification in communities and organizations.
Ana is the founding member of FPDL – Partners for Local Development Foundation, a non-governmental organization that in recent years has played an important role in the promotion of good governance and democratic administration in Romania, Central, and Eastern Europe and well beyond it. Ana was the Executive Director of FPDL until 2013 and president of its executive council until 2016, when FPDL merged through absorption with Close to You Foundation. At the moment, Ana is a member of the Support Council of Princess Margaret of Romania Foundation and was part of the Executive Committees of Cities Alliance and Carpathian Foundation.
Under her management, FPDL has successfully developed innovations, guided by the idea that poet Antonio Machado has so beautifully expressed: Caminante, no hay camino, camino se hace al andar! `Walker there is no path, you make the path as you go’ Ana and her colleagues were social entrepreneurs long before what they were doing was named in this way. Ana was active in the domain of international development long before it became a public policy after Romania’s entry into the European Union. She promoted learning through experience with interactive and participative methods. As trainer and consultant, Ana contributed to the development of the skills of over 1.600 trainers and facilitators, agents of change involved in the reform of the public administration in their countries: Romania and more than 50 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, West and East Africa, Central and South Asia. Ana has been awarded the prestigious UN HABITAT Scroll of Honour Award 2000 for her activity in the promotion of good governance in Central and Eastern Europe. She promoted mediation as an alternative method for conflict settlement, militating for its regulation by law. She managed strategic planification participative processes in communities and organizations, long before these processes were promoted through European local development public policies.
In the last 12 years, Ana, in collaboration with Ronald MacLean Abaroa and based on the theoretical concepts of professor Robert Klitgaard, has elaborated and disseminated in more than 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and in 25 city halls, the Anti-Corruption Methodology “Integrity Islands”, with the aim of multiplying the successful experience of mayor Ronald MacLean Abaroa. The Anti-corruption methodology has received international recognition through UN Public Service Award 2011.
Ana is also an experienced graphic facilitator, promoting visual language in order to make more efficient the learning, planification, and issue settlement processes: for details visit https://www.facebook.com/anagraphicfacilitator/
Ana’s favorite motto is a quote of Margaret Mead:
Never doubt that a small group of citizens, thoughtful and committed citizens, can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has!
Olivia Baciu is working in the field of local and international development, being consultant and trainer in the development of organizations/institutions and transition governance for the representatives of civil society organizations and of local and central public administrations and their partners, as well as for the coalitions and federations (multi-sector) of countries in conflict, post-conflict or in emergent countries. Olivia has experience and expertise in domains such as collaborative governance, local development, multi-actor change processes, organizational development, multi-sector coalition development and partnerships. She has worked in 24 countries from Europe, Africa, North America, South-East Asia and the Middle East, in development programmes financed mainly by USAID, the US State Department, the World Bank, PNUD, UN stabilization missions in Africa and the European Commission.
Graduated in law, international relations and local development from universities in Romania, Belgium, and Italy, Olivia has started her career in the central public administration, by working in 2000 for the Romanian Presidency within the Department of External Affairs. From 2003 to 2016, Olivia worked for FPDL Partners for Local Development Foundation, one of the non-governmental organizations leaders in training and counseling for the civil and public administrative society, contributing to its global impact. Olivia is continuing her activity in international development under the umbrella of Partners Global, an American organization in the field of international development that supports the change and transformation processes at a global level, contributing to the development of inclusive democratic societies.
Starting with 2009, for 6 years, Olivia was member of the FOND Board, Romanian NPO Federation active in development, ensuring a leadership based on FOND’s mission and strategic governance. During her 4 year mandate as President of the Board, FOND became an actor with visibility and influence at a national and European level, being officially recognized as a strategic partner in the domain of international development by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As of 2016, Olivia is a member of the Advisory Council for the Black Sea, organized by FOND.
In 2014, Olivia was named for a 3-year mandate in the Board of CONCORD, European NPO Confederation in the field of development, ensuring the voice and representativity of Eastern European national platforms, actively contributing to the consolidation of European development policies. As of 2016, she is holding the position of treasurer of CONCORD, being the first woman to occupy such a position within the confederation