stories like those of Alaa Al-Haddad and Lea Strpkova employees of Habitat for Humanity International Europe and Middle East shine a light on the transformative power of giving back joined 150 other volunteers for the Hope Build event in Berceni Hope Build is no ordinary construction project it’s an accelerated building initiative where volunteers from around the world gather to construct homes for and with families in need The build event joined by Alaa and Lea focused on building two duplex houses in Berceni offering them not just a roof but the foundation for a brighter future and worked tirelessly to transform bare foundations into warm this event wasn’t just about construction—it was about hope.   “Volunteering is about giving without expecting anything in return It’s about making a tangible difference,” shared Alaa “Time is one of the most precious things we have Giving it to someone else is a powerful gesture Building homes as a team was an experience I could never achieve on my own.” Although both had volunteered before in various capacities—Alaa had helped sort clothes for refugees and Lea had organized events—Hope Build was the first for them in construction “It’s not every day you get to build a home!” said Lea with a smile with the team tackling activities like assembling walls “Each day brought something new,” said Alaa “From drilling into concrete to applying stucco we learned so much.” Despite the physical toll “Even when you were learning something tricky One of the most memorable moments came after the first day “But seeing the frames of the houses standing tall after just one day—it was breathtaking.”  it was hard to believe we’d come so far,” said Lea.   The emotional connection was just as significant as the physical labor Volunteers worked alongside the families who would live in these homes “Meeting the families was incredibly moving,” said Alaa “You realize you’re not just building walls; you’re helping to fulfill someone’s dream of a safe “We were a global team—people from Australia Italy and beyond—coming together for a shared purpose It was a beautiful feeling to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves.”    I felt sad knowing this exact group wouldn’t gather again.”   The experience profoundly affected both Alaa and Lea “I joke with friends now that I can help with drilling or building—it’s a skill I never thought I’d have!” For Lea “Working with over 150 people showed me the power of collective effort They also enjoyed having a new dimension to their daily jobs it was amazing to see the real human stories behind the numbers we work with every day,” said Alaa “The funds we raise directly support families like those we met in Berceni.” “You can’t fully understand the experience until you live it,” said Lea “It’s more than words can describe.”   “Volunteering with Habitat is about building more than houses,” added Alaa It’s an experience that stays with you for a lifetime.”   Whether you’re hammering nails or raising funds every effort helps create a world where everyone has a decent place to live © 2025 Habitat for Humanity® International “Habitat for Humanity®” is a registered service mark owned by Habitat for Humanity International Habitat® is a service mark of Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity® International is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law Bucharest offers a variety of options for ice skating enthusiasts this winter ranging from picturesque outdoor rinks to cozy indoor venues Whether you’re a seasoned skater or a beginner here’s your guide to the best spots in the city Bazilescu Ice Rink is located in the Bucureștii Noi area it is open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and offers all necessary facilities The West Side Christmas Market Ice Rink in Drumul Taberei Park spans 744 square meters and is part of the festive market, open until January 7, 2024. Skating sessions last 90 minutes, with hourly breaks for ice maintenance. Tickets cost 25 lei per session, skate rentals are also 25 lei, and dolphin or penguin skating aids are available for 20 lei. Laminor Winter Wonderland Ice Rink at Hala Laminor is another great option Operating hours are from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays and 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM on weekends Berceni Arena Ice Rink in Sector 4 is newly constructed and offers free access during December for up to 300 skaters per session Skate rentals are available for 25 lei per session The weekly schedule is updated on the arena’s website Colosseum Mall Ice Rink in Chitila provides free access until January. Entry fees depend on the day and age group, with skate rentals available at an additional cost. Caro Hotel Ice Rink offers a refined skating experience in the hotel’s beautiful garden setting and skate rentals are available for 20 lei The rink operates from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays and from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekends Finally, Cismigiu Ice Rink, situated in the iconic Cismigiu Gardens, is one of the city’s largest and most picturesque rinks. Its central location and enchanting atmosphere make it a favorite among locals and tourists. Entry fee is 50 lei. The rink is open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays and from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM on weekends. be sure to check the specific schedules for each rink as hours may vary due to weather or special events and consider wearing protective gear if you’re a beginner Bucharest’s ice rinks offer a magical winter experience for everyone so lace up your skates and enjoy the season We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used Auchan Romania continues investments in the development of its store network and improves the hypermarket model by developing a new concept for this format Recently remodeled under the hyperstore concept structured in the form of food and non-food specialist universes as well as a pleasant shopping experience with a strong focus on responsible trade and local producers With a sales area of ​​7,500 square meters and a range of approximately 50,000 products the Auchan Berceni hypermarket has recently been remodeled easy-to-navigate and comfortable shopping space the retailer aims to also implement this concept gradually in the other hypermarkets in the country „We are happy to have taken a step forward in the development of this hyperstore concept a store that meets current requirements and trends and stands out for its wide ranges as well as for highlighting the Romanian ranges We thank the customers who cross our threshold every day and the teams who have made this transformation and this major upgrade possible” At Auchan Berceni the focus is on Romanian products Over 90% of the food products come from companies in Romania and Auchan has developed an important portfolio of partnerships with Romanian producers The retailer has more than 40 products in the Auchan chain long-term partnerships through which it obtains products with controlled traceability from seed to shelf Local products are prominently displayed in all stores the customer benefits from more extensive communication about products but also advice on adopting sustainable behaviors Local products also have a strong presence in the butchery area moreover one of the largest butcheries in the Auchan network is in Auchan Berceni the retailer has also developed its own smokehouse and offers customers an extensive range of poultry the retailer has developed a universe dedicated to organic and plant-based products the area being completed by a varied selection of foods for special diets the store also integrates its own production areas but also the presence of the restaurant Wanted Burger & Fish by chef Raluca Todea Another important factor within the new concept is the “Crama Mea” area a category under which all types of alcoholic beverages have been brought together in a space specially designed for events and tastings with a strong information and education component The wine range is a landmark for Crama Mea a category in which the retailer offers a wide selection of wines from Romanian wineries covering both the premium and the most affordable categories where Auchan has once again created a specialized universe and offers consumers a wide range of coffee assortments including its own brand coffee and specialties of origin Among the novelties of the store is the highlighting of specialized ranges which stand out for the size of the collections the quality of the products and a very good price-quality ratio offering customers a structure divided into rooms and an assortment focused on products created under Auchan’s Actuel own brand such as organic cotton products and recycled aluminum items in the area dedicated to electronics and household appliances the retailer has created an experience with an emphasis on information so that customers can find here many useful tips on how to choose or maintain a particular product.  Another area that stands out in the new hyperstore concept is the one dedicated to pet products Auchan offers an extensive range of food for dogs Continuing the actions to protect the purchasing power of Romanians low prices and strong promotions every day combined with a diverse palette of services and experiences for customers the local community can benefit from services such as free tool rental based on the MyCLUB Auchan loyalty card and shopping assistance for disabled people Auchan Live was created for a special experience in the store an area specially designed for cooking events or tastings of new products Continuing the actions to protect the environment and the roof has been modified to allow the installation of photovoltaic panels customers also have at their disposal a series of sustainability programs and circular economy projects such as: within numerous departments in the store (toys customers will find products with FSC certified packaging respectively packaging whose composition comes from responsibly managed forests Auchan Berceni offers a completely modernized line of cash registers multi-functional cash registers that can be operated both by the customer and by cashiers and also offers multiple delivery services for online orders placed at auchan.ro respectively Click & Collect (pick up from the store) Auchan Drive (pick up from the parking lot directly to the car) or home delivery (via Bringo More images from the premises of the new hypermarket can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBi0iNFqqBc.  Plastic packaging producer Alpla acquired the Greek company Argo S.A. Austrian Alpla Holding acquired the Egyptian production site of Argo S.A at the end of 2015 and now is planning to purchase all the shares in the Greek company The Austrian and Romanian competition authorities are currently examining the proposal The Greek factory in Romania (Berceni) is operated by Argo-Rom Plastics, which last year had about 43 employees with a turnover of RON 43.6 million and a net profit of RON 7.4 million. Alpla bought the company Star East Pet in Braşov and the Amraz thermoplastic polyester manufacturer near Bucharest Retailer Mega Image opened today its second concept store in Bucharest The store has a sales area of 1,700s sqm which is considerably larger than its usual supermarkets and offers a larger variety of products The announcement comes after at the end of September Romania became the first country where the Belgian Delhaize group launched a new retail brand, AB Cool Food, which sells exclusively frozen foods. The concept store in Berceni is the second such outlet opened by Mega Image in Bucharest after the first one was inaugurated in the Gemeni Square this January on a 1,600 sqm sales surface. Mega Image has recently reached a network of 253 stores in Romania out of which 100 are Shop&Go proximity stores (with a smaller sale surface than regular supermarkets) and the rest are Mega Image supermarkets the Bucharest District 4 City Hall and Metrorex have signed a protocol regarding the construction of a new overground metro station in south Bucharest between the existing Berceni metro station and the city’s ring road The new station will be built as part of Pipera-Berceni Line 2 of the Bucharest metro network The funds for the new station will be provided by the District 4 City Hall, which will also manage the project. the new station and its related infrastructure will be the property of the state and taken under concession by Metrorex Italian producer of industrial equipment Walter Tosto (WT) will invest EUR 30 million in the FECNE nuclear components plant it acquired earlier this year for EUR 7 million and has already opened the order book with a delivery of reactors for the Chinese market WT has started to revamp equipment and install a new roof at its FECNE plant The company will invest EUR 11 million in new installations and equipment and EUR 5 million in energy efficiency Another EUR 5 million will go on servicing the current equipment while EUR 6 million will be put into training employees and EUR 3 million into R&D investments “Despite the fact that it was designed 40 years ago, FECNE is a modern plant, a structure with potential, among the best in Europe in the production of equipment in the nuclear sector, with a strategic geographical position for Europe,” said Luca Tosto, managing director of WT. The company is considering two financing scenarios for these investments “The right road link between Berceni and Oltenita for heavy freight transportation is a vital element for the future development of FECNE,” said Tosto The Romanian plant has already signed its first contract and will manufacture eight reactors of 260 tons each for the Chinese market. In addition, around 1,200 components of a fusion reactor will be manufactured locally. WT is part of a consortium that in 2010 signed a contract to supply the vacuum vessel of the ITER a scientific experiment that aims to prove the viability of fusion as an energy source Tosto said that Romanian engineers will be trained for the ITER project in 2012 and 2013 The company will develop a three-tier training program in Romania which targets vocational schools The Italian manufacturer has 485 employees and estimates a turnover of EUR 90 million this year. The company has orders worth EUR 232 million through to 2016. Some of its largest clients are Petrobras, Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. Mega Image has opened three new stores in Bucharest and Ilfov: in Berceni and in Marasesti on January 16 and a Shop&Go in Apusului on January 26 Mega Image Marasesti was reopened after a building restoration after the promulgation of law 282/2015 that stipulated the forbiddance of activity development in buildings with high earthquake risk Founded in 1995, Mega Image is one of the biggest supermarkets chain in Romania, with a network of 599 stores in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Ploiesti, Brasov, Targoviste and other cities in Romania, under the brands Mega Image, Shop&Go, Gusturi Romanesti. providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used.