Women’s Aerospace Fall 2024
acquire notary documents, visit the U.S.
Embassy in Bucharest and pay for visas—all
of which require fundraising. The results
are noticeable, as upon our return from the
space camp, parents, teachers and entities
are astonished by the positive change in
these students. Because these changes are so
visible, they want to offer continuous support.
Until this year, Romanian friends and entities
that knew the program from my advocacy
helped with the funds. However, these
scholarship funds are only able to cover
two students per year. This is how the idea
of Beyond the Stars Education came into
existence.
In October 2023, I created this Non-
Governmental
Organization
(NGO)
to
promote space education to visually impaired
students, with the goal of raising money
to offer scholarships for participation in
space camps, activities, student exchanges,
and training. Besides this, it involves a
tremendously
empowering
process
for
the students, as it includes writing essays,
obtaining medical papers, applying for
visas, making a trip to the U.S. Embassy in
Bucharest, Romania, receiving their visas
participating in the SCIVIS program.
Beyond The Stars Education Logo. Photo credit: Dorina Girbovan
In addition to participating in SCIVIS Space
Camps, the NGO also aims to help visually
impaired students from Romania in more
ways. Its latest project, “Stars in Romania,”
intends to improve the well-being of visually
impaired students. Until recently, these
students were enrolled in residential schools,
resulting in delays in various developmental
areas due to a lack of resources. This lack of
support led to limited access to university
education, employment, and independent
living opportunities. The first goal is to
improve the well-being of 150 visually
impaired students from Romania by Oct.30,
2024, through student exchanges, training,
shared best practices and access to space
camp. The second goal is to provide schools
with updated equipment, and develop a
playroom for therapy to help students
develop in different areas and improve their
well-being.
In the first generation of SCIVIS Romania,
one of the girls barely spoke English before
knowing about this opportunity. Motivated
by this chance, she learned English at a
proficiency level. At the camp, she participated
in all activities, organized groups, spoke in
front of her peers and their families, scuba
dived, used the multi-axis trainer, climbed
the pamper pole and the climbing wall, sang,
practiced her English and helped those in
need. As a result, out of all 200 students
present, she was awarded The Golden Arrow
Medal. She used what she learned in the U.S.
to apply for a Social Work undergraduate
degree in Romania, graduated, and is now
pursuing her Master of Science (MSc) degree.
In 2022, the SCIVIS Romania Team consisted
of two amazing girls who worked hard to
complete all the scholarship requirements,
and participate in the Space Camp for
Interested
Visually
Impaired
Students