A mini-exhibition marked the final event of the Craftalization – Digitization of Ier Valley Crafts project in August. As previously reported, the year-long project aims to strengthen the cultural identity of ethnic minorities through the revitalisation, revival and digitisation of eight crafts in the Ier Valley, as well as to involve young students in home-based activities initiated and implemented by them in their local communities, which naturally lead to positive changes. In addition, the initiative also aims to increase the tourist attractiveness of the area. The children involved in the project were able to try their skills in the following craft activities: making recycled paper by hand, weaving carpets using recycled textiles, making homemade noodles, pottery, making wooden models, wood carving, crochet, corn husk weaving.

Several students in the Ier Valley learned about the many uses of corn husks during July. Under the guidance of Bátori Szabolcs, a teacher from Săcueni, 35 pupils learned how to make small dolls and corn husk braids. It took a lot of patience for the youngsters to master the art of braiding, but they did a good job and took their creations home with pride.  The event, organised by the Ér Hangja Association, was part of a project called “Digitisation of crafts in the Ier Valley”, which aims to involve and familiarise local students with traditional crafts in the region. The project, supported by the European Solidarity Corps and run by the Ér Hangja Association in partnership with the Petőfi Sándor High School and the Săcueni Town Hall, introduces local students to a range of crafts from the Ier Valley.

In May and June, 50 pupils learned to crochet under the guidance of local craftsmen Ildikó Braun and Zsuzsa Major. This old craft, which is enjoying a revival, has proved a big hit with young people. At first, children learned simple crochet methods, made bracelets and necklaces, and then, step by step, they could try more difficult techniques. Some took less time and some took longer to learn the art of crochet, but in the end all the young people had fun and were able to take home some of the items they made to show their parents. The event, organized by the Ér Hangja Association, was part of the project “Digitization of crafts in the Ier Valley”, which aims to involve and familiarize local students with the traditional crafts of the region.

Our traditions are linked to the past, they are fulfilled in the present, but they are also a guarantee for our future. With the support of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), the media association Ér Hangja is raising awareness of the importance of the traditions of the Ier Valley through a project launched in August 2022 entitled “Digitising the crafts of the Ier Valley”. As the last stage of the project, we invite young people and pensioners to a bus tour of the built heritage of Ier Valley, during which we will visit the living museums of our region, namely Galoșpetreu Country House, Curtuișeni Village Museum, Otomani Manor and Mișca Country House.

The aim of the trip is to bring together older and younger generations, to discuss the past and present and to learn together about the built heritage and traditions of our region.

The 80 students from Săcueni learned about wood carving with the help of local Ferencz Szabó, photographer, master wood carver, who showed the youngsters the tricks of this profession in his workshop in March and April. Ferencz Szabó welcomed the curious young people with a piece of wood with a pre-designed pattern to make the work go smoothly, they were able to learn about wood carving, one of the crafts of our region, by carving the logo of the ÉrHangja International.

Young people were introduced to a craft from the past in February, when they experienced the miracle of making wood models with the help of Lajos Dormány, a craftsman from Săcueni. The LEGO-like wood carving was a beautiful glimpse of a terraced farmhouse, a barn, a wagon and a working well, evoking a not-so-distant past. Of course, the children also had the opportunity to try out how to build a wooden shed.

The event, organised by the Ér Hangja Association, was part of the project “Digitisation of crafts in the Ier Valley”, which aims to involve and familiarise local students with traditional crafts in the region. The project, supported by the European Solidarity Corps and implemented by the Ér Hangja Association in partnership with the Petőfi Sándor High School and the Săcueni Town Hall, introduces young people to the crafts of the Ier Valley region.

In January, the students who visited the ceramic workshop of Attila László and László Emese in the Oradea Castle were familiarized with the craft of pottery in the project called Digitization of crafts from Valea Ierului.

We excitedly entered the small workshop. The shelves were filled with more and more beautiful mugs, plates and true masterpieces. Attila László and Emese László’s warm welcome immediately warmed our hearts on the cold January morning. The students sat around a table and immediately got down to business. They were given clay and instructions for use, and young hands skillfully and creatively shaped the clay between their fingers: the lid of their little bowl was made.

The project of preparing pasta in the shape of snails evoked memories of hot soup, yellow pasta like sunflowers and grandmother’s words for those present, as Christmas approaches in the museum of Săcueni. In mid-December, children and adults alike were able to learn about making soup noodles, which is very popular in our region and considered almost an ancient craft. Around the big table, the young people handed each other their place and tools to make the snail dough, so that everyone could try the snail torso, both boys and girls. Those interested could learn the tricks of making snail dough from Mrs. Edit Balog, who kindly showed us all the small details of the work process and told us that she learned the snail making from her grandmother and mother when she was small.

In the second half of November, Mrs. Irénke Balajti kindly presented to our small group of students from the Petőfi Sándor Theoretical High School from Săcueni and to the volunteers of the project called Digitization of Handicrafts of the Ier Valley the secrets of the ancient craft of carpet weaving.

Lady Irénke was already waiting for our bus at the gate. She welcomed us into her kitchen, where she offered us hot tea and scones. We ate the delicacy with pleasure. Meanwhile, Mrs. Irénke told us: she inherited the looms from her grandmother and even the cane stick to hold the thread is from her grandmother. We thanked her for the warm welcome, Mrs. Irénke escorted us out, and our team returned to Săcueni.

The project called Digitization of crafts from Valea Ierului has started.

The young students of the Petőfi Sándor Theoretical High School in Săcueni were able to learn more about the mysteries of making recycled paper by hand in October at the local museum. III and IV grade preparatory school students were able to watch the recycling of waste paper collected by their colleagues in September with the novelty of making recycled paper. At school, the teachers jumped into action by announcing a competition, encouraging the enthusiastic student army to collect as much clean paper as possible. The excited students of the winning teams were awaited by the project volunteers, who gladly helped and for the first time, they began to master the art of recycling by making paper by hand.