21 January 2026
The residents of Cluj listened, in the city center, to the unfiltered, honest thoughts — full of pain, fears, hope, and courage — of children with chronic and serious illnesses, as well as those of their parents, participants in the Yuppi Camp therapeutic camps. The booth with audio recordings, part of the event "A Thousand Scenarios. One Diagnosis," was placed on Heroes' Boulevard from Thursday, December 11, to Sunday, December 14.
Visitors had access to over 20 audio recordings featuring stories of children with illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other autoimmune illnesses. The materials were created during the Yuppi Camp summer camps. The children and teenagers, aged between 2 and 18, come from Cluj-Napoca as well as many other cities across the country. The recordings will soon be available to listen to here as well.
"There was great pain, a lot of fear," "Over the course of 3 months, he lost about 10–15 kilograms," "We arrived at the hospital and I was very stressed, I didn't cry, but I was on the verge of tears," "I'm overcome by such sadness and worry — I constantly think about my child, but also about the others: what could they have done wrong to end up like this? They didn't even get a chance to start their lives." These are just a few thoughts taken from the recordings that visitors were able to hear.
The visitors who engaged with the project were very diverse: from people who had undergone many surgeries and doctors who set out to carry the Yuppi Camp message forward to the patients they treat, to young people who signed up as volunteers in the camps or parents who had participated in Yuppi Camp and came to listen to others' stories as well.
"It was a moving experience. I think there is a need for awareness activities like this, through which as many people as possible can learn that there are also children with problems — children we may see every day, but whose burdens we know nothing about. I'm glad that Yuppi Camp exists, helping these children, who in the camps don't feel alone and know they have friends who support them. It's very interesting to read and listen to their stories and find out what hardships they face day by day, and to think, even a little, about how you can support them," Enikő shared after listening to the recordings.
"I live with a mental disorder and I very much want people to become aware that we too can be capable of the same things they are capable of. I'm very glad that Yuppi organized this event and drew attention to these illnesses, but especially to the people living with these illnesses, who need to feel that they are as normal as possible," said Ana, one of the event's visitors.
"I liked the atmosphere of the place — the fact that it wasn't overstimulating, but that I could immerse myself in the stories on display. I was very moved," added Antonia, her friend.
"I am very grateful that we managed to bring this event to life in the very heart of Cluj. I was moved by every conversation I had with visitors after they listened to the testimonies of the parents, children, or teenagers. The fact that we reached their hearts is something immense. I am grateful to the parents and children of Yuppi Camp for sharing their stories with us — with particular honesty, vulnerability, and warmth — stories connected to illness and to the moment of diagnosis. I hope that through this event we managed to change, at least a little, the perception of those who listened to the stories," noted Kinga Mara-Nagy, the event's coordinator.
"It is impressive that, amid a sea of colorful lights and small street-side joys, people had the emotional openness to listen and empathize with these far-from-easy stories," stated Dora Mircea-Radu, Yuppi Camp's brand manager.
