(P) Shortly after the Romanian Revolution, one American and one Romanian start to make a difference in Romania
As Romania was beginning its critical transition from 45 years of Communist and Dictator rule early in the twenty-first century, two University of Notre Dame (ND) alumni - one from the United States and the other from Romania - joined…
As Romania was beginning its critical transition from 45 years of Communist and Dictator rule early in the twenty-first century, two University of Notre Dame (ND) alumni - one from the United States and the other from Romania - joined forces to change the IT industry and culture in Romania.
The People Technology Foundation (PTF), the organizer and sponsor of the MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ROMANIA (MADIR) project that changed the lives of all who were involved, will organize a reunion in Cluj, on Monday Sept 18, between 4-10 PM. If you would like to participate, please send a request to frank.ponzio@me.com"
It was 1992, shortly after the Romanian Revolution. An American is in Paris on his way to Romania, and gets a message to call a number in Switzerland.
He calls the number and is asked if he can change his travel plans to go to Switzerland to meet with King Michael at his residence before traveling to Romania, which he does.
When he arrives in Bucharest at Otopeni Airport, he finds two people holding signs with his name on them. He approaches one of them, and they introduce themselves: American Frank Ponzio Jr., Romanian George Arghir, who is taking Mr. Ponzio to a villa on the lake with military armed protection provided by then Romanian Vice-President Ioan Manzatu.
The other person approaches Mr. Ponzio saying that the Prime Minister of Romania, Petre Roman, has sent him to take Mr. Ponzio to a hotel where there is a room reserved for him.
Mr. Ponzio and Mr. Arghir agree to be in touch, and this first meeting starts a long relationship that creates something so beneficial for Romanian people that they felt compelled to recognize everyone that contributed to the differences that were made in Romania, by Romanians, through the project set in motion by their meeting.
With the People Technology Foundation (PTF) as organizer and sponsor, the MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ROMANIA (MADIR) project changed the lives of all who were involved.
The book “Two Notre Dame Alumni Make a Difference in Romania” is a complete coverage of MADIR, which inspired other world leaders to reach out to the PTF to do the same thing in countries transitioning from under dictatorships.
Videos of many MADIR activities, including the interviews of the first group of applicants for the scholarships, are available online.
