A Joyful Celebration for the Whole Family for

International Children's Day

Music, dance, pottery, face painting and storytelling at Willesden Green Library

We believe that our children are the most precious heritage!

The Romanian Cultural Institute in London celebrated International Children’s Day with a heartwarming event that filled the Willesden Green Library with laughter, creativity, and a sense of connection. Organised in partnership with Willesden Green Library and the NHS, this special day brought together families from across the Romanian and wider London community.

We were delighted to have with us Romania’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, HE Laura Popescu, and the Mayor of Brent, Cllr Ryan Hack, alongside members of our community. At the opening of the event, HE Laura Popescu and RCI London Director Aura Woodward’s storytelling sessions drew an eager young audience.

For International Children's Day, with the help of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, Willesden Green Library turned into a vibrant hub of colour, music, and imagination, where creativity knows no age limit! We have been called all little artists, young dancers, budding musicians, curious minds, and their wonderful grown-ups to join us for a fun-filled day. This joyful event brought together music, dance, pottery, storytelling, face painting, and two interactive workshops designed to delight children and grown-ups alike.

Children from Allegretto Music & Arts took to the stage at The Library at Willesden Green, trained and inspired by their dedicated coach, Mr Cornelius Orasanu. Allegretto was honoured to celebrate International Children’s Day with what they know best: music! The young performers from Allegretto took part in this joyful event, nurturing their creativity through music, which is one of the greatest gifts we can offer. A special choral & instrumental concert performed by the talented young singers and musicians of Allegretto Music Academy in London, led by conductor Cornelius Orășanu.

From face painting by Bianca Topor to a hands-on pottery workshop for children, led by Romanian-British ceramicist Vinicius Les, who also spoke about the art of pottery in Romania, a range of activities suited to all tastes and ages. Vinicius is the founder of the Colour & Clay pottery studio in London, where he organizes pottery classes, workshops, and events that cater to the diverse interests and needs of the local community.

Among the protagonists of our event dedicated to International Children's Day is Daria Ene, a 17-year-old ballet student of the English National Ballet School. She performed the "Dulcinea variation" from Don Quixote, delighting visitors not only with her graceful movements but also with stories about her extraordinary dance journey.

The event also featured free health checks and wellbeing advice from Brent Health Matters and local NHS partners – blending culture with community care.

We were delighted to welcome local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Brent, Cllr Ryan Hack.

We are grateful to all our incredible partners, artists, and everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone. Special thanks to Maierean Georgeta and Sarah Smith of Willesden Green Library for this partnership, which reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing Romanian culture within the diaspora and building bridges within the broader community. A big shoutout to all the talented performers and the Romanian Cultural Institute in London for the generous donation of over 60 Romanian language books to Brent Libraries – a fantastic gift for a diverse community!

🗓️ When: Sunday 1 June, 1-4:30 pm

📍 Where: The Library at Willesden Green, 95 High Rd, London NW10 2SF, UK

Photography by Alex Coman