Prince Charles, who is on a private visit to Romania, launches Tuesday his foundation in our country, in Viscri, Brasov county. It is a charitable organization that aims to support heritage preservation, agriculture and sustainable development.
According to a press release from the Foundation in Romania of the Prince of Wales, the heir to the British crown has, through his charity foundation in the UK - The Prince of Wales's Charitable Foundation – owns a house in the village of Viscri, Brasov county, which he has offered to his foundation in Romania.
"It is a well – known fact that His Royal Highness has a special affection for Romania, he came in Transylvania for the first time in 1998. A passionate supporter of the areas of the countryside and amateur botanist, the Prince of Wales discovered the then idyllic rural area, mostly extinct in the UK, “the source says.
Later, Prince Charles often returned to Transylvania, and "every visit convinced him even more to help preserve the unique landscapes, the traditional architecture and the way of life unchanged for hundreds of years."
The quoted press release states that "a good part of the activities of the new foundation" will be held in Viscri, the property owned by the heir to the British crown will be restored and transformed into the Training Centre of the Prince of Wales in Transylvania.
The center will have a conference room where up to 70 people will be hosted, a café and accommodation opportunities "that will support local communities and thousands of visitors who arrive each year in the village of Viscri."
The Prince of Wales Foundation is a charitable organization with an educational purpose, which supports the preservation of architectural heritage, agriculture and sustainable development, governed by a Board of Directors whose members were appointed by the Prince of Wales. Currently, the members of the Board are William Nye, Andrew Wright, Paula Wilson , Count Kalnoky and executive director Aura Woodward, born in Romania.
The Prince of Wales Foundation will offer courses on restoration to both local communities and for students and apprentices from abroad.
It is the first step in his commitment to support Romania in the rediscovery of largely lost trades in rural areas. Other courses and programs will be launched later depending on the needs of rural communities. The Foundation will support personal charitable programs of the Prince of Wales and other charities, helping communities not only in Transylvania, but in the country as well to closely work with rural communities in the country to assist locals to learn new professions and skills accustomed to assist them in finding a job "
Apart from his house in Viscri, Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation of the UK owns a property in Zălanului Valley, Covasna county.
His Royal Highness encouraged the purchase of these properties out of the desire to support heritage preservation and protection of unique natural landscapes of Transylvania. The two properties - managed by Count Kalnoky and his wife Anna - are open to the public and can be hired and the profit generated is used exclusively for charitable activities of the Prince of Wales Foundation, the source reports.
The Prince of Wales is patron of the Transilvania Fest - a fair of local products and crafts culture in Transylvania, but also a patron of Faure-Alderson Romanian Appeal - a charity that helps adults and children suffering from mental illness. Prince Charles is the president or patron of over 420 charities, 14 of them forming the group The Prince’s Charities.
Prince Charles is currently in Romania, and on Sunday he met at Cotroceni Palace, with President Klaus Iohannis. After the meeting, the Heir to the British crown went to the village of Zălanului Valley, in the county of Covasna and he will also go to the village of Viscri in Brasov county, where his foundation will be launched.
Prince Charles has been in Transylvania several times in recent years, on private visits in Mures, Covasna, Harghita and Braşov.