Iulia Sfetcu – The Voice of Children with Special Needs and a Driving Force for Change in Education

Interview with Iulia Sfetcu on special education, challenges, projects, and the impact of the Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence, in a way that makes those who don’t know you yet curious?
Iulia Sfetcu: Rational, a little dreamy, tolerant, in love with people, coffee, and the mountains. I am a simple person, mother of Călin for two years, and for 15 years a teacher in special education.

C&B: If we were to look at the narrative thread of your career, what were the key moments that defined you?
Iulia Sfetcu: My professional journey began in special education, where I learned that every child has their own unique reality. My students come from vulnerable backgrounds; I have students with multiple disabilities in my class, beautiful children who deserve a chance at everything an inclusive society means.
In 2015, together with my colleagues from school, I founded the “Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation.” It was one of the best ideas because this small NGO became a pillar of support for the students in the school. Through volunteers, projects, and external funding, we managed to bring resources to the school, renovate some of its spaces, and invest where state institutions had given up. Today, our association has a small center for individual therapies for children with special educational needs.
In 2018, after eight years in the education system, I was awarded at the Merito Gala. That was a defining moment—not for the award itself but because I managed to bring a bit of visibility to this category of children.
Since 2020, when the pandemic moved many activities online, I felt the need, more than ever, to stay connected with my fellow teachers around the country. I then discovered that communication platforms can break barriers, and from that moment, I started offering training for teachers in mainstream education working with integrated students.
And here I am in 2025, still teaching in the same special school, still involved in educational projects, and I believe and hope that we will make the voices of people with disabilities even better heard.

C&B: What have been the biggest challenges in developing psychoeducational initiatives?
Iulia Sfetcu: The greatest challenge was making people believe that change is possible, even when resources seem limited. I believe it’s important to learn to know and accept our limits but also to believe in the wide-spread wings ready to fly.
Unfortunately, many people believe that working with disabilities is about limits, but in fact, it’s about being able to discover each child’s potential.
Another challenge is, unfortunately, the increasing number of children with different disorders.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?
Iulia Sfetcu: Yes, that society should be a space where children and adults feel seen and valued, regardless of labels or diagnoses. Even when I had no resources or when it felt like I was going against the current, I held on to the thought that if one child smiles or a parent says, “Now I understand we are not alone,” then it is all worth it. And I also have a saying I like: The good you do will be returned to you by the time that comes. I don’t expect gratitude from anyone; I just do what I can and wait for the Universe to return that good. Simply.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed until now?
Iulia Sfetcu: At the beginning, I was full of fears; for a whole year, I cried almost every day. I would walk into class with my eyes full of tears and leave the same way. And when I got home in the evening, I cried again—I wasn’t asking myself if I would manage to make a difference in my students’ lives but if maybe I was harming them even more since I was totally unprepared at that time.
Now I have more inner peace and confidence because I’ve witnessed transformations I never thought possible. I’ve learned to bring more gentleness into everything I do, including towards myself, though I still have much to learn, discover, and improve.

C&B: If we met your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?
Iulia Sfetcu: I think they would say that I’m someone who doesn’t give up easily, somewhat egocentric—yes, I feel much more comfortable working alone, and that’s not really a quality. I am demanding, but at the same time, I also bring predictability, energy, and enthusiasm. And maybe that I have the gift of seeing solutions even when it seems like all doors are closed.

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?
Iulia Sfetcu: The most important decision was to go beyond the classroom. To establish an association, to get involved alongside my colleagues in the Merito Community in training teachers across the country, to open my eyes, ears, and heart to always find new opportunities and projects. That took me out of my comfort zone but opened the way to various contexts through which I can reach far more children, teachers, and parents than I could have managed alone. And the decision to become a mother. I believe you only truly become a complete person and understand how a child’s mind works when you also have one at home.

C&B: What types of programs and projects do you run through the association?
Iulia Sfetcu: Through the Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation, we run support programs for children with special educational needs, workshops for parents and teachers. We strongly believe in emotional education, so many of our projects combine learning with personal and relational development.
For the students at school, the projects were meant to provide resources that improve not only their learning but also their quality of life. Children always need resources—physical, emotional, but most of all, relational.

C&B: How do you manage to respond to the real needs of the community you serve?
Iulia Sfetcu: I don’t know if we succeed every time. Sometimes the solution is training for teachers, other times a support group for parents, or a hands-on activity for children. We always try to stay connected to reality and see if there’s something we can offer—whether from our experience as teachers or therapists, or perhaps through resources.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments bring you the greatest satisfaction?
Iulia Sfetcu: A typical day starts with my little boy, who brings me the greatest joy. Then I divide my time between school, the projects I’m currently involved in, and trying to respond as effectively as possible to the situations that arise. The most fulfilling moments are when I see a child’s progress or receive a message from a parent saying that what we did together brought them joy. And I’m also very glad that people outside the school are beginning to notice this branch of special education. My days are rather routine, and I like routine, stability, to have moments of play, cheer, laughter, but also of peace. I think our brain is constantly connected to something, and sometimes it’s good to give it a break. On days when I feel like I have no energy left, I go behind my building, sit on a bench, and watch the ants carrying their supplies to the anthill. That’s something I learned from my little boy, who loves to observe what’s happening around him: a leaf turning yellow, a ladybug climbing a tree, a neighbor walking down the stairs.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them every day?
Iulia Sfetcu: I believe in respect, honesty, and gentleness. Every day I try not to forget that behind every number, plan, or diagnosis, there is a human being. That helps me approach every situation with more empathy and make better, more calming decisions. And I also believe that I am a fair person.

C&B: How was the Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation born, and what inspired you to get involved in founding it?
Iulia Sfetcu: The association was born out of a need I felt more and more strongly: to provide integrated support for the children in school. I met people who thought the same way, and we decided to join forces. The inspiration came both from my work in the classroom and from the valuable experience of my colleagues. I don’t remember the exact reason anymore, there must have been several, but I’m glad we did it and that the association has grown beautifully, organically, and will continue to grow.

C&B: Can you share a success story that reflects the impact of your work?
Iulia Sfetcu: Răducu comes to mind. At first, he communicated only through a few gestures and seemed as if he would never be able to express his thoughts. Through work, patience, and collaboration with his family, today he speaks in simple sentences and goes to school joyfully. It may not sound like a spectacular story to outsiders, but for him and his parents, it’s a miracle. Like Răducu, there are dozens of children who come to therapy with us. Small steps, sustained work, patience, firmness—all of these are necessary in the effort to bring a child onto their own path, a stable one. If you are able to measure progress and see a superhero in every child and parent, I believe you can restore a family’s hope for a better life.

C&B: What are the future plans of the Association for Motivation in Psychoeducation?
Iulia Sfetcu: We want to expand our activity and at the same time improve the quality of therapy services we provide. We’re considering organizing training programs for mainstream teachers who have children with special educational needs in their classes. To bring more resources to parents and expand the support network for our children. Our dream is that no matter where a child is, they should have the chance to be understood, supported, and to reach their potential. Concrete steps mean more projects, partnerships with schools, and direct involvement of the community.
And yes, of course, we’re not forgetting ourselves. It’s important to take care of the relational climate among the team members, to stay engaged in the area of social-emotional education, and to strengthen our resilience muscle in a society that is increasingly resistant and rigid.

The story of Iulia Sfetcu is proof that change in education starts with dedicated and courageous people. Through her projects, constant involvement, and love for children, she has managed to create a space where every student feels valued. Special education needs such voices, and Iulia is one of them.