Boxed Ideas for Responsible Development
Get to know us
History
We started as an initiative to teach young children about migration and its potential causes, in a moment in which the influx of asylum seekers was at its highest in Europe. We wanted to bring children closer to the idea of migration as a natural phenomenon, we wanted them to understand its causes (environmental, economic, political), introduce them to the basics of intercultural communication and sensibilize them to the needs of those around them. We grew fond of allowing complex academic concepts to flow into games for kids, and we enjoyed seeing children becoming more generous, empathetic and respectful towards nature and those around them.
The portfolio of ideas quickly grew with a wider variety of educational instruments, tackled subjects and targeted audiences. Today we continue to build on that first enthusiasm giving a playful twist to our every project.
People and culture
The diversity of our team and the wide network of supporters are what make us unique. We are strong believers in inter-disciplinarity and this is why our team and supporters are active in the most various fields: journalists, researchers, designers, architects, business strategists.
Dr. Luana Martin-Russu
B.I.R.D. Founder / Political scientist
Luana Martin-Russu is a political scientist and a certified sustainability expert. She completed a B.A. and an M.A. in European Studies and holds a doctoral degree in Political Science from the European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. Over the course of her career, Luana has worked for Ecologic Institute Berlin and had several academic positions as researcher at the European University Viadrina, including at the European New School of Digital Studies.
In her most recent research project, she employed digital data analysis and data science methods to assess compliance with European climate and environmental policies. In her work as researcher and university teacher she always used visualization techniques and innovative teaching methods to transmit academic knowledge while keeping audiences engaged and interested in some of the most difficult subjects.
Luana strongly believes in the capacity of civil society to inspire social change and support policy-making and policy implementation for a more sustainable future. An argument advanced in her book.
For B.I.R.D. she is bringing in her expertise in sustainability research, data-analysis & science communication.
Timea Honț
B.I.R.D. Founder / Freelance journalist
Timea Honț is a freelance journalist collaborating with the OCCRP and several Romanian outlets. She studied journalism, strategic communication and international relations and has worked on cross-disciplinary projects in Germany, China, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.
Over the past few years, she covered transnational organized crime in Latin America and documented the Ukrainian refugee crisis in Romania. Previously, she was a reporter and community manager for Casa Jurnalistului, the first crowdfunded newsroom in Romania. She wrote about political elections, environmental and social movements, poverty in Roma communities and domestic violence.
Besides her journalistic path, Timea has been constantly involved in social and cultural projects. She coordinates Floodlight, a global initiative that brings together journalists and filmmakers to produce fiction in the public interest, thus increasing the reach and impact of investigations. As vice president of the Cărturești Foundation, she manages Street Delivery, a yearly environmental street festival that promotes sustainable urban development and art in public spaces.
For B.I.R.D. she is bringing in her expertise as a communicator and creative strategist.
Raluca Russu Culcea
B.I.R.D. Associate / Journalist
Raluca Russu Culcea is a journalist and a Digital Marketing specialist. She has a masters degree in Communication & Public Relations from UTV (West University of Timişoara). Raluca has a deep understanding of the evolving media landscape and the interplay between content, technology and audience dynamics. She has over 10 years of experience as a journalist, having worked with some of the main news television channels in Romania, first as a reporter and news anchor, and later as Head of the Department for Social and Economic Affairs.
She covered a wide range of subjects, from environmental challenges to health-related vulnerabilities faced by lower-income and socially excluded groups, and launched several televised campaigns featuring underprivileged children, overlooked elders, disability fighters or gifted students.
In the last years, Raluca worked as a Communication Facilitator and Digital Marketing Specialist, shifting her focus towards social media, new media, and publishing in the digital age. She highlights in her work the importance of media literacy and the need to address it through education at every age.
For B.I.R.D. Raluca will bring her expertise as a journalist, communicator and Digital Marketing Specialist.
Oana Mărăscu Klein
B.I.R.D. Associate / Educator
Oana Mărăscu Klein is a dedicated professional in the field of education, with extensive experience as both a teacher and an educator. Her passion lies in shaping young minds and fostering a nurturing learning environment where children can thrive.
Oana studied German and English at the Faculty of Applied Modern Languages, Transilvania University of Brașov, from 2005 to 2008. She participated in a six-month cultural and academic exchange program in Oldenburg, Germany. Driven by her passion for education, she co-founded with her sister, in 2009, a German-language kindergarten in her hometown of Brașov. For the past 15 years, Oana has worked closely with children. In addition to running an After-School program, where she supports kids with their schoolwork and engages them in environmental education, she has also organized annual week-long personal development camps. These camps focus on bringing children closer to nature, teaching them respect for and ways to protect the environment. By integrating non-formal educational approaches with environmental awareness, she has built a reputation for guiding children toward personal growth and a deeper understanding of their surroundings.
For B.I.R.D. she contributes with her expertise in education and her passion for inspiring a natural love of learning in youngsters, helping them grow into responsible and environmentally conscious individuals.
