From July 7th to July 12th, 2024, REDI Romania hosted the first DigiFast Bootcamp in Predeal, Romania, focused on Digital Content Creation. The bootcamp brought together Roma youth from diverse educational backgrounds for an intensive five-day training in digital marketing, photography, video editing, and social media strategy.

The participants were accommodated at Hotel Belvedere, where they engaged in both theoretical sessions and practical exercises led by facilitator Florin-Alexandru-Paul Stan, alongside the REDI Romania team. The program combined technical skill-building with storytelling, cultural pride, and peer learning using non-formal educational methods.

Throughout the week, participants explored the full content creation pipeline - from product photography and social media management to TikTok video production, video editing with CapCut, and formulating impactful marketing messages. A highlight was the collaboration with Pappo Crafts, a Roma social enterprise, which provided real products for promotional content. This gave participants valuable real-world practice in creating digital media with social and economic impact.

The final day focused on crafting and testing marketing messages adapted to various digital platforms. Participants received feedback and shared their reflections during the wrap-up session, which concluded with a celebration of their work and skills gained.

Participants’ feedback:

“This bootcamp showed me how powerful digital tools can be when you actually understand how to use them. I’m proud of the video I created - and even prouder that it promotes a Roma-owned business.” — Mihai Sorina
“Every day I learned something I had never tried before. From the first click of the camera to editing a full TikTok, I felt more and more confident. I’m already planning to use these skills for my own small projects.” — Baiciu Andi
“This wasn’t just a training - it was an experience. Working with others, learning from different skill levels, and building real content made it so much more than just theory. The support from the team was top-notch.” — Mezievici Fabian
“The bootcamp helped me discover how creative I can be. I loved how hands-on everything was, and how the trainer encouraged us to think outside the box with our videos. I’m already applying what I learned to grow my online presence.” — Ivan Sebastian Tibi