As a Teach For Romania fellow, Andrei Barbos Niculescu was deeply moved when he encountered an 18-year-old student in the 7th grade who couldn’t read. This experience sparked his interest in literacy recovery, especially in schools serving vulnerable communities. In his role as a literacy recovery specialist, Andrei is dedicated to helping children overcome educational challenges and ensuring they can fully engage with the world around them. 

In addition to literacy, Andrei is passionate about fostering climate awareness. He leads weekly workshops with children in nature, encouraging them to connect with and learn from the environment. For Andrei, teaching is like gardening—planting the seeds of knowledge and patiently nurturing growth, allowing students to thrive over time. In this video, Andrei shares his commitment to creating a brighter future for Romania's children both through literacy and environmental education, and explains how nature itself can be a powerful teacher.

Watch the video to learn more about Andrei’s journey and visit the Climate Education and Leadership page to learn about climate educators across the Teach For All network.