What did you do on your 32nd birthday? 🎂
Hei, I'm Angie, a mom of 3 lovely (yet challenging) ladies, and I've decided to give forward my gifts this year. 😊
Why try to change the world?
✔️ Because we need to stop and reflect upon our values, so we can properly raise our children for a future of fulfilling success.
✔️ Because I believe the creative ideas we have can change lives for the better in our communities. Especially when adopted by others who share a similar value system with ours.
✔️ Because it is our moral duty to DO GOOD. Not doing bad is not enough. Evil can still prevail if we ignore its growth, or choose the comfort of not taking action.
✔️ Because we love our children.
Since their future might not look like anything we've ever seen before (anyone heard of metaverse around here?), we should prepare them for a job market we know nothing about.
So what skills will help your kids regardless of their professional path?
Short answer: those that make up CHARACTER!
Long
answer: these skills ⬇️
- Morality, or knowing right from wrong
- Integrity, or doing the right thing under any circumstances
-
Emotional Intelligence and knowing how to pace
yourself or control your behavior
- Gratitude and focusing on outcomes instead of problems
- Resilience and practicing your patience in reaching set goals
- Courage and following your gut feeling in taking initiatives
- Self Reflection, or introspection
-
Social Skills and knowing how to build healthy
relationships
- Communication and focusing on the relationship, not on particular conflicts
- Collaborative skills, or the ability to work efficiently in a team
- Competitivity and striving to always do your best
- Responsibility, or being trustworthy
Instilling these fundamental skills is easiest at young ages because the neuronal paths are more flexible. In plain English—it's easier to create new habits when you're young.
That's why I've looked to help especially primary school kids, potentially kindergarten too in the next phases.
These skills are seldom native. But they can become new healthy habits through proper practice.
In Romania's educational system, these skills are NOT a priority. In fact, the exceptional schools that do include such new programs in their curriculum are marginalized and mocked.
Let's change that, step by step, book by book, page by page.
What's
a Joy Journal—you ask?
What's
a Joy JournalIt's a fun character-building journal for kids aged 7 to 12.
The Guided Joy Journal Book features:
- a guided 91-day journaling journey on daily pages with prompts and an emotional tracker
- a short description and introduction so the kids can understand how to make the most of this tool
- plenty of room for creativity on 21 fun activity pages
- an obvious fun incentive for the kids— 2 colorful sticker sheets
- lightweight for heavy backpacks, due to its cardboard softcover
- rounded corners for safe handling
- premium no-bleed paper because kids love markers
- easy writing on both sides due to flat-lay binding
- delightful watercolor illustrations featuring a Firefly journal buddy
- academical references & expert-revision—this thing is science-based
Besides, there's a second journal launching this October!
The Freewriting Joy Journal Notebook is the next step kids can take.
Pair it with the digital prompts that will be available (some free, some to purchase) to use for practicing self-awareness and self-expression. Or use it to try our free creative exercises, delivered weekly by email.
Building character is HARD, gut-wrenching. But it's our responsibility as parents and educators. And it's easier with the right tool.
How can we help primary school children grow strong character?
First and foremost— leading by example . And this is something none of us can delegate. We need to show them how WE live by our own principles because kids turn into what their parents ARE, not what they preach.
Second, use therapeutic storytelling to appeal to their emotions and reason. Offer life examples in a safe environment, so they can make their choices with no real and immediate risk. You'll find some in our free materials.
Third, we guide the children through engaging activities and games . The journal will have 21 special pages to help them discover their strengths and weaknesses, their interests and struggles, their inner motivation and resilience.
Last, but definitely not least, we’re building communities of journal buddies , who can discuss all the topics we bring to the table, their different perspectives, argue their reasons, and share their self-reflections. Everything done OFFLINE, face-to-face, friend-to-friend.
Here's how YOU can help this project succeed:
- purchase any of the digital products listed as REWARDS,
- grant a WISH to a Romanian school by paying for a Journal Pack, or
- simply CONTRIBUTE any sum you can or desire.
Support this project if you too believe it can help shape children's world for the better!
Perks
- 0 ordered
A tool for your children or students, to help them reflect on their emotions and behavior.
Introspection, or awareness of our own feelings and (re)actions, does not come naturally. Through practice, we can rewire our brains to grow their self-awareness muscles, which help build resilience and self-control.
This reward is a printable list of 12 Joy Journal Prompts for kids. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 1 ordered
Gamification of learning gained huge popularity in recent years, and it's quite understandable.
Play is an essential part of childhood, as well as engaged learning. So here's a Bingo game for siblings, the whole family or small groups of kids.
This reward is a printable Joy Journey Bingo Game for kids. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 1 granted
- 23 remaining
Support a Romanian school, give a Joy Journal Pack.
I believe CHARACTER should be the foundation of education, not just in our families, but also in each nation's formal curriculum. That's why this Journal Pack will go to a School Counseling Office in 1 of 24 Romanian schools.
Includes:
- 1 Guided Joy Journal Book - physical copy
- 1 Freewriting Joy Journal Notebook - physical copy
- 1 set of Joy Journal stickers - physical copy
- free access to the entire Digital Freebies Library, for life!
How can a school use this Joy Journal Pack?
The physical copies can be used in the school counseling office (our recommendation).
The digital freebies can be used by any teacher, at any class, to help with class management or children's personal development.
The teachers can also use the freebies at home, with their own children. Or share the relevant ones with their students' parents.
- 0 ordered
A tool for your children's room or your classroom, to help them reflect on positive outcomes and motivate learning through practice.
See, most schools in the world still put a huge stigma on making mistakes. Yet "In school, you learn the lesson, then take a test. In life, you take the test to learn the lesson."
I believe it's important to encourage children to be actively engaged in their learning, even if they will inevitably make mistakes.
This reward is a printable PDF with A4 Joy Journal posters featuring positive quotes. It will be delivered via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 1 ordered
A tool for your children or students, to help them practice their character-instilling skills:
- communication skills
- cooperation
- healthy competition
- gratitude
- resilience
- patience
- morality
- integrity
Unfortunately, most of the current education systems across the globe don't focus on the most important aspect of growth - developing a strong character. That's what I want to change, step by step.
This reward is a printable list of 50 Activity Ideas for kids, to help them practice character-strenghtening skills. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
Printable list of 50 activity ideas to build or strengthen children's character. Delivered as PDF.
- 0 ordered
Actual journal pages for your children or students, to help them reflect on their emotions and behavior.
Except for the missing firefly (for now), the pages reflect the design and content of a few Joy Journal pages.
Introspection, or awareness of our own feelings and (re)actions, does not come naturally. Through practice, we can rewire our brains to grow their self-awareness muscles, which help build resilience and self-control.
This reward is a printable list of 12 Joy Journal Pages for kids. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 0 ordered
Gift Joy Journals or complementary products to a Romanian friend's child(ren). With the digital voucher, they can purchase or pre-order their Joy Journal of choice.
Depending on the success of this crowdfunding campaign, the Joy Journal launches this October, which is when your friend can enjoy their copy. Until then, they can choose to sign up for updates and free digital materials, or just join us at the launch.
Introspection, or awareness of our own feelings and (re)actions, does not come naturally. Through practice, we can rewire our brains to grow their self-awareness muscles, which help build resilience and self-control.
This reward is a €14 Gift Card to be redeemed either by pre-order or by standard order starting October 2022. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-2 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
Highlights
See all activity13Cost breakdown + Q&A
What's the money for? and Q&A section
For full transparency, here's what the campaign will cover:
- Production expenses
- Marketing costs
- Launch costs
See the detailed breakdown below ⬇️
1. PRODUCTION necessities —€6950
- Consultation fee for 2 partner child psychologists to review my content
- Illustrations of the main character by Astrid Mușat
- Canva PRO for page design & marketing design
- Printing & Binding of the first run
What I've done so far to create this journal:
- extensive research online and offline (in real books - the ones that have no buttons 😁)
- consulted with 2 expert child psychologists
- written most of the journal content (prompts, activities, sketched the creative pages etc)
- general page design
2. General MARKETING Expenses —€1804
There's no use in building something amazing if nobody knows about it. Here are the marketing needs I'm looking to cover first and foremost:
- website design & creation (includes webshop)
- first product photoshoot
It's important to SHOW people the tools that can help them so that they can choose what works best for them.
I've already set in stone my branding (well, the foundation at least, the visuals can still be improved) and my marketing strategy. Plus, I'm a professional copywriter, so that's also taken care of. 😉
Besides, I've created all the social accounts I'll use and even started posting on FB & IG last year.
3. LAUNCHING in-person
—€1850
LAUNCH details and necessities:
- will launch in hometown Alba Iulia (free venue) and nearby cultural center Cluj-Napoca
- 1 cultural venue to book in Cluj-Napoca (library, bookstore, cinema, or events room)
- 2 x event moderators (for the 2 launches)
- 1 x tech manager (responsible for live broadcast, proper sound and filming, etc)
- 2 x photographers
- 2 x promo merch packs for attendees (free bookmarks, stickers, posters, coloring pages for small children)
- 2 x promo roll-ups
- snacks and refreshments for both locations
The launch will be broadcast live on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
I know I can get away with only launching online. But launching in person means more than just getting friends' recognition for your work. It's:
- a chance to get instant feedback
- an opportunity to network and grow brand awareness in the local communities involved
- a bonding experience for the community I call HOME, who have impacted my life in a way that made this possible
- an acknowledgment of everyone's involvement - every helpful question, every survey completed, every suggestion or idea, every book recommendation
Online is fine. In-person is just so much better, especially for long-term marketing & PR!
Questions & Answers
It's my first crowdfunding campaign so I obviously didn't know everything when setting it up. Here are a few of your questions, with clear answers. Feel free to reach out with more, if necessary.
-
What if you DON'T raise the whole amount —will I have contributed in vain?
Short answer: NO.
Complete answer:
If you've chosen a reward, you've basically purchased a digital product. If you've chosen a perk, you've purchased a service. So whether this project reached its full potential or not, you will have received a product or service for your contribution.
Besides, the Joy Journal has been my dream for more than 3 years and I know it can help hundreds of children. So in case the crowdfunding campaign does not reach its goal, I will simply find another way to use the funds that DO come through, to launch it. Maybe I will postpone creating the website. Or perhaps I will opt for a 100% digital launch to cut costs. Or find alternative (complementary) ways of funding. Either way, I will make sure the Joy Journal and all the extra learning materials I can create will reach as many children as possible.
-
How does this journal help kids again?
Short answer: guided journaling develops self-awareness, self-expression, and self-control.
Complete(ish) answer:
- The journal is a safe space where children can discover themselves without judgment.
- Writing pen on paper helps develop the brain in a gazillion ways.
- The Joy Journal comes as a guided journal AND a freewriting journal to suit all needs.
- The Guided Joy Journal features 21 activity pages to help develop certain character traits.
- The 91 daily journal pages of the Guided Journal also contribute to practicing healthy learning habits.
- The Freewriting Joy Journal offers plenty of space for creative expression + a list of 12 journaling prompts to help spark inspiration.
- The complementary materials (either freebies or paid digital resources) provide many learning through play opportunities for kids, further strengthening character traits and healthy learning habits.
- The Joy Journal community fosters collaboration and continuity in using the Joy Journal Learning tools for growth.
-
Why do I have to contribute €2 to the crowdfunding platform?
You DON'T!
You can, and they have the right to ask for it. It helps them grow the platform and its functionalities, pay their staff, and promote Crowdfundr. But you DO NOT HAVE TO pay the tip.
Yes, I asked for their permission to share this and they're perfectly fine with it.
The more questions you ask, the more I'll add here, answering all of them.
Who am I?
Hi, I'm Angie, a ROMANIAN mom of 3 very different girls.
I'm not a bot, and not
a scammer.
This crowdfunding campaign's objective is to raise the initial funds that I'd need to finally launch a soul project I've been dreaming about for 3 years.
I care deeply about my children's education, as well as education in general. It kills me to see how children today are taught difficult math equations, or how they have to spend hours doing homework daily, yet they know nothing about manners or even basic common sense morality.
That's why I've looked for fun ways to help parents practice building strong character with their children, while bonding and enjoying quiet time together.
If you want to know more about
me, what I stand for, and how I tackle common parenting challenges,
check me out on social media:
LinkedIn (my favourite platform)
Feel free to reach out with questions too, I'm more than happy to help out. 🤗
Activity
- 0 ordered
A tool for your children or students, to help them reflect on their emotions and behavior.
Introspection, or awareness of our own feelings and (re)actions, does not come naturally. Through practice, we can rewire our brains to grow their self-awareness muscles, which help build resilience and self-control.
This reward is a printable list of 12 Joy Journal Prompts for kids. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 1 ordered
Gamification of learning gained huge popularity in recent years, and it's quite understandable.
Play is an essential part of childhood, as well as engaged learning. So here's a Bingo game for siblings, the whole family or small groups of kids.
This reward is a printable Joy Journey Bingo Game for kids. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 1 granted
- 23 remaining
Support a Romanian school, give a Joy Journal Pack.
I believe CHARACTER should be the foundation of education, not just in our families, but also in each nation's formal curriculum. That's why this Journal Pack will go to a School Counseling Office in 1 of 24 Romanian schools.
Includes:
- 1 Guided Joy Journal Book - physical copy
- 1 Freewriting Joy Journal Notebook - physical copy
- 1 set of Joy Journal stickers - physical copy
- free access to the entire Digital Freebies Library, for life!
How can a school use this Joy Journal Pack?
The physical copies can be used in the school counseling office (our recommendation).
The digital freebies can be used by any teacher, at any class, to help with class management or children's personal development.
The teachers can also use the freebies at home, with their own children. Or share the relevant ones with their students' parents.
- 0 ordered
A tool for your children's room or your classroom, to help them reflect on positive outcomes and motivate learning through practice.
See, most schools in the world still put a huge stigma on making mistakes. Yet "In school, you learn the lesson, then take a test. In life, you take the test to learn the lesson."
I believe it's important to encourage children to be actively engaged in their learning, even if they will inevitably make mistakes.
This reward is a printable PDF with A4 Joy Journal posters featuring positive quotes. It will be delivered via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 1 ordered
A tool for your children or students, to help them practice their character-instilling skills:
- communication skills
- cooperation
- healthy competition
- gratitude
- resilience
- patience
- morality
- integrity
Unfortunately, most of the current education systems across the globe don't focus on the most important aspect of growth - developing a strong character. That's what I want to change, step by step.
This reward is a printable list of 50 Activity Ideas for kids, to help them practice character-strenghtening skills. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
Printable list of 50 activity ideas to build or strengthen children's character. Delivered as PDF.
- 0 ordered
Actual journal pages for your children or students, to help them reflect on their emotions and behavior.
Except for the missing firefly (for now), the pages reflect the design and content of a few Joy Journal pages.
Introspection, or awareness of our own feelings and (re)actions, does not come naturally. Through practice, we can rewire our brains to grow their self-awareness muscles, which help build resilience and self-control.
This reward is a printable list of 12 Joy Journal Pages for kids. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-3 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
- 0 ordered
Gift Joy Journals or complementary products to a Romanian friend's child(ren). With the digital voucher, they can purchase or pre-order their Joy Journal of choice.
Depending on the success of this crowdfunding campaign, the Joy Journal launches this October, which is when your friend can enjoy their copy. Until then, they can choose to sign up for updates and free digital materials, or just join us at the launch.
Introspection, or awareness of our own feelings and (re)actions, does not come naturally. Through practice, we can rewire our brains to grow their self-awareness muscles, which help build resilience and self-control.
This reward is a €14 Gift Card to be redeemed either by pre-order or by standard order starting October 2022. It will be delivered as a PDF via e-mail, in 1-2 days, depending on the volume of requests I need to honor.
