More than 20,000 Romanians took part in the "Unity Table" event in Bucharest, setting a Guinness World Record with a table made from recycled materials to raise funds for building the country's first children's psychiatric hospital.
Bucharest, Romania, held a grand event last Saturday where around 20,000 people gathered for the "Unity Table" activity, featuring tables linked to form approximately 5 kilometers in length. The event set a Guinness World Record and raised funds for constructing a children's psychiatric hospital.
The long table stretched along Unirii Boulevard, from Unirii Square to Constitution Square in front of the Palace of the Parliament, a large building from Romania's communist era. The tables were decorated with flowers and snacks.
Organizers from Bloom The World, a Romanian organization, received certification from Guinness World Records for the longest table made from recycled materials.
Joanne Brent, senior adjudicator and official board member of Guinness World Records who attended the event in Bucharest, said the activity demonstrated that records can genuinely benefit society, as many people united to support a common goal.
Proceeds from the event will support building the new children's psychiatric hospital within the Obregia Hospital area in Bucharest. The new building will cover about 3,900 square meters, with an estimated construction budget of 16.5 million euros (approximately 650 million baht), funded through donations and private sector support.
The Metropolis Foundation, behind the project, stated that the new hospital is necessary because the current children's psychiatric ward is in an old, cramped building that cannot adequately meet the treatment and psychological needs of children.
Foundation data shows a concerning rise in children diagnosed with severe mental disorders in Romania—such as depression, behavioral disorders, substance abuse, autism, and ADHD—from 3,839 cases in 2018 to over 5,600 in 2024.
Currently, the children's psychiatric clinic has 62 beds, but many wards have multiple beds together without private bathrooms. Limited space also hinders private conversations between medical staff, patients, and families.
The new hospital will be a five-story building including examination rooms, therapy activity rooms, virtual reality technology rooms, sensory stimulation and learning areas, plus relaxation spaces. It will also have a specialized adolescent addiction treatment unit, reportedly the first of its kind in Romania's medical system.
The foundation expects the new hospital to care for more than 5,700 children with severe mental illness annually, with construction planned to be completed in 2027.
Alexa Wilcan from Bloom The World said the organizers want the public to donate to support building the country's first children's psychiatric hospital. She noted that while gathering around the table was impressive, the more important outcome is the lasting benefit to society after the event.
The previous world record for the longest table made from recycled materials also belonged to Bloom The World, measuring 2,782 meters and held in Alba Iulia last year.
According to data from Eurostat, the European Union's statistical office, in 2023 Romania’s public health expenditure was 5.7% of GDP, one of the lowest in the EU compared to the group average of about 10%.
Meanwhile, Alexandru Rogobete, Romania's Minister of Health, has pledged to support the project by providing necessary medical equipment and furniture for the new hospital.
/source :AP
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