Ivan Patzaichin - Mila 23 Association
This website is under the management of Ivan Patzaichin - Mila 23 Association's team. The Association's activity is carried out both in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, and the Danube Delta, with the support of over 40 specialists in different relevant areas, that brought significant contributions, subsequently mirrored in the success of our projects.
How it started
The Ivan Patzaichin - Mila 23 Association was created in 2010 from the multiple European, World and Olimpic kayac-canoe champion, Ivan Patzaichin's and architect Teodor Frolu's love for the Danube Delta, its traditions and natural richness and from their will to contribute at the local development of the area and other natural regions of Romania.
Mila 23
The Association inherited Ivan's home village's name, assuming the mission of giving back to the Danube Delta the attention and support Patzaichin received during his career.
What we do
Created to protect the cultural and natural biodiversity of Romanian water lands, to bring back the Romanian traditions, to promote the cultural profile of the Danube Delta and to encourage a healthy lifestyle, the Association initiates social enterpreneurship programs designed to support with know how and investments the underdevelopment areas from Danube Delta and other natural parks in Romania.
About our projects
All projects developed by Ivan Patzaichin - Mila 23 Association have a strong educational component, promoting and explaining modern notions such as ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, sportive tourism, responsible tourism and slow tourism. Put into action with creativity, they can activate competitive advantages of Romania: the natural capital, authenticity, the diversity of landscapes and biodiversity, the variety of land forms and specific cultural elements, such as traditions or traditional gastronomy.
Rowmania movement
The Ivan Patzaichin - Mila 23 Association initiated the Rowmania movement, a brand under which touristic and social entrepreneurship products are developed. Furthermore, rowing and paddling popularization campaigns and sustainable development programs in protected natural areas are organized. Under the umbrella of Rowmania, numerous events, both in Romania and in the rest of Europe were organized, determining tourists to promote natural Romania.
Canotca
The Rowmania movement was launched in April 2011, along with the presentation of a new boat model with an unique design – the canotca.
The water bicycle
The canotca, a hybrid between canoe and the fishermen's boat in the Danube Delta, was designed to become a sort of water bicycle, light and fast, keeping the local cultural crafting elements.