To donate to this Family Care Foundation Project, please note Project NAME and then click here.

Improving conditions in institutions for the disadvantaged

For a number of years Noi Orizonturi Familia has worked closely with the National Agency for Child Protection here in Bucharest, which has brought us in contact with underprivileged families in the poorest section of the capital. Our role includes:

• Presenting a course on character development and communication skills, including an emphasis on learning the English language, as a means of increasing our clients’ possibilities for a better life.
  
• Collecting and distributing food, clothing, and school materials for the city’s institutions
  
• Organizing educational excursions and recreational outings for orphans
  
• Coaching young people into mainstream society

The director of the National Agency for Child Protection put us in contact with various institutions such as the “Pinocchio” orphanage which houses 47 orphans, which is where we began our educational program. Additionally, with the help of local supporters we help supply the orphanage’s basic needs, weekly donating meat, cheese, honey, plus school materials, shoes etc. (In Romania, many of these things are considered luxury items.)

Lumnita, Vali and Christina (back row) delivering one ton of milk to needy hospital for cancer patients

Some of the recipients of the milk and chocolate delivered to cancer hospital.

The impact of gestures of this sort on these orphans is amazing. Just after we started interacting with these kids, one of their teachers exclaimed, “It's incredible to see how open now they are, how much more communicative they are, and their faces are just beaming!”

Orphans stare in awe at the largest birthday cake any of them have ever seen.	Orphan boys showing their appreciation.

The Center Sfanta Maria orphanage was without carpet, yet housed 150 orphans who had been abandoned. Here we are delivering carpet, plus photos of the satisfied little kids and staff.

Enjoying a birthday party we organized for the residents of the orphanage.

Balloon sculptures were a big hit with the kids.

From time-to-time, we take these kids to eat in a restaurant, spending personal time with each and getting to know them better, plus using the opportunity to teach them good manners. With the belief that these dear orphan children have real potential, we know that our investment will pay off. When these kids one day leave the orphanage, we hope to have instilled sufficient confidence to help them overcome their difficult backgrounds and become contributing members of society.

Taking orphan children to a fast-food restaurant, something they'd never otherwise experience.

Orphans Marios and Elena enjoying themselves immensely.

We also arrange outings and holidays for the children, who would otherwise have no alternative than to remain at their orphanages year around.

Noi Orizonturi Familia, also works in collaboration with DHL, Deutsche Post, Danzas and ZDF, in a partnership that allows thousands of children to receive clothes and toys, throughout Romanian institutions.

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Renovating School 167

Our mandate also includes strengthening the educational infrastructure through providing both the educational materials and bettering the physical conditions of the institutions themselves.

Our latest completed project is at School 167. This included:

• Renovating the classrooms and providing proper school desks, at a cost of $12,500.
  
  
• Equipping and setting up a Computer Lab for children, at a cost of $6150.
  
  
• Provided educational books 500 children in Grades 1 – 4, at a cost of $1400.
  
• Provided educational videos for Kindergarten through Grade 4, at a cost of $4600.

When Social Security Doesn’t Exist

Romania, once amongst the most prosperous and cultured of European countries before being devastated by years of Communist rule, no longer has adequate Social Security to cover the needs of its elderly citizens. Typically, a senior citizen, living alone in a tiny one-room apartment, may receive from US$15-25 monthly, if indeed they receive anything at all. Many elderly simply cannot afford to pay their basic utilities and eat as well. As a result their utilities are often cut off, exacerbating an already tragic situation.

The mayor of Bucharest recently asked FCF project Noi Orizonturi Familia to help organize a special function to highlight the plight of the city’s senior citizens.

Volunteers from Noi Orizonturi Familia, with the help of local sponsors, were able to purchase food and other necessities, and organized a family-oriented musical benefit in honor of and to which over 100 of the elderly, from 60 years to 85 years old, attended. At the close of the meeting each elderly person received 2 large bags of donated items.

We can all imagine how we would feel if one of these old folks were our grandmother or grandfather. We would naturally be doing all we could to make sure they were well cared for and attended to. As is so often the case in such financially ravaged countries as Romania, a little giving goes a long way, both financially and morally. It is the hope of Noi Orizonturi Familia that they can continue to both inspire and develop long-term sponsorship for the most destitute.

Audiovisual educational tools

We undertook another program, in coordination with the Ministry of Education. We'd met with the Inspector General, who has a real heart for children, and she sadly explained the financial problems that schools are facing and how people that could do something to improve this situation are not. So we asked her for a list of the schools that she considered the poorest so we could approach potential sponsors in order to provide something special for each of the thousands of children, plus presenting each of their schools with a complimentary set of educational videos.

Children from School 126 in Bucharest after receiving their gifts on Children's Day.

Donating a sponsored Sony video player & 14 educational videos to School # 32-Bucharest.

Having being successful with this undertaking on a smaller scale, our goal is to now do likewise with all the schools in the Bucharest area.

Emergency Relief

Where there is a need, we try to help. When heavy flooding hit the Vrencea area in east central Romania , Noi Orizonturi was there.

Thousands lost houses, crops and cattle because of the flooding. The government does not have enough funds to help these people restore their lives, with even the worst affected only receiving about US$ 250 per family. Nor does it offer social benefits anywhere equal to the need. So these Romanian families who have lost everything are faced with a very dark future.

We organized and brought in assistance to the flood zone. We arranged transport and delivered tons of food donated by local sponsors. Workers were also provided by these sponsors, and they helped us hand out clothing and toys to the affected families.

Our next stage involves providing the construction material and paint to help these flood victims rebuild their houses.

Helping Street Children, the Poor and Destitute

When we first walked down the tracks of the Bucharest metro attempting to call out the street children who inhabit the darkened tunnels, it was like time traveling into one of Charles Dickens's stories. When these street kids surfaced, they looked more than scary. Such was the beginning of our Street Children's ministry in Bucharest.

We initiated a simple food line, so as to provide these poor waifs with some decent food. As we have reached out to these children, and sat with them day after day, we have witnessed a wonderful transformation take place, something that you cannot adequately describe with words. Here are but a few of their stories:

When Gabi (8 years old) came to our food line for the first time, he didn't even know how to hold a fork. He was used to grabbing food with his hands as fast as possible, for fear of someone else taking it from him. As time went by, I instructed Gabi how to use his fork, how to wash before eating and so on. Now when I see Gabi, he runs up to me with this huge grin on his face, reaching out his hands so I can see that they are washed, and with soap no less! Then he will request to sit near, looking for commendation that he now uses his fork and use his manners as he eats. For this child this step bridges a world of difference, signifying the beginning of a new life.

Two other long-term street kids, Marian (19) and Gina (14) announced to us one day, “We want a new life. Please help us to get out of this situation. I want a regular job,” Marian continued, “I need to have a place for [my wife] Gina” (who is now 6 months pregnant) “and for the baby to be born.” It was so touching.

So we approached one of our friends who agreed to give Marian a job, even though at the time he didn't have any legal papers whatsoever, which is not uncommon for these young people who have lived on the streets for years. Another businessman offered to pay their rent until they got on their feet. God bless this man who hired Marian while his paperwork was still being sorted out. And God bless Marian who took up the challenge and after a couple of month was recognized as the best worker in the entire factory.

We know that it is possible for these young people to change and become productive members of society; all they need is respect, someone who they can trust and an opportunity to do the right thing. Perhaps not all will succeed but for those who do it is well worth the effort. Will you help us make this work possible? Can you help us help these children out of their despair by bringing some hope and by teaching them to fend for themselves?

To donate to this Family Care Foundation Project, please note Project NAME and then click here.

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