Our Computer Training Center provides high-school-aged orphans with important vocational skills. The young students, most of whom had never touched a computer before, are trained in typing and basic computer-related skills including layout, creating spreadsheets, and managing files.

Project Manager and teacher, Paul Katz, seated, center, with several students of the Computer Training Center, which was established to provide high school- aged orphans with vocational skills and new hope.

(Left to right) Violeta, Lenuta and Ioana, three of the teen residents of our transitional home. An important aspect of the home is that the girls still have caring adults involved in their lives, all in a family atmosphere.

Building on the aforementioned program, we established a transitional home for young women who leave the orphanage after graduating high school. All government care stops at this point for these young people and many of them end up on the streets. Due to a severe shortage of housing and very low wages, it is almost impossible for most orphanage graduates to find a decent place to live.

Younger computer students from CP2 orphanage

A party for one of our graduates

Most of these girls have gotten training with us in computer skills, and learned English, as well as grown tremendously in self-esteem, and have a lot to offer the world. In the transitional home, we train these young ladies in various aspects of independent living, while continuing to provide a secure environment for them. They run the home themselves, receiving instruction in such areas as budgeting, nutrition management, sanitation, workplace-related challenges, dealing with bureaucracy, and so on. We also help them find employment and/or get enrolled in further job-training courses. An important aspect of this new home is that the residents still have caring adults involved in their lives. Simply put, they learn independence in a mentored environment We can never fill the gap left by a lack of parental attention, but we continue to be there as friends and counselors. With encouragement, guidance and moral support, we are proud to see these young women make it in the outside world. One of our students, Geanina, was recently selected to represent Bacau County in a national computer-usage competition held in Bucharest.

* * * * * * * * * *

Anisoara is a young single mother who grew up in an orphanage here, and was in quite a difficult situation when we first heard about her. She had gotten pregnant shortly after leaving the orphanage, but the father of the child turned out to be abusive and a heavy drinker. Anisoara was working in a clothing factory with terrible conditions; she had no contract, no insurance and receiving only about $35 a month. She and her baby were sharing a room with four other people. The baby was very sick, undernourished and in need of special care. In cooperation with some others, we have helped Anisoara to get a fully-furnished room of her own. The baby is now in daycare, much healthier and eating normally, and the mother has a better job, with a reasonable salary. We are trying to arrange monthly sponsorship for this young mother, as her $60 / month salary is not sufficient to cover all the living expenses for herself and her child.