Romania
More than a decade has passed since the 1989 revolution, when the people of Romania finally overturned the communist regime after forty-five years of ruthless repression. Left hanging to the debris of dictatorship and caught in the snares of an old mentality, the country plunged into an on-going state of transition while trying to make its way towards the modern world. Political games, government mismanagement as well as the lack of a clear, democratic, legal framework of the state have delayed Romania’s compliance with the present European standards.
Although the monthly average income is established to 3,650,000 lei ($113.63) and the minimum income is – 1,400,000 ($43.58), 44,5% of the population is living under the poverty line.
Emigration, high mortality and negative birth rate – they all have economic causes that decreased the country’s population from over 23 million in 1992 to 22,364,022 in July 2001.
Though the unemployment rate – 8,6 % – may not seem frightening, most departments that depend on the state budget are extremely low paid. People from the education system often go on strike; the health department is striving to save lives and survive themselves, while the country’s industries and agriculture are undergoing a permanent crisis.
The elderly – representing one of the most vulnerable categories of the society and also the most neglected – receive little help from the state. They are often ill and seldom afford to buy the medicines they need because of their exorbitant prices. The general health condition of the population is poor due to the impossibility of acquiring enough nutritious food.
Although 7% of every person’s income is transferred to the health insurance fund – thus medical services are free of charge – the hospitals are a deplorable sight, falling in decay: they lack adequate medical equipment as well as proper, hygienic hospitalization conditions. For the unemployed, a day’s stay in the hospital was calculated to 665.863 lei($20.73); this is the average, but the cost can often exceed 1,000,000 lei ($ 31.13), depending on the hospital section.
A recent household budget survey shows that Romanians spend about 40% of their salaries on food and about 20 % on housing, water, electricity, gas or wood, which leaves little to the other areas such as clothing and footwear or health and transportation or communication. The majority cannot afford to buy quality clothing or shoes, since one of the respective items equals a month’s salary or more.
Having these factors in mind, it is not hard to understand the reasons why many families were pushed into placing their children in state–run institutions. Basic needs such as nutrition, warmth, clothing – all are unavailable to many parents to provide for their children.
Today’s number of institutionalized children is around 90,000 – normal, slow learners, handicapped children aged 0 – 18+. Mission Without Borders reaches 23,116 of these children in 115 Child Placement Centres (Children’s Homes) in 28 of the 41 districts of Romania, distributing food supplies, clothes, medical aid, vocational training, emotional and spiritual support.
MWB develops its activities with the support of 11,850 sponsors. The Child Placement Centres are under the jurisdiction of the Department for Child Protection and receive a small budget from the government that comes irregularly. However, these funds are very low (32,000 lei per child, equivalent of 1 USD per day) and cannot cover the many needs of the children.
To prevent child institutionalisation, Mission Without Borders works along with the Government’s Deinstitutionalisation Strategy. This is achieved by supporting and encouraging needy families to keep children in a family environment – either natural, foster or placement families. These families and children receive material, emotional and spiritual aid.
History
MWB has worked openly in Romania since 1990. Based in the central Romanian city of Sibiu, employing only Romanian nationals, MWB has established various humanitarian aid and Christian outreach programs, aimed to meet the needs of Romania’s most vulnerable people. Ceausescu’s enforced population program resulted in over 100,000 orphaned or abandoned children living in hundreds of dilapidated state orphanages throughout Romania.
The desperate plight of these children motivated MWB to establish the child sponsorship programme: Child Rescue International.
Today
With the experience we have gained over the years, our continued work with the Romanian Government has brought about the closure of many of the large orphanages. To achieve this, many children have been given foster homes, or re-united with their own families and many are living in much smaller units.
The work with these children still continues:
They often have severe problems having known nothing but the fight of institutional life. The stigma and the lack of social skills through having been in an orphanage then make it very difficult to find work.
We have therefore introduced Vocational and Educational training courses.
The impoverished families’ needs are being met through our Family to Family sponsorship and Family Care schemes. We are working together to bring about self-sufficiency and hope for a better future.
Read how Andreea’s life was changed for the better.
Helping Romania
Some related links of interest:
