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We have been working with vulnerable children and families in Romania for over 12 years now. As our work grows, especially these past years, the Romanian local authorities have become more aware of us. They have noticed the profound changes taking place in the lives of the children we work with and have asked us to begin our work in a very impoverished, rural community. 

I went to visit the families and tiny school there and I can say that around 419 people of which 206 are children, (although official figures have not been recorded), live on the margins of society. Most of the children don’t go to school and suffer from severe poverty and neglect. 

Here in this rural place people exist at the margins, isolated and forgotten by society. Alcoholism, violence, poverty and failure to attend school are common. Waste is not collected but scattered everywhere. Since there is no sanitary system and no source of clean drinking water, people are prone to diseases. Empty promises, no work and no change of their situation has left them in a state of desperation and depression.

I visit a tiny one room house. I see the pain in the mother’s eyes. She is 17 years old with her second child in her arms standing in her one room hut. It is dirty and old with just a stove and a bed. Her face is so beautiful but her eyes are empty and lost. She smiles wearily revealing that she has already lost most of her teeth. She tells me of a childhood of the neglect and abuse: “We were 14 children but half were taken to an orphanage. My mother is not a good person.” When we leave, she has tears in her eyes. I believe we were the first people who ever listened to her story.

Each home here has a similar story to tell. Seeing children and families like this has left me heart broken.

Open Hands wants all children here to have a future. We are now working on getting the children into school. Our social worker, Firuta, is holding regular meetings with parents and is working together with teachers and the local authority.

We have found that the children are very hungry. Working hand in hand with the school we would like to give out food there and begin to celebrate birthdays. The children don’t yet know what a birthday is or when they were born. They are precious and we want them to know this.

Will you please stand with us and help us to be a bright light to them? There is a future for them if we shine bright enough.

If you would like to donate this project please reference it Lighthouse. Thank you!

Love from Rebekka and the Open Hands team

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