PROJECTS
Poverty & the Roma Population – We are working in a downtown slum that is home to a number of families that are squatting in abandoned storefronts and garages. The majority of the families are from the Roma (Gypsy) population.
1
Mentoring & Counselling At-Risk Mothers
The majority of the moms we minister to are uneducated and unable to read or write. Many are living in abusive relationships and most carry the full responsibility of raising and providing for their children. They raise their children according to the “old wives tales” that have been passed down to them by their mothers and grandmothers. We provide support to these courageous moms through mentoring & counselling, hands-on training, bible studies and providing humanitarian supplies.
4
Humanitarian
Aid
The families we're ministering to struggle every day to provide for their children. Food is often scarce and children go to bed hungry. Medicine is not readily available when sickness strikes. Clothes must be worn until they are virtual rags. We do what we can to help families provide for their children through bringing in much needed donations of food, clothing, medicine and school supplies.
2
School-Readyness & Abandonment Prevention
Many Romanian children, especially those in the Roma community, either do not attend school, or drop out early. In the area we are ministering in, the oldest girl still in school is only in grade 5! We work with the children and their families to prepare them for school by providing early education programs, as well as monitoring their enrollment and attendance. Families that send their children to school receive extra assistance, such as school supplies and clothing. We have also started a much-needed after-school program.
5
Abuse & Human Trafficking Prevention
A sad truth is that abuse is an accepted practice in much of the Romanian culture, especially among the poor. The children and families we are ministering to are forced to deal with this reality in their everyday lives. Every child and mother that we work with experience at least one form of abuse on an ongoing basis.
Children and most of the mothers we work with are at an immediate risk for human trafficking. We have had children that have been brought into prostitution by their family, and girls are often “married” as young as 12 years old. Mothers have sometimes used prostitution to be able to provide for their children.
We work to prevent abuse and human trafficking through working directly with those at risk. Through education, mentoring and learning about the hope they have for their futures through Jesus, many lives have been changed.
3
Early Education for
At-Risk Children
Because most of our children come from families with uneducated parents, the kids are at-risk of falling behind in their cognitive and social development, therefore perpetuating the cycle of exclusion and poverty. We provide free early education programs for young children which focus on helping the children gain the skills they need to reach their developmental milestones and prepare them for entering the state school system.
6
Showing Love and Teaching about God
Interwoven throughout all we do is the love and saving grace of Jesus. Our lives were forever changed by God’s love, and we therefore share this love through our actions and words. Every program we run, whether for the children, or their families, is saturated with the love and hope that Jesus offers us. We know that God has already impacted the life of each person we work with in this community, and our prayer is that He will continue to pour out His love and hearts will be turned towards HIM!