Romania
Situation Report
In 1966 communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu banned contraception and abortions in Romania. He dreamed of creating a large, industrialized military state. But he did not have the resources to care for all of the children that his new laws produced. Rates of poverty, homelessness and hunger all grew as the population swelled. Families could not provide for their children and were forced to abandon them in state-run placement center or on the streets.
Today, Romania struggles with weak economic conditions, high inflation rates and a small middle class. The government estimates that 28% of the population lives below the poverty line. There are still 36,403 children in placement centers (homes for orphans and children whose parents cannot care for them); 78% of those children are older than 9. Romania’s acceptance into the European Union in January 2007 has further strained the welfare system, as they try to meet requirements for a lower number of documented orphans. Although the Romanian government reports that the number of orphans has dropped, thousands of orphaned and abandoned children live on the streets and in the sewers. Families still intact struggle to be self-sufficient as they battle high unemployment rates, poor infrastructure, disease and alcoholism.
Our Work
Medical Teams International has sent 109 volunteer teams and 42 shipments of medicines and supplies to Romania since 1990. We have also financially supported Fundatia Heart of Hope for work on numerous projects.
Future Plans
Medical Teams International will send three teams to serve more than 5,000 Romanian orphans, children and adults living in extreme poverty. Medical Teams International will also send one shipment of humanitarian aid to Romania this year.
Departing teams:
- one dental team will provide care to orphans and others lacking access
- one optometry team will provide free exams and glasses
- one Gift of Hope team will distribute Christmas gifts to children in placement centers
Through our teams, Medical Teams International will provide:
- Dental care to orphans and others in need
- Free eye exams and glasses to children in placement centers
Our Partners
Chuck Fox founded Fundatia Heart of Hope (FHH) in 1991 and is now headed by his daughter, Debbie Marshall. Medical Teams International started partnering with FHH in 1997. FHH places orphaned children or children whose parents cannot care for them in private homes or transitional homes, participates in children's ministry programs, provides support to local placement centers and distributes medical supplies to at-risk families.
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