DAY CENTRE, NIGHT SHELTER & OUTREACH, BRASOV Current project Bucharest, the Capital City of Romania, was the birthplace of CRY and the location of the first Children’s Home – Casa Robin Hood in 1996. Much has happened in the last 13 years and 2008 marked a significant change in the direction of the projects. Over the years many children have been helped to move into independent lifestyles with the support of CRY, returned to the care of family, or placed with Foster Carers. During the past two years the focus of the programmes has moved to Brasov, a city some 3 hours drive from Bucharest, in the mountainous regions of Romania.
There was significant development in the work of this project in 2010, seeing the first young people given the opportunity to own their own apartments. A building programme is also underway in Haghig to house more young people. The Day Centre in Brasov was started in 2001 and seeks to reach out to young people living on the streets through a Day Centre and Night Shelter. The team have seen significant developments in their work during 2008 with positive outcomes for many of the young people and good relationships with the Local Authorities. Currently over 80 young people who live on the streets benefit from the Day Centre. Regular contact is maintained with these young people, and a daily feeding, hygiene and education programme is offered to them at the centre. Whilst many of these young people are committed to their lifestyle, there has been significant change of heart from some, and the team focus on working with them to identify those most willing to accept change. Some of these young people have gained employment and embraced a changed lifestyle.    The Night Shelter provides a safe and secure place for those young people wishing to accept a change of lifestyle. They are helped to obtain employment and eventually their own accommodation. Up to 10 young people can stay in the Night Shelter for up to 3 months. In 2010 some of the young men supported in the Night Shelter, located in a detached house in a village 10km from Brasov, had to adhere to a contract which involved regular work and they had to accept a move to independant accommodation at the end of a six-month period. This contract has been extremely successful and all the young menhave been resettled in the community. Some have returned to family and with the team's help, others have benefited from the programme to build apartments. The Social Canteen was developped in 2009, to reach out with meals provided on a daily basis to over 30 families and older people who are in significant need. A Homework Club and associated work is offered to children and their families in Stupini. It is hoped that the new building programme in Haghig will also have an impact on the Roma Gypsy community. The team work hard, in liaison with the Child Department, to reduce the number of young people living on the streets.

TEENAGE/FAMILY SUPPORT AND DAY CENTRES, BUCHAREST

Last supported in 2008

The Day Centres brought support to many very needy children and their families in Bucharest. A range of programmes were developed to assist the children through art, dance, creative studies and homework. Other life experiences such as outings were arranged and parenting opportunities given to parents. Early in 2008 one of these centres was taken over by another NGO and the remaining centre ceased to be the responsibility of CRY in June 2008. It was agreed that this project would become the responsibility of the Brasov Team. Staff changes and financial constraints resulted in a complete review of the project, which identified that the remaining young people could be adequately supported by the Brasov Team and the remaining Day Centre should be managed locally. CRY’s responsibility for the Day Centre ceased in June 2008. Currently the Brasov team provide regular support to the young people who are living independently. This support will continue until they complete their further education and have a stable lifestyle.

The team  continued to maintain contact with some of the young people and their families who were previously under the care of CRY. Any future needs will be addressed by the Brasov Team in co-operation with other NGO’s in Bucharest.

The Day Centre team in Brasov continue to be encouraged by the numbers of young people making decisions to change their lifestyle. They are working with the Social Canteen team, considering how best to expand their work to include more of the many children and families living in Brasov who are in significant need in their future programmes.

There is now a regular throughput of young men currently living in the Night Shelter and the contracts with them have had a positive effect in encouraging them to sustain work and gain accommodation. The contract idea will be developed and used further.

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Romania is a very different country to what it was 20 years ago, offering better living conditions to the average family. When it joined the EU in 2007, there were many reforms tackling the widespread poverty. However poverty in the rural areas as well as amongst the vulnerable, excluded and discriminated children continues to be high. There are still children and young people living and working on the streets, as well as victims of child trafficking. Children with disabilities, children with HIV/AIDS and Roma children are still victims of stigma and discrimination, and the rights of children with mental disabilities living in public institutions are not being fully met. Children from poor and rural areas are more likely to be abandoned, institutionalised, to drop out of school, and to be found on the streets. A majority of these children turn to drugs for company. The work in Romania is so important, giving options to street children and young people, offering warm meals and shelter, as well as vocational training. They also receive help to battle their addictions and change their lifestyles for a better and brighter future.

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Some are from a camp run by the team in Brasov in April 2011, taking the young people through team building exercises, also enjoying art and crafts.