Romanian child plucked from cycle of abandonment
Kati, 56 and Eva Maria, 11, live in Aghires Sat in Cluj County, northwest Romania. Eva was abandoned at birth by her young mother, Izabela. The little girl fell victim to a cruel cycle of abandonment, as Izabela herself was abandoned at birth and left to be raised in an orphanage. Fortunately, Izabela found favor with Kati and her husband, who adopted her when she was seven years old. When Kati laid eyes on Izabela’s baby, Eva, her compassionate spirit won once again and she took the infant home. Eleven years later, Kati is providing for the little girl’s every need thanks to support from World Vision.
Kati and Eva began to receive support from World Vision when Eva was in kindergarten and became a participant in the Children of Romania Project. Not only did the project support Kati to become Eva’s legal guardian, but it also provided Kati with counseling and helped her qualify for social help from the government. In addition, World Vision provided the family with food, clothes and construction materials for house repairs.
“I know World Vision very well, I know its social workers. They have been so kind to me and Eva. They used to bring us flower, oil, and sugar, as well as clothes and school supplies for Eva,” says Kati.
The items Kati and Eva received from World Vision have meant the world to Kati, who has struggled for survival since her husband died nine years ago, leaving the family without any material support but the clay shackle they call home.
The items Kati and Eva received from World Vision have meant the world to Kati, who has struggled for survival since her husband died nine years ago, leaving the family without any material support but the clay shackle they call home.
With her husband’s passing, Kati found motivation to continue living when she looked at two-year-old Eva. Since then, everything Kati does is done in the name of Eva’s wellbeing and happiness.
In return, the beautiful child, with her shy smile and long, chestnut hair, calls Kati ‘mama’. Kati, whose good heart is reflected in her luminous brown eyes, showers Eva with love and affection as she holds her in her arms.
Eva’s biological mother, Izabela, lives nearby in the same village, though she does not show any interest in Eva. Izabela comes from time to time to ask Kati for money and food, treating Eva with indifference.
“She doesn’t care for me. Sometimes she doesn’t even say hello to me,” says Eva with a serious expression on her face.
Eva’s biological mother, Izabela, lives nearby in the same village, though she does not show any interest in Eva. Izabela comes from time to time to ask Kati for money and food, treating Eva with indifference.
Eva was conceived out of wedlock and was never recognized as a daughter by her father. Izabela, who is now married to a different man, has three other children. While two live with Izabela, the other child was abandoned at birth like Eva, who is the eldest.
Kati struggles to provide for Eva since she is illiterate and has no qualifications for jobs that are stable and pay decently. She also suffers from asthma and diabetes, though her medical conditions do not prevent her from working hard hoeing, gathering crops, and cleaning the yards and homes of wealthier people. She makes around US $5 for one day of work.
“I work hard in summer so that we can live through the winter, when work is less available,” says Kati. This autumn she managed to fill the larder with potatoes, carrots, beans, cucumbers and cabbages to ensure she and Eva have the basics to eat.
Their only fixed income consists of the US $60 they receive each month from the State, though the small sum doesn’t come close to covering the cost of electricity, wood, clothes, school supplies and food. Romanian winters are long and harsh, with temperatures constantly falling below zero degrees Celsius, and the amount of money spent on wood is four times larger than the family’s monthly income.
I work hard in summer so that we can live through the winter, when work is less available
Eva had toast and tea for breakfast this morning, and ate some cabbage for lunch. Kati worries about the girl, who is tiny and doesn’t eat much. Eva was diagnosed with hypotrophy but was found otherwise clinically healthy.
The pair lives in a one-room “home” without running water. The single room serves as a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Each autumn Kati is desperate to replace the old roof before the winter rains set in. Unfortunately, the cost of building a sturdy roof exceeds her budget, and the rains have already leaked through and ruined the walls Kati recently repainted.
But the family’s future is not bleak. Beginning this autumn, World Vision’s Animation Program is going to extend from Aghires Fabrici in Aghires Sat, bringing Eva and dozens of other children the joys of interactive games, painting, drawing and special events on a weekly basis.
Eva also participated in the World Vision supported Harvest Day celebration held this fall in Aghires Fabrici, where she danced and enjoyed carnival festivities with other children. In a mask-making competition, children created funny characters by twisting and reshaping carrots, celeries, pumpkins, corn and other crops. Eva worked on her own kitten mask with Kati, who happily attended the Harvest Day celebration. The winners received certificates and prizes from World Vision staff and volunteers.
Kati and Eva began to receive support from World Vision when Eva was in kindergarten and became a participant in the Children of Romania Project. Not only did the project support Kati to become Eva’s legal guardian, but it also provided Kati with counseling and helped her qualify for social help from the government. In addition, World Vision provided the family with food, clothes and construction materials for house repairs.
“I know World Vision very well, I know its social workers. They have been so kind to me and Eva. They used to bring us flower, oil, and sugar, as well as clothes and school supplies for Eva,” says Kati.
The items Kati and Eva received from World Vision have meant the world to Kati, who has struggled for survival since her husband died nine years ago, leaving the family without any material support but the clay shackle they call home.
The items Kati and Eva received from World Vision have meant the world to Kati, who has struggled for survival since her husband died nine years ago, leaving the family without any material support but the clay shackle they call home.
With her husband’s passing, Kati found motivation to continue living when she looked at two-year-old Eva. Since then, everything Kati does is done in the name of Eva’s wellbeing and happiness.
In return, the beautiful child, with her shy smile and long, chestnut hair, calls Kati ‘mama’. Kati, whose good heart is reflected in her luminous brown eyes, showers Eva with love and affection as she holds her in her arms.
Eva’s biological mother, Izabela, lives nearby in the same village, though she does not show any interest in Eva. Izabela comes from time to time to ask Kati for money and food, treating Eva with indifference.
“She doesn’t care for me. Sometimes she doesn’t even say hello to me,” says Eva with a serious expression on her face.
Eva’s biological mother, Izabela, lives nearby in the same village, though she does not show any interest in Eva. Izabela comes from time to time to ask Kati for money and food, treating Eva with indifference.
Eva was conceived out of wedlock and was never recognized as a daughter by her father. Izabela, who is now married to a different man, has three other children. While two live with Izabela, the other child was abandoned at birth like Eva, who is the eldest.
Kati struggles to provide for Eva since she is illiterate and has no qualifications for jobs that are stable and pay decently. She also suffers from asthma and diabetes, though her medical conditions do not prevent her from working hard hoeing, gathering crops, and cleaning the yards and homes of wealthier people. She makes around US $5 for one day of work.
“I work hard in summer so that we can live through the winter, when work is less available,” says Kati. This autumn she managed to fill the larder with potatoes, carrots, beans, cucumbers and cabbages to ensure she and Eva have the basics to eat.
Their only fixed income consists of the US $60 they receive each month from the State, though the small sum doesn’t come close to covering the cost of electricity, wood, clothes, school supplies and food. Romanian winters are long and harsh, with temperatures constantly falling below zero degrees Celsius, and the amount of money spent on wood is four times larger than the family’s monthly income.
I work hard in summer so that we can live through the winter, when work is less available
Eva had toast and tea for breakfast this morning, and ate some cabbage for lunch. Kati worries about the girl, who is tiny and doesn’t eat much. Eva was diagnosed with hypotrophy but was found otherwise clinically healthy.
The pair lives in a one-room “home” without running water. The single room serves as a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Each autumn Kati is desperate to replace the old roof before the winter rains set in. Unfortunately, the cost of building a sturdy roof exceeds her budget, and the rains have already leaked through and ruined the walls Kati recently repainted.
But the family’s future is not bleak. Beginning this autumn, World Vision’s Animation Program is going to extend from Aghires Fabrici in Aghires Sat, bringing Eva and dozens of other children the joys of interactive games, painting, drawing and special events on a weekly basis.
Eva also participated in the World Vision supported Harvest Day celebration held this fall in Aghires Fabrici, where she danced and enjoyed carnival festivities with other children. In a mask-making competition, children created funny characters by twisting and reshaping carrots, celeries, pumpkins, corn and other crops. Eva worked on her own kitten mask with Kati, who happily attended the Harvest Day celebration. The winners received certificates and prizes from World Vision staff and volunteers.
Share