Ten-year-old girl learns to live beyond pain of abandonment
Today Lorena lives with Elisabeta and three uncles in a small basement in the city of Cluj, northwestern Romania. The home consists of one room and a tiny kitchen, which converts into a bedroom for Lorena and Elisabeta during the night. The two sleep together on an old couch that stretches between a window and the cooking stove.
It is freezing outside, with temperatures falling below -10 degrees Celsius. The home is barely able to withstand the cold; the corners of the room are covered with mold and the air is moist.
Lorena is a silent child, though she used to be more talkative, says World Vision Social Worker Maria Muzur. Maria works with Lorena in the support groups organized by Children of Romania’s project for poor children who are raised by single parents or grandparents.
Lorena is starting to realize more acutely that she is different from the children she meets at school. She doesn’t have a mother or father and she is from a poor background...her peers mock her clothes and physical appearance
“Lorena is going through a period of changes right now that are likely related to her age. She is starting to realize more acutely that she is different from the children she meets at school. She has a weight problem, she doesn’t have a mother or father, and she is from a poor background. Several months ago she shared with me that her peers were mocking her clothes and physical appearance,” says Maria.
World Vision’s program offers a support group once a week for 25 children like Lorena. The group provides spiritual guidance, painting activities, socializing events, games, excursions and camps. It has also provided Lorena with school supplies, a school bag, a school uniform, clothes, shoes, and other gifts in kind such as a new winter coat of which she is very proud.
Despite her poverty, Lorena enjoys a nurturing environment in her grandmother’s care. Elisabeta does her best to look after Lorena, who lovingly calls Elisabeta “mom”.
Even so, Lorena seems to be in need of a proper mother and father. Elisabeta retired from her job as a janitor after she was diagnosed with Addison disease. Her pension is around US $100 per month. She is frequently admitted to the hospital for check ups and treatments, leaving Lorena in the care of her uncles. Elisabeta’s three sons are in their twenties and work at a car wash, though they do not make enough income to move out of their mother’s place and rent a place of their own.
Elisabeta does not like to talk about Lorena’s mother, who used to be a source of constant stress for her. She does not bring the subject up with Lorena, either.
“My daughter was young and did not know how to handle a baby. One day she told me she was going to buy some powdered milk for Lorena and asked me to take care of her. We waited for her to return for several long hours, which turned into a day, and then a week. She never came back. I guess she went abroad,” recalls Elisabeta.
Nobody knew where Lorena’s mother disappeared to, not even the police. Elisabeta gave up asking questions and concentrated on raising the baby. At that time she had three other sons to raise, too.
“My daughter had Lorena but did not love her as a mother does,” adds Elisabeta. She then stops the discussion, feeling that she talked too much about the sour subject in Lorena’s presence.
I enjoy painting and playing with the other kids in the support group. I have a lot of friends there. World Vision also supported me to go to a summer camp where we played lots of games.
Despite the sadness, there are rays of sunshine in Lorena’s life. She has been a World Vision beneficiary for almost three years. She feels fortunate and relieved to be part of a group where she can develop friendships with other children.
“I enjoy painting and playing with the other kids in the support group. I have a lot of friends there. World Vision also supported me to go to a summer camp where we played lots of games,” says Lorena.
Talking about her friends in the support group and the fun times she spends with them makes Lorena feel at ease. Her face lights up as she remembers last summers camp and the games she played in the woods. The serious expression on her face transforms into a smile, followed by an outpouring of laughter.
“She feels at home in World Vision’s support groups, where she knows she is accepted and valued like all the other children. There are no social differences between them because they all come from similar backgrounds,” says Maria.
“Lorena likes to go to the group, I can see that. Every Saturday she gets ready in the morning and looks forward to meeting her friends,” says Elisabeta.
Recently, World Vision in partnership with churches and other NGOs organized a Christmas event, where the artwork created by the children in the support group was exhibited and sold. Lorena was proud to see her artwork on display there. The children also made a short movie about their activities in World Vision’s support group and presented the movie at the event.
“All these activities make the children feel that their work is admired and valued,” says Maria.
It is freezing outside, with temperatures falling below -10 degrees Celsius. The home is barely able to withstand the cold; the corners of the room are covered with mold and the air is moist.
Lorena is a silent child, though she used to be more talkative, says World Vision Social Worker Maria Muzur. Maria works with Lorena in the support groups organized by Children of Romania’s project for poor children who are raised by single parents or grandparents.
Lorena is starting to realize more acutely that she is different from the children she meets at school. She doesn’t have a mother or father and she is from a poor background...her peers mock her clothes and physical appearance
“Lorena is going through a period of changes right now that are likely related to her age. She is starting to realize more acutely that she is different from the children she meets at school. She has a weight problem, she doesn’t have a mother or father, and she is from a poor background. Several months ago she shared with me that her peers were mocking her clothes and physical appearance,” says Maria.
World Vision’s program offers a support group once a week for 25 children like Lorena. The group provides spiritual guidance, painting activities, socializing events, games, excursions and camps. It has also provided Lorena with school supplies, a school bag, a school uniform, clothes, shoes, and other gifts in kind such as a new winter coat of which she is very proud.
Despite her poverty, Lorena enjoys a nurturing environment in her grandmother’s care. Elisabeta does her best to look after Lorena, who lovingly calls Elisabeta “mom”.
Even so, Lorena seems to be in need of a proper mother and father. Elisabeta retired from her job as a janitor after she was diagnosed with Addison disease. Her pension is around US $100 per month. She is frequently admitted to the hospital for check ups and treatments, leaving Lorena in the care of her uncles. Elisabeta’s three sons are in their twenties and work at a car wash, though they do not make enough income to move out of their mother’s place and rent a place of their own.
Elisabeta does not like to talk about Lorena’s mother, who used to be a source of constant stress for her. She does not bring the subject up with Lorena, either.
“My daughter was young and did not know how to handle a baby. One day she told me she was going to buy some powdered milk for Lorena and asked me to take care of her. We waited for her to return for several long hours, which turned into a day, and then a week. She never came back. I guess she went abroad,” recalls Elisabeta.
Nobody knew where Lorena’s mother disappeared to, not even the police. Elisabeta gave up asking questions and concentrated on raising the baby. At that time she had three other sons to raise, too.
“My daughter had Lorena but did not love her as a mother does,” adds Elisabeta. She then stops the discussion, feeling that she talked too much about the sour subject in Lorena’s presence.
I enjoy painting and playing with the other kids in the support group. I have a lot of friends there. World Vision also supported me to go to a summer camp where we played lots of games.
Despite the sadness, there are rays of sunshine in Lorena’s life. She has been a World Vision beneficiary for almost three years. She feels fortunate and relieved to be part of a group where she can develop friendships with other children.
“I enjoy painting and playing with the other kids in the support group. I have a lot of friends there. World Vision also supported me to go to a summer camp where we played lots of games,” says Lorena.
Talking about her friends in the support group and the fun times she spends with them makes Lorena feel at ease. Her face lights up as she remembers last summers camp and the games she played in the woods. The serious expression on her face transforms into a smile, followed by an outpouring of laughter.
“She feels at home in World Vision’s support groups, where she knows she is accepted and valued like all the other children. There are no social differences between them because they all come from similar backgrounds,” says Maria.
“Lorena likes to go to the group, I can see that. Every Saturday she gets ready in the morning and looks forward to meeting her friends,” says Elisabeta.
Recently, World Vision in partnership with churches and other NGOs organized a Christmas event, where the artwork created by the children in the support group was exhibited and sold. Lorena was proud to see her artwork on display there. The children also made a short movie about their activities in World Vision’s support group and presented the movie at the event.
“All these activities make the children feel that their work is admired and valued,” says Maria.
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