Women of Vision meet teens from Romanian orphanages
This visit, the seventh for the group in the last 12 years, was organised so that the women could see firsthand how the projects they are funding, through World Vision US, are impacting Romania’s children and young people.
In Cluj County they met with teenagers who live in one of Romania’s many orphanages and spent two days with them, filled with games, learning through a workshop and a festive dinner.
This was the second time that the Women of Vision met with some of the beneficiaries of World Vision’s Youth in Transition project.
“We fundraise in Colorado and keep in contact with the people involved with these projects. We like to come to see how the projects are going, to encourage people”, shared one of the ‘Women of Vision’, Carol Overgaard.
[leftquotebox]If it weren’t for World Vision I’d be on the streets and sleeping in a gutter. World Vision helped me to find my job. The young people remembered their past encounters with joy and gratitude, while the Women of Vision noticed the positive changes that have taken place in their attitude and behaviour.
“I have noticed important progress in these teenagers. The way they relate to one another and to the world has really improved. They are more open, well behaved and able to focus better on the workshop theme”, noticed Linda Smith.
“If it weren’t for World Vision I’d be on the streets and sleeping in a gutter. World Vision helped me to find my job”, says Nicolae, who has received help through the Youth in Transition project to pay rent and receive counselling.
Dinner preparations provided a huge amount of anticipation and fun for both the youth and women who gifted the teens with formal clothing – the likes of which these young people could not afford to buy.
“I never had so many clothes in my entire life”, said 16-year-old Lucia, with a broad smile.
The workshop, conducted by experienced child therapist Marcia Osteroos, focused on decisions and their consequences.
“I wasn’t aware that I make decisions each day through everything that I do. And that these decisions are influencing my life”, said 17-year-old Elisabeta.
Although some progress has been made in reducing the amount of ‘orphanages’ in Romania and improving the state of facilities, orphanages, or children’s institutions, still fail to provide the personal attention, love and care that every child and young person needs.
As a result, teenagers are not given the opportunity or tools to learn acceptable social behaviours and the necessary skills to lead an independent, fulfilling life.
I like to come to the support groups because World Vision staff listen to me and paint with me. Furthermore, the State withdraws its support of young people once they turn 18, when they are forced to leave the institution and support themselves. With no family, home or job to turn to, teenagers have very little chance of integrating into society and are often forced into street life or jobs where they are easily exploited.
World Vision’s Youth in Transition Project is designed to give teenagers in institutions the building blocks on which to start a new life outside of the institution, providing life skills such as how to apply for a job, manage a budget and use social services.
“I like to come to the support groups because World Vision staff listen to me and paint with me,” says 16-year-old Rada. Some of the abandoned teenagers World Vision works with have mental and physical disabilities that have worsened inside institutions. For them, complete independence is out of reach, but World Vision is able to assist them to lead a much fuller life.
Coming to Romania and interacting with teenagers from orphanages has become one of the most important life goals for me. For many of the participants, this is their first chance for personal growth and development and the only assistance they receive before they have to stand on their own two feet for the first time.
“Coming to Romania and interacting with teenagers from orphanages has become one of the most important life goals for me”, confessed Marcia Osteroos after the workshop.
‘Women of Vision’ was founded in 1996. More than 100 women volunteers help finance various projects around Romania that impact thousands of young lives.
In Cluj County they met with teenagers who live in one of Romania’s many orphanages and spent two days with them, filled with games, learning through a workshop and a festive dinner.
This was the second time that the Women of Vision met with some of the beneficiaries of World Vision’s Youth in Transition project.
“We fundraise in Colorado and keep in contact with the people involved with these projects. We like to come to see how the projects are going, to encourage people”, shared one of the ‘Women of Vision’, Carol Overgaard.
[leftquotebox]If it weren’t for World Vision I’d be on the streets and sleeping in a gutter. World Vision helped me to find my job. The young people remembered their past encounters with joy and gratitude, while the Women of Vision noticed the positive changes that have taken place in their attitude and behaviour.
“I have noticed important progress in these teenagers. The way they relate to one another and to the world has really improved. They are more open, well behaved and able to focus better on the workshop theme”, noticed Linda Smith.
“If it weren’t for World Vision I’d be on the streets and sleeping in a gutter. World Vision helped me to find my job”, says Nicolae, who has received help through the Youth in Transition project to pay rent and receive counselling.
Dinner preparations provided a huge amount of anticipation and fun for both the youth and women who gifted the teens with formal clothing – the likes of which these young people could not afford to buy.
“I never had so many clothes in my entire life”, said 16-year-old Lucia, with a broad smile.
The workshop, conducted by experienced child therapist Marcia Osteroos, focused on decisions and their consequences.
“I wasn’t aware that I make decisions each day through everything that I do. And that these decisions are influencing my life”, said 17-year-old Elisabeta.
Although some progress has been made in reducing the amount of ‘orphanages’ in Romania and improving the state of facilities, orphanages, or children’s institutions, still fail to provide the personal attention, love and care that every child and young person needs.
As a result, teenagers are not given the opportunity or tools to learn acceptable social behaviours and the necessary skills to lead an independent, fulfilling life.
I like to come to the support groups because World Vision staff listen to me and paint with me. Furthermore, the State withdraws its support of young people once they turn 18, when they are forced to leave the institution and support themselves. With no family, home or job to turn to, teenagers have very little chance of integrating into society and are often forced into street life or jobs where they are easily exploited.
World Vision’s Youth in Transition Project is designed to give teenagers in institutions the building blocks on which to start a new life outside of the institution, providing life skills such as how to apply for a job, manage a budget and use social services.
“I like to come to the support groups because World Vision staff listen to me and paint with me,” says 16-year-old Rada. Some of the abandoned teenagers World Vision works with have mental and physical disabilities that have worsened inside institutions. For them, complete independence is out of reach, but World Vision is able to assist them to lead a much fuller life.
Coming to Romania and interacting with teenagers from orphanages has become one of the most important life goals for me. For many of the participants, this is their first chance for personal growth and development and the only assistance they receive before they have to stand on their own two feet for the first time.
“Coming to Romania and interacting with teenagers from orphanages has become one of the most important life goals for me”, confessed Marcia Osteroos after the workshop.
‘Women of Vision’ was founded in 1996. More than 100 women volunteers help finance various projects around Romania that impact thousands of young lives.
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