‘Powerful transformation’ say leaders of Romanian communities
“World Vision was the first organisation to get involved in the life of our community. The results are obvious and conclusive: hundreds of children were motivated to stay in school or to go beyond what they regarded as limits to their performance, to have a civic attitude and to become advocates of those less fortunate. These children are now young adults; they have matured and are now helping their peers. Their example is enlightening”, said Vasile Aioanei, school principal in Ceplenita commune about World Vision’s ‘Help children to hope’ project.
...hundreds of children were motivated to stay in school or to go beyond what they regarded as limits to their performance, to have a civic attitude and to become advocates of those less fortunate‘Help children to hope’ project has supported more than 2,500 children and their families as direct beneficiaries and five Community Development Associations (local NGOs) that are committed to ensuring children are educated for life, enjoy good health, are cared for, protected and participating and experience the love of God and their neighbours.
Community leaders from five Romanian counties recently met in Iasi to talk about the successes and challenges of ‘Help children to hope’, as well as share experiences, discuss common challenges and work together with local authorities and representatives of the business community to identify ways of partnering and contributing to sustainable community development.
The event was part of a series of anniversary events marking the end of the first community development projects developed by World Vision in the five rural communities of Aroneanu, Ceplenita, Costuleni, Golaiesti and Vladeni in Iasi County.
During the first years of working together with World Vision, we focused on monitoring children and families in the community, identifying the challenges that some of the families were facing and then, together, searching for available solutions and ways of intervening”, recalls Vasile Largu, teacher in Vladeni commune and president of the “Vladeni Rural Plus” Community Development Association.
...People have become more responsible, they reach higher than before, they want a better life and they are more capable of finding solutions on their ownHealth, education, economic development and spiritual nurture became the pillars of World Vision’s “Help children to hope” project. Over the years, tens of schools, kindergartens, dispensaries and medical cabinets were renovated or equipped; thousands of farmers were trained and supported to increase production and efficiency while thousands of children participated in Sundays School activities.
As Romania became a European Union (EU) member state in 2007 and EU grants and funds became available, “Help children to hope” transitioned from providing direct material and financial support to the five rural communities towards the facilitation stage – supporting the birth of the five community based NGOs, with one in each community, preparing them to access these new financial opportunities.
“Signs of World Vision’s involvement can be found everywhere in our community, beginning with our basic institutions and continuing with the everyday lives of the families. The most powerful transformation is that of mentalities – of both children and adults. People have become more responsible, they reach higher than before, they want a better life and they are more capable of finding solutions on their own”, adds Mr. Aioanei.
“This is how “role models” are born, people who have the ability and the wish to lead and no longer wait for others to come up with ideas and answers. This is the moment where we are taking over responsibilities and good practices”, Mr. Aioanei concludes.
...hundreds of children were motivated to stay in school or to go beyond what they regarded as limits to their performance, to have a civic attitude and to become advocates of those less fortunate‘Help children to hope’ project has supported more than 2,500 children and their families as direct beneficiaries and five Community Development Associations (local NGOs) that are committed to ensuring children are educated for life, enjoy good health, are cared for, protected and participating and experience the love of God and their neighbours.
Community leaders from five Romanian counties recently met in Iasi to talk about the successes and challenges of ‘Help children to hope’, as well as share experiences, discuss common challenges and work together with local authorities and representatives of the business community to identify ways of partnering and contributing to sustainable community development.
The event was part of a series of anniversary events marking the end of the first community development projects developed by World Vision in the five rural communities of Aroneanu, Ceplenita, Costuleni, Golaiesti and Vladeni in Iasi County.
During the first years of working together with World Vision, we focused on monitoring children and families in the community, identifying the challenges that some of the families were facing and then, together, searching for available solutions and ways of intervening”, recalls Vasile Largu, teacher in Vladeni commune and president of the “Vladeni Rural Plus” Community Development Association.
...People have become more responsible, they reach higher than before, they want a better life and they are more capable of finding solutions on their ownHealth, education, economic development and spiritual nurture became the pillars of World Vision’s “Help children to hope” project. Over the years, tens of schools, kindergartens, dispensaries and medical cabinets were renovated or equipped; thousands of farmers were trained and supported to increase production and efficiency while thousands of children participated in Sundays School activities.
As Romania became a European Union (EU) member state in 2007 and EU grants and funds became available, “Help children to hope” transitioned from providing direct material and financial support to the five rural communities towards the facilitation stage – supporting the birth of the five community based NGOs, with one in each community, preparing them to access these new financial opportunities.
“Signs of World Vision’s involvement can be found everywhere in our community, beginning with our basic institutions and continuing with the everyday lives of the families. The most powerful transformation is that of mentalities – of both children and adults. People have become more responsible, they reach higher than before, they want a better life and they are more capable of finding solutions on their own”, adds Mr. Aioanei.
“This is how “role models” are born, people who have the ability and the wish to lead and no longer wait for others to come up with ideas and answers. This is the moment where we are taking over responsibilities and good practices”, Mr. Aioanei concludes.
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