Growing up under World Vision's umbrella

For the last nine years, George Cheval, from Cumpana community, Constanta County, has grown up under the World Vision umbrella to become a serious and capable young man. His life story must be registered in World Vision’s ‘good deeds book’ as a successful one because George transcended all the problems that destiny served to him and has kept his smile and pure soul.

George was enrolled in the sponsorship programme when he was 10 years old. His oldest memory about World Vision is the image of himself drawing a Christmas card for his sponsor, while at school.

“It was a very pleasant activity to write to my sponsor, knowing that a person from a different country is helping me, like a guardian angel. But I suffered and I envied other children because they receive letters from their sponsors and sometime, even presents on Christmas time. I never received either a letter or a present,” confessed George.

But the lack of communication between him and his sponsor was compensated for by the extraordinary gifts received from World Vision during this time.  The happiness to receive toys and clothes year after year for almost his entire childhood was a huge and real help for the family. And the joy from being involved in community life as a volunteer and to help needy people nurtured his soul and transformed George into the man he is today.

But the hardship doesn’t avoid George. His mother, Georgeta, 56, suffered two hernia operations and has been unable to work for health reasons since she was 30. His father, Nicolae, died because of some heart complications when George was only seven.   He was an engineer at a big company and while he was living, the family was prosperous. After his death, things dramatically changed. The family income strongly decreased, too low for a decent living. George and his mother struggled to survive with only 1200 lei/month (US $340) for many years.

“We hardly managed with this monthly income but we always had food on the table. Not much but enough to not starve. Mom knew how to make money from dry stone. We have a vine arbour above the house and mom sold, every year, the wine and grape brandy produced in our household. Also, she took care of some old and sick ladies in order to supplement our budget. Never missed me clean clothes or money for school transportation even if she was forced to borrow from people,” George explains.

He also worked during the summer holidays. Because he attended a commercial high school, with tourism, alimentation and event planning courses, George was able to work as waiter or male cook’s assistant.  While other young people spent their summer on the beach, George was working in a hot kitchen, 10 hours a day. He never complained about hard work; in fact, he even took part on his free days in the summer camp “Children don’t get lost, they come to Radio Vacanta”, organized by World Vision in Contanta town, during July and August. 

Very understanding, George didn’t ask for anything other than what was strictly necessary, because he knew that anything else would be an effort for his mother. And he respects and loves Georgeta very much, even after he found out three years ago that she is not his biological mother, and that he was adopted when he was one year old.

“I accidentally found [out] I was adopted. A relative of my mother blabbed out this information when we were at a wedding. I smiled on the moment and kept the silence, but in my mind I made some connections and I felt that can be true. Mom always was overprotective and much older than my friends’ parents. And in that day, my suspicion was confirmed. Next day I visited my cousin Roxana and talked with her about this subject. I was troubled. She advised me to talk with mom and I did it on the same day,” George revealed.

“I entered inside the room and I told my mom that I want to talk [about] something with her. We sat down and I frankly asked her: ’Mom, I was adopted? My aunt says so.’ She answered: ’Yes you are. But I was afraid to tell you the truth as not to have a violent reaction or to run away from home or do something to hurt yourself. And worst, I was afraid to lose you, [and] your affection,’ mom said. I embraced her and she started to cry. I told her that is fine, it doesn’t matter [to] me this news and I love her in the same way,” George continued.

This brave man has accepted with courage and style everything in life. He chose to become a World Vision volunteer when he was 13 years old. Since then, he has started to really see people and their need and to act in order to help them.

“George is one of the best volunteers I ever had. He took part in activities in his commune every summer. He kept an eye on children, was involved in sports activities and played chess, rummy and logical games with children. It is a conscientious boy who will finish no matter what task you’ll give to him. He is calm and kind with children and children love him,” describes Mihaela Campanu, World Vision social worker from Cumpana.

Also, he took part in more than 10 big fundraising and advocacy campaigns organized by World Vision, was actively involved in Constanta Office’s projects, like Fight Against Human Trafficking, Millennium Development Objectives and the Georgia-Romania project. His drawing talent and abilities to take very good photos served the organization in every action where it was necessary to have a poster or leaflets. He is friendly and all the volunteers like him.

“World Vision changed my life [for the] good, not only helping me with clothes, hygiene kits, sweets or health informative sessions, but especially giving me the opportunity to participate [in] some individual development trainings, experience changes between young people and in two volunteers’ camps. I didn’t have the financial possibility to travel in our country and World Vision help me to visit Bucharest, Iasi, Brasov and Maramures Counties. Before this I was only in one camp, in Sibiu, and I was 10 years old,” George adds.

Moreover, George is part of the young people’s association “Cumpana Tinerilor” from his community, an association founded by World Vision in 2009. He is involved in all the association’s projects and participated even in a training organized by the Cumpana city hall in another country.

He was very shy and wouldn’t open his mouth unless someone expressly asked him for an answer. He didn’t know how to socialize with people and totally lacked the trust in himself.

“I consider myself a lucky person just because I early started to volunteer. That helped me to discover myself, what I like and which are my abilities and skills. The volunteering was and it is a very important part of my life, which educated me and boosted me to be better and more involved in what I do. I was shy and insecure but I am [in] charge now. I have trust in me and I learned to communicate with different people. I learned to learn, to not have prejudices, not discriminate. I learned that we are equal and have rights and responsibilities,” George talks about how the volunteering activity for World Vision changed his life.

All the activities, campaigns, trainings and projects in which George was involved helped him to develop. World Vision capitalized his talent and encouraged him to create, to take photos. He adores shooting photos.

“My dream is to pass the baccalaureate and after that, to pass the exam to the National Art University, section of photography,” George confides.             

A job at a photo studio will allow him to make a living doing what he passionately loves.  George considers that World Vision lead him and taught him to grown up as an honest and brave man.  He says simply, “Thank you World Vision” and continues by asking: “When is starting the next campaign?”

 Story by Isabela Stefan