Happy children despite their circumstances

Our General Manager Lisa had come back from a trip to Romania and this is what she saw:-

“I’ve just returned from an inspiring visit to our Future Changed Project in Iași, Romania – a trip that left me deeply moved and even more committed to the work we are doing.

Upon arrival, I visited the project where I met Mirela, the incredible General Manager who leads with passion and purpose. I also had the pleasure of spending time with the dedicated team: Andreea, our Homework Club Teacher; Anca, our Kindergarten Teacher; and Aspazia, our Social Worker. Each of them plays a vital role in supporting the children and families we serve.

Our day began with a visit to the kindergarten, where we were greeted by a group of bright-eyed children aged 4 to 6. These little ones come from some of the poorest families in the surrounding village, yet their joy was unmistakable. As they sang, played, and learned together, it was clear how vital this early support is in giving them the best possible start in life.

Later in the day, the older children arrived for the Homework Club. These school-aged children benefit from a quiet, supportive environment to complete their studies – something often impossible at home. Watching them engage so enthusiastically reminded me just how transformative this project is.  The condition in their houses is dire, with many people sharing on space, lack of light, lots of noise.  No chance of getting any quiet time to get homework completed.  That is why the Homework Club is so important.  Otherwise children lose heart and drop our of school which is the worse outcome.

We then had the privilege of visiting several families whose children attend the project. We brought food parcels with us, which were received with immense gratitude. Many of these families live in a single room, often with very limited resources. Yet, despite their hardships, what stood out was their deep desire for their children to be educated – they want a better future for them.  Many of the families had suffered severe sickness recently with some of the children even being hospitalised.  This puts a strain on the entire family if generally the mother has to stay at the hospital and leave the other children at home.  Poverty means that illnesses that would normally be quite minor turn into much more serious illnesses with little resources to be able to help the person recover.

One family we met was the Perints, who have two children in the Homework Club and two in the Kindergarten. They are trying to build extra rooms to ease the overcrowding in their home, but financial constraints make this incredibly difficult.

The Future Changed Project is life-changing – not just for the children, but for entire families. It remains our most financially demanding initiative, and we are always seeking support to sustain and grow it. With your help, we can continue to bring hope, dignity, and opportunity to those who need it most.