Romania
DIRECTION OF THE MWB MINISTRY IN ROMANIA
Over a decade and half has passed since the 1989 revolution, when the people of Romania finally overturned the communist regime after forty-five years of ruthless repression. Left hanging to the debris of dictatorship and caught in the snares of an old mentality, the country plunged into an on-going state of transition while trying to make its way towards the modern world. Political games, government mismanagement as well as the lack of a clear, democratic, legal framework of the state have delayed Romania’s compliance with the present European standards.
Although the monthly average income is established to 3,650,000 lei ($ 113.63) and the minimum income – 1,400,000 ($ 43.58), 44,5% of the population is living under the poverty line. Emigration, high mortality and negative birth rate – they all have economic causes that decreased the country’s population from over 23 million in 1992 to 22,364,022.
Though the unemployment rate – 8,6 % – may not seem frightening, most people who depend on the state budget are extremely low paid. People from the education department often strike; the health department is striving to save lives and survive themselves, while the country’s industries and agriculture are undergoing a permanent crisis.
The elderly – representing one of the most vulnerable categories of the society, and also the most neglected – receive little help from the state. Old people are often ill and they can seldom afford to buy the medicines they need because of exorbitant prices. The general health of the population is poor due to the difficulty of acquiring nutritious food.
For people who are lucky enough to have work, the income tax rate goes up to 41%. Although 7% of a person’s income is credited to the health insurance fund – medical services are free of charge – the hospitals are a deplorable sight, and in decay: they lack adequate medical equipment as well as proper, hygienic conditions. For the unemployed, a day’s stay in the hospital is calculated at 665.863Lei ($20.73); this is the average, but the cost can often exceed 1,000,000 lei ($ 31.13), depending on the hospital section.
A recent household budget survey shows that Romanians spend about 40% of their salaries on food and about 20 % on housing, water, electricity, gas or wood, which leaves little for clothing, footwear, health, transportation and communication. Most can not afford buying quality clothing or shoes since one of these items equal a month’s salary or more.
Bearing this in mind, it is not difficult to understand the reasons why many families were forced to place their children in state institutions. Basic living items such as nutrition, warmth, clothing – all are unavailable for many parents to provide for their children.
Today’s number of institutionalized children is around 90,000 – normal, slow learners, and handicapped children. Mission Without Borders reaches 23,116 of these children in 203 Child Placement Centers in 28 of the 41 districts of Romania and distributes food supplies, clothes, medical aid, vocational training, emotional and spiritual support. MWB develops its activities with the support of 11,850 sponsors. The Child Placement Centers are under the jurisdiction of the Department for Child Protection and receive a small budget from the government that comes irregularly. However, these funds are totally inadequate (32,000 lei per child, equivalent of 1 USD per day) and cannot cover anywhere near the needs of the children.
To prevent children institutionalization, Mission Without Borders works along with the Government’s De-institutionalisation Strategy by supporting and encouraging needy families to keep children in a family environment – either natural, foster or placement families. These families and children receive material, emotional and spiritual aid, and where possible, are enrolled in our Vocational and Educational training courses.
