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Updated: March 2009

Romania

Overview | World Vision's history in Romania | World Vision in Romania today


Overview

Romania, a republic located in southeastern Europe, is bordered by the Black Sea, Moldova, and a portion of the Ukraine to the east, Bulgaria to the south, Serbia and Hungary to the west, and the majority of the Ukraine to the north. The European Union’s longest river, the Danube, flows along the southern border with Bulgaria before curving north and emptying into the Black Sea. The Danube’s delta is home to more than 300 species of native and migratory birds. The center of Romania is dominated by the Carpathians, a medium-altitude mountain range. The low hills of the Transylvania Plateau surround the Carpathians, while the grasslands of the Romanian Plain reach into the Danube River Valley to the south. The climate is temperate with cold, snowy winters and warm, rainy summers. Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, timber, salt, and hydropower.

Ethnic Romanians comprise nearly 90 percent of the population. Other cultural groups include Hungarians, Roma, Ukrainians, Germans, Russians, Serbs, Croats, Armenians, and Turks. The nation’s official language is Romanian and is spoken by 91 percent of people, though Hungarian, Romany, and German are also spoken. The Romanian language is directly descended from Latin, but unlike other Romance languages, Slavic is a primary dialect.

The Roman Empire—after which the country would be named—conquered the Dacian Kingdom in southeastern Europe and ruled until A.D. 271. A succession of kingdoms occupied the region for the next millennium, including the Bulgarian and Hungarian empires. After the Russo-Turkish War in 1829, Romania became a Russian protectorate. In 1940, Romania was organized along Fascist lines, and six years later, a communist-dominated government took control of the country.		Map of Romania


Flag of Romania 


Country statistics 
Population21.5 million
Land mass91,699 square miles
People per square mile235
Life expectancy72 years
Under age 5 mortality rate18/1,000
Literacy rate97%
Access to safe water57%
Average annual incomeUS$4,850
Religion
Christian 99%
Other*0.9%
None 0.1%
*Includes mostly Muslims.
 
 
Beginning in 1965, Nicolae Ceausescu came to power and established a neo-Stalinist police-state. His 24-year rule was characterized by oppression and persecution—once a prosperous country, Romania suffered from severe food and fuel shortages by the late-1980s. In December 1989, Ceausescu was overthrown and executed in a violent revolution. Subsequent governments’ attempts at economic reform led to protests by students and workers in 1997 and 1999. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in January 2007.

Due to the hardships of the transition to a democratic-based infrastructure, Romanians still face many challenges related to the country’s health-care system. Many clinics and hospitals are underfunded and lack basic medication and supplies. Doctors and nurses are severely underpaid, resulting in corruption, bribery, and lower quality care. In rural areas where access to healthcare is limited, vulnerable families often do not benefit from medical services, leading to the deaths of many children under the age of five. Infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in Europe and are linked to a lack of prenatal care. The rate of anemic children is one of the highest in the world at about 50 percent. Health care is free in Romania, but government funds cover only capital investments and few major preventive health services. Several international organizations are teaming with Romanian groups to help reform the health-care system.

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World Vision’s history in Romania

In March 1977, World Vision offered its first assistance in Romania following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that damaged much of Bucharest. Grants of $100,000 were made for earthquake relief and Christian leadership. Between 1977 and 1989, World Vision actively supported church leaders through a program of pastoral leadership development. As part of this work, World Vision purchased pews for churches and distributed 15,000 Romanian-language Bibles.

After the 1989 collapse of the dictatorship, and in response to the critical needs of children in institutions, World Vision implemented long-term projects focusing on health care and improving the quality of life for children in orphanages. As other needs and opportunities were determined, projects were later added to serve handicapped persons, community groups, and children in need.

From 1991 to 1994, the Primary Health Care Project educated Romanians on basic preventive health-care measures. Medical professionals were able to improve the effectiveness of community-based health services in rural and urban Cluj County. Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment were dispensed to local clinics to assist health professionals and community leaders. Children and parents were educated about hygiene and safe health practices.

World Vision implemented two sponsorship programs in 1996, benefiting more than 1,000 children. Also during the 1990s, World Vision conducted seven pastors conferences, with nearly 3,000 pastors attending. The following projects were implemented in the late 1990s and early 21st century:
  • The Youth in Transition Project worked with high-risk teenagers, training them to become productive members of their community. Services offered vocational training, healthy lifestyle choices, and crisis intervention management.
  • The Special Club for AIDS Kids Project established youth-oriented clubs that catered to the needs of children who are HIV-positive. The clubs offered HIV and AIDS education, recreational activities, and medical and dental services. More than 350 children and teenagers benefited from the program.
  • The Access to Education for Children with Disabilities Project addressed the reluctance to integrate disabled students into traditional classrooms, despite legislation requiring it. Training was provided to teachers, and the proper equipment was supplied to schools.
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World Vision in Romania today

World Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Romania to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 16,550 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor 6,000 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates six development programs, two of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
  • The Children of Romania Project has helped care for and support abandoned children and reunite them with their families since 1990. Goals for this project include: conducting home visits and counseling for mothers and children, remodeling a Bucharest orphanage into a daycare center, recruiting volunteers for community centers, developing support groups for parents and children, and offering after-school social activities. Children are also encouraged to take initiative and become voices in their communities. Located in Bucharest, Valcea, and Cluj, the Children of Romania Project benefited 120 children and 600 community members last year.
  • The Educational Community Center will prepare children for high school by increasing their access to educational, tutorial, and social activities. Counseling, support, and vocational training will be provided to single parents and those at risk of abandoning their children. Project leaders will train a network of professionals and community leaders to work with families to raise awareness about child abandonment and neglect. This project plans to impact more than 300 community members in northwest Romania’s Aghires community.
  • Located in five towns in the northeast county of Iasi, the Fight Against Child Labor Project will partner with local leaders, parents, and professionals to prevent abusive labor practices and create a protective environment for children. Project efforts will focus on educating parents in problem solving, conflict management, and children’s rights issues; raising awareness among local leaders about child trafficking; and producing a manual of best practices in the prevention of child labor to share with others in the field.
For more information on World Vision’s programs in Romania,please contact the United States office.

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