Romania

World Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Romania to improve their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their children, families, and communities. World Vision’s child sponsorship program plays a vital role in this partnership, with donors from the United States sponsoring more than 6,500 girls and boys. In addition to sponsorship, World Vision operates other programs that benefit communities in Romania. Highlights include:

• Increasing student enrollment and graduation from high school by providing more than 400 students with scholarships.
• Providing services for children and youth with disabilities and HIV and AIDS through training children on personal hygiene, nutrition, and prevention.
• Partnering with community leaders to prevent abusive child labor practices and creating a protective environment for children.

World Vision assistance to Romania dates back to 1977 after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, but the office did not open until 1990 after the fall of the communist regime. Since then, some major accomplishments include:

• Supporting church leaders through a pastoral leadership development program during the 1980s.
• Improving access to healthcare and health education in rural areas since the early 1990s.
• Meeting the needs of HIV-positive children through youth clubs, recreational activities, and medical and dental services in the late 1990s.
• Helping children with disabilities join traditional classrooms by training teachers and supplying proper equipment since the late 1990s and beginning of the 21st century.

Geography and people

Romania, located in southeastern Europe, borders Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and the Black Sea. The European Union’s longest river, the Danube, flows along the southern border with Bulgaria.

Mountains, low hills, and grasslands fill Romania’s landscape. 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 make up most of the population. The nation’s official language is Romanian, but people also speak Hungarian, Romany, and German.

Many Romanians live in apartments with only a few rooms—one of which serves as both a living room and bedroom. Families are important and grandparents often live with their children to help care for their grandchildren.

History

The two principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia joined as Romania in 1877, gaining independence from Turkish rule. Romania remained independent until the end of World War II, when Russia occupied the country and eventually established a communist rule.

During the 1960s, Nicolae Ceausescu came to power and established a neo-Stalinist police-state. 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 government attempts at economic reform led to student and worker protests in 1997 and 1999. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in January 2007.

Please pray for:

The protection and care of children, especially for those who are left alone while their parents search for work abroad.

Wisdom and stability in the government.