Children from the Cluj orphanage benefited from World Vision's project that trained child-care workers, improving conditions in the once-bleak institution.

The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe enabled World Vision to expand into many former Soviet-bloc countries. In Romania, the overthrow of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989 brought to the world's attention a country that had enormous health and human services challenges in its crumbled economic and social infrastructure.

A needs survey completed in conjunction with Romania's Ministry of Health revealed that 100 percent of the estimated 90,000 institutionalized children were developmentally delayed and/or affected by underlying birth defects or disabilities, chronic illnesses including HIV/AIDS, failure to thrive, or low birth weight.World Vision launched the "Children of Romania" project in 1990 to comprehensively minister to the needs of children in institutions by providing specialized child development services and training for child-care staff.

To supplement scarce resources, World Vision distributed large quantities of gifts-in-kind--medicines, food, baby formula, clothes, toys, medical equipment, and even farming tools and seeds. Simultaneously, links with U.S. professional associations and universities were established to provide a backbone of technical assistance to implement this project.

Ultimately, the Romanian government enacted child welfare legislation as a result of work with World Vision and other humanitarian groups and governments. This law is the basis for our continued efforts in the country, working through churches and existing groups to keep families together and prevent children from being abandoned and institutionalized.