Child sponsorship update from Cisnadie, Romania

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Cisnadie, Romania from Summer 2008

Our mission, of those who dedicate their efforts for raising and educating children in need is to bring happiness in their hearts, to see their smiling faces and their eyes full of joy. The end of our mission comes when the child become mature and responsible, fully integrated in the society, when he accomplished his expectations or working for their accomplishment.

Alex, a shy and fearing little boy, had the chance to be among the first children entrusted to SOS Children’s Village Cisnadie, for care and education. Near mother Maria, his social mother, he learned to fight with his fears, learned to be a good man, and learned which is the role and importance of good heart persons in this world. Since then, Alex was saying that when he will grow he wishes to help other people.

Alex stated the school with the same sentiment of insecurity…but one year after another, Alex became more and more trustful, he got skills and knowledge and was always among the first in his class… mother Maria was proud of him. Also in his social family, Alex was the leader, always trying to strengthen the link between the social brothers and willing to help his mother. He was the support for his mother and brothers, and this was bringing him big joy. This was the first step to see his dream becoming true…

Growing as teenager, Alex easily integrated to SOS Youth Community Sibiu, participating to all the activities organized by the pedagogues and being supported, even from few kilometers distance, by the permanent care and love of mother Maria. He continued his studies in order to accomplish his dream…

The dream of Alex never changed… he always wished to become a man helping others… and this dream has a name: he wishes to become a medical doctor.

Helped by all around him, but mostly pushed by his strong determination, trust, hard work and seriousness that he proved, Alex succeeded to pass the important exam of his life: he is student to Medicine Faculty, second year of study. He is a young man who makes us feel the purpose of our work; his dream is on the way to become true.

Supporting children in the community at Cisnadie, Romania

We are happy when we can offer support not only inside our Village and Youth facilities, but also outside, to families with a large number of children, from Strengthening Families Program.

In March 2006 we got the information about a young mother and her 3 years old boy who are in a difficult situation. The mother didn’t have ID card, and consequently her little boy couldn’t be registered and didn’t have birth certificate. No allowance for the child could be obtained in this situation. The family has other 2 children: a new born baby abandoned in the pediatric hospital and a 7 years old boy. The family got psychological and juridical support, the ID was obtained by the mother; the family got also food supplies, hygiene products and social tickets, which helped them to improve the standard of living. With such a little help, they succeeded to make major improvements: they repaired the house’s walls, they cleaned and painted the house, they replaced the doors, they bought furniture; they arranged one room as kitchen. In the meantime, the new born baby was brought at home and the 7 years old boy was registered in the first class to school. The 3 years old little boy has now a birth certificate.

At SOS Children’s Village Cisnadie we have the great feeling of mission accomplished; our role is to help children from the Village and from the community around the Village, to have a better life, to make them feel protected not only financially but also emotionally. This is the way we understand helping to build new lives. We are grateful to you, for making all these things possible! Your financial help offer us the possibility to support our programs and to make all these important steps to change children’s lives. Thank you!

Wishing you all the best, I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Florin Hariga,
Village Director
SOS Children’s Village Cisnadie