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The Family International Central & East Europe: Projects
- Humanitarian Aid - Project Highlights
- Donating Goods to Underprivileged Families and Children
For many years Family members in Bucharest have been working closely with various placement centers, schools for children with special needs, and other institutions hosting disadvantaged children.
- 52 Pallets of Humanitarian Aid Distributed
- We visited three camps for Kosovo refugees who are living in temporary shelters in southern Serbia, in order to deliver humanitarian aid and do programs for the refugee children.
- Giving her own shoes to another in need
- We have delivered approximately 500 kilos of humanitarian aid in the form of clothing, shoes, toys, dishes, and cleaning fluids and supplies to scores of displaced families that are still, after two years, living in temporary metal shipping containers.
- Helping Children in Need - Project Highlights
- Transitional Home, Bacau
Volunteers from the Family International have done years of hands-on work in orphanages in different locations in Romania and Moldova. In Bacau, Family members initiated a transitional home for young orphan women, which became a model for local officials.
- New Hands for New Life
- For nearly a year, we have been conducting a vocational training program in the women's section of a prison here in Baia-Mare, Romania. It all began when a social worker from the prison system saw us caroling in a restaurant and arranged for us to do a Christmas show in the prison.
- More on Children's shows
- Many orphanages and families send their children to special resorts (camps and sanatoriums) during summer.
- Education and Distribution of Educational Materials
- Volunteers of the Family International donated educational materials to several children's institutions, including two kindergartens in Bucharest, a kindergarten in Valcea, the social center in Urziceni, and the local school in Marie Curie Children’s Hospital.
- Saint Nicolas Comes to Town
- During a conversation with one of our local friends, he mentioned St. Nicolas’ Day (December 19th, in the Ukraine), and the more we talked about it, the more we realized that this was a terrific opportunity to meet and minister to people.
- More on helping the poor and needy
- Throughout the year of 2006, we spent approximately 1,200 man-hours soliciting charitable aid from local businesses, picking up donated products, and personally distributing the items to those in need.
- Football Shoes and Other Small Miracles
- Living in a place as needy as Kosovo, there is so much to do that we sometimes feel that our efforts are like a drop in the ocean. But as Mother Theresa said, “The ocean would be less if that drop were missing.
- Christmas Sunshine
- Sonce v Srcu (Sun in the Heart) is a registered Family International volunteer project.
- Clown Therapy
- Twice a week we visit an institution in Rijeka (either a hospital, handicapped center, senior citizens’ home, orphanage, etc.) dressed up as clowns, in order to sing and cheer people up. This project also allows local young people to participate, who would like to experience volunteer work.
- Rejuvenating Our Senior Citizens
- Since 2005 our team has carried out an ongoing program called Rejuvenating Our Senior Citizens, assisting the local charity, Camin Spital Sf. Luca. The program includes organizing monthly birthday luncheons honoring those who have their birthday during the month.
- Easter Visit
- A highlight of the year was the Easter concert we organized for the elderly. The director of the old folks home opened the concert with a little introduction, and expressed her appreciation for our work and collaboration with her institution.
- Hospital Visitation
- Easter 2009 – Bucharest, Romania
Family volunteers joined efforts in a special Easter drive, making the holiday a memorable experience for many children and elderly in several hospitals and institutions, including Fundeni Oncopediatry Ward, Grigore Alexandrescu Pediatric Hospital, School No.
- Helping Inmates in Penitentiaries
- Over the past four years we have been assisting the authorities at Jilava Penitentiary. Some highlights for the last two years are:
In 2007:
Easter program for 150 prisoners. We sang songs and read portions from the Activated magazine, which we later distributed to all.
- Behind Green Gates
- We have been assisting the local charity, Rescue Foundation, in their work with prisoners in the maximum-security penitentiary of Aiud (a city near Cluj), a prison with over 1,000 men and women prisoners.
It is an incredible feeling one has upon entering the three sets of huge green gates.
- Highlights of Our Prison Ministry
- Some highlights of our prison ministry:
A Christmas show in the men’s section.
Celebrating Valentine’s Day in the women’s section. For this occasion we prepare songs, some reading material, cards, and gifts for the women.
Celebrating Mother’s Day in the women’s section.
- Workshops
- Workshops are held in Bucharest and Cluj on topics related to working in healthcare facilities, enhancing one's role within the community, and working with children and adults who have special needs.
- Seminars
- Volunteers of the Family International initiated the following seminars in Bucharest:
In 2008:
An Anti-Vice Seminar was held at the Sports School Number 190, in cooperation with the proximity police officers of Sector 4, the schools in the city of Voluntari and Jilava Penitentiary.
- Bible Seminars
- Every Sunday afternoon since September 2005, we have hosted a fellowship for those who want to spend some time away from their daily routine, learn more about the Bible and how to apply its principles to everyday life.
- Other Seminars in Rijeka
- We hosted three seminars--one evening session on clown therapy for an audience of approximately 200, followed by a three-week training course for new clowns; one three-day seminar for ten attendees on various aspects of volunteering; and we started an ongoing parenting seminar, mainly for parents
- Summer Camps
- We held two volunteer training camps for 18 attendees during the months of July and August. Each of the camps lasted one week.
