Romanian Children's Relief - Fundatia Inocenti




Living in America where everything is so plentiful and easily accessible, it is too easy to forget that in other places of the world children are struggling to live a normal life. I, like many other kids in America, have been blessed with things that we take for granted, like a warm home, plenty to eat, clothes to wear, a loving family, and an opportunity for education. It is our duty to reach out and help the children of the world who are not so fortunate. Thanks to organizations such as the Romanian Children's Relief, a connection can be made between the kids who have plenty to share, with the kids who have plenty of love to return.

My family was living as expats in England at the time that I first heard of the Romanian Children's Relief. Whilst in high school, both my older brother and sister made service trips to Romania to offer their help with the plight of Romanian children in orphanages. Their stories and photos that they brought back with them, made me realize how fortunate I was. Both of my siblings spoke of wonderful people in Romania who spend their lives day after day trying to make life better for Romanian children who have nothing, not even love and attention. If it weren't for the dedication of the staff in the orphanages, the children there live only to exist, little more. Everyday the staff try their best to provide warm food, warm clothing, attention, and love, however there are too many children and not enough staff or hours in the day, so the children spend too much time alone in their cribs.

I was only 10 years old at the time that I heard of the children in the Romanian orphanges, and although I realized how fortunate I was, I also felt almost ashamed of my blessings. I wanted to do something to help, but what could a 10 year old kid do to help children so far away? It just so happened that my birthday and two of my friends' birthdays were coming up, and we had parties planned with the anticipation of many gifts. I mentioned to my mother that it seemed unfair that we were going to be receiving so much when the children in the Romanian orphanges had so little. My Mother suggested that we use our birthday parties as a fund raiser. So I talked to my two friends and we all agreed to have a big party and invite all of our class, and in lieu of gifts, everyone was to bring money to donate to the Romanian Children's Relief. Everyone in our class got really excited and we managed to collect a considerable amount of money. It was great!

The next year I organized my girl scout troop to help the Romanian children. Throughout the year we had different fund raisers and collected enough money to buy a number of clothes, toys and supplies to be sent along with the high schoolers who were participating in the Romanian service project that year. Also our troop spent every meeting of the entire year with each one of us sewing a quilt for 18 cribs in the Romanian orphanage. They might not have been the prettiest quilts, but they were warm, strong, and filled with love. As we sewed we talked about the children we were helping. After receiving the quilts and supplies, the orphanage sent each one of us a photo with the quilts being used. I still have my photo on my bulletin board.

When I was 12 years old, my family moved back to America so I decided to have a 'birthday party Romanian Children's Relief fund raiser' again. I made big posters of photos of some of the children in the Romanian orphanages, and while we all had fun celebrating together, we were reminded of the children we were all helping.

Helping others who are caught in such poverty as the children in Romanian orphanages, makes me feel good. Someday I would like to make a service trip to Romania and hug the children. I speak to my two school friends who first shared their birthdays with me when we were 10 years old, and we would like to go together. And we will!!