Romania, Day 13

I appreciated the drive to Turda much more than I had previously. I still have yet to see any signs directing you to the location of the gorge. We visited Demersul Fundatia Familiei Ratiu. The Ratiu Family Foundation's activites are almost overwhelmingly impressive. We were presented with a beautiful packet of information including letters of introduction from HRH Prince of Wales.

Indrei Ratiu was present during our conference, and shared an incredible story about the impact a small donation might make on a community. Last year, the foundation supported some Rroma children on a trip to Belgium to demonstrate their dancing. They made such an impression in Belgium that they were awarded a grant to install a water irrigation system so that the Turda Rroma community had access to water.

It is amazing how many different facets are supported by Fundatia Familiei Ratiu. They even have Fundatia Ratiu Romania, which was established in 1993 to promote social engagement through the arts. I was so excited to hear that the arts and culture of Romania are being promoted within Romania and in other countries.

The foundation is very fascinating to me and I wouldn't mind working for such a foundation in the future. The foundation's central office is located in London - maybe this might be something I might do in the future should I move to England. The foundation also does a lot of work on human trafficing. What one might not realize is that traffickers do not necessarily target young women for sexual exploitation, but all ages and genders. For example, elderly are often targeted and used to beg. They might even be assisted to acquire a visa to the US and promised a perfect life. They are forced to beg and don't see any of the money. They are exploited and used for the profit of the traffickers. This brings me back to my experience offering the little girl food instead of money. I wonder if she was under the oppression of traffickers.

There is also organ trafficking. A person is drugged and the traffickers take what organs they can, ultimately resulting in the death of the individual. This happens more frequently than one might image. How is this happening?!? It is horrendous that anyone could possibly treat another human in such a way. Whoever said that slavery was abolished and no longer practiced is very very wrong. There are only four NGOs currently active with human trafficking victims in Romania and there are 16 centres. However, according to Ratiu, it's very difficult to be effective with victims of human trafficking because they don't trust authority figures and they are also at high risk to be re-trafficked. The Ratiu Foundation is planning on opening their own shelter to serve victims of human trafficking. I was so very excited to hear this because it appears that the foundation plan and implement their projects thoroughly and effectively, and their staff are enthusiastic, genuine, and wonderful people. At the end of the info session, I had the opportunity to speak with Indrei, the director of the Ratiu Democracy Centre and a member of the Board of Trustees. He was so interesting and passionate about his work. I am so enthusiastic about the foundation and will be getting in touch with Indrei to maybe do some future work with the foundation. It would be an incredible experience to have such an opportunity.

We also visited Centrul de Ingrijire si Asistenta Pentru Varstnici, both a residential long term home for the elderly but also a kindergarten for disadvantaged children. The building was wheelchair accessible! It was very homey, comfortable, and clean. I thought it was great that the program connect the kindergartens and elderly residents. The centre seemed to treat anyone, whether patient or professional, extremely well. I hope that this facet of the program will prevent future dropouts.

Salina Turda (Turda salt mine) was so cool! The mine is no longer functional and has been converted into a museum. A staircase was built instead of long tunnels to provide easier access for the workers. Before they went down into the mine, they would stop and pray at the shrine. A priest even came once a month to bless the area and the workers. I felt that was a really incredible way to provide encouragement, motivation, and support to the mine workers. After climbing down what seemed like hundreds of stairs, we found ourselves in an entertainment centre - complete with mini golf, amphitheatre for concerts, ferris wheel, and bowling alleys - and that's not all! We went to the very bottom of the mine and found ourselves crossing a bridge onto a small island surrounded by water. Only in Romania could you rent a row boat at the bottom of a salt mine.

In the evening, we all met Mihai for drinks at Euology Irish Pub. It was a low key hang out, which was very nice and muchly needed. A Romanian cop bought me a drink - he was curious about my tattoo. It was a nice gesture and I drank my drink while chatting to him, but he was a little creepy and I was very relieved when some of the girls decided to leave and rescue me!