Romania, Day 15

Caritas Eparhial Greco-Catolic is an agency with many programs and services to prevent school abandonment. Their socio-educational program hopes to prevent school abandonment by providing assistance to the child to improve academic skills and to improve family well-being. This was the first program that partnered with schools in Cluj, and this was also the first program we visited who provided counseling services to families. I was very impressed by the systems approach that Caritas used to serve families and to accomplish their goals. They will even help the families apply for government assistance, supply the family with food, clothing, shoes, and provide assistance in helping the parents gain employment. It is also the first program to establish a contract with the parents and to provide psycho-education to parents - again, as far as I know. I was shocked to hear that there are no social workers actively working in the schools. I know that the social work sector is barely 20 years old, and they have made amazing progress, but no social workers in schools?? That was incredibly surprising. I wondered if Caritas' work would spur the need for social workers in schools, and if they might campaign for such change. I was disappointed to learn that their drug prevention program is only drug prevention and awareness - they do not work with active addicts. Although I know that prevention and awareness campaigns are very important, I wondered who is working with addicted youth? I really hoped that it was not the psychiatric hospitals, as they have yet to be deinstitutionalize the mental health system. I as very impressed with Caritas' constant monitoring of the effectiveness of their services. They utilize a measurement tool at beginning, middle, and end of services.

We next visited the Rroma community centre in Mera Mera, Pas cu Pas. I was thrilled to see large cheerful open rooms, and to hear the laughter of happy children. The children were very excited to see us and presented us with some sweet snacks they had prepared themselves. From what I understood, not all the children at the program are Rroma, but all come from low income and disadvantaged families. I was impressed with the structure of the after school program, and by how much the centre encouraged and included the parents int he program and community building activities. There was a small room with bags everywhere of maize, sugar, flour, and oil to be taken to the families. My heart really went out to these children, and their families. The program will be doubling in the next school year. I can only imagine the impact they make on not only the children, but on the community.

We walked up into the hills of the Rroma community, lead by centre staff. The conditions were terrible. Their homes were poorly constructed, many without electricity and all without running water. They had to walk down the hill to a well to access fresh water.

 It was muddy and dirty. One house had a huge impact on me: there was a doll's head protruding out of a hole at the base of the roof.

The outhouses were sometimes only sectioned off to provide privacy with a sheet. I felt very uncomfortable as I walked up and down the rocky and narrow path. In many places of the path, a child or person could easily fall off the edge and tumble down the quite steep hill to the village below. Great view, but horribly dangerous.

I felt such sorrow for these people, and I felt that I was an intruder in their life that afternoon. It must be horrible enough to live in such conditions, but even worse to have a group of unknown outsiders trapsing through your village and staring at you. We learned that many of the children do not even know their birthdays. There is also no way to know how many Rroma live in the community. Many are not registered or have any sort of ID, which means that they can't apply for any government assistance because they don't exist to the gov't. What a hard life it must be for them.

We all met at Napoca 15 on Strada Napoca for our last meal together. I had a wonderful salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, tuna, and Parmesan cheese. Brasov is still the reigning salad, but this one came in a close second.

It was very sad that it was our last meal togheter, as I sat with Mallory and Caitlyn.

FYI - I was not drinking at the time.

It was really a great group of people and I plan on staying in touch with my little cliche - Mallory, Jeff, and Matt the most. We have already made plans to go visit Jeff in Austin for Labor Day weekend, and discussing Oktoberfest in Germany 2011, and a train tour of India in 2012. I never expected to have such an amazing time socially, nor did I expect to leave with some wonderful and creative new friends in my life. So thank you, Mallory, Jeff, and Matt - it wouldn't have been the same without you. I will miss you all very much.