Faith in Action – Children At Risk
Children at Risk (CAR)
Each year, we see just how fragile, and yet how resilient, the children and young people we serve can be. Every life is a story, but one truth stands out for all: when someone believes in you, change becomes possible. That is why our mission remains the same, to stay close, to support, and to create a safe and dignified environment where vulnerable people can find change and growth.
In the early 1990s, our society was shaken by the harsh reality of Romania’s orphanages. Our colleagues were among the first to respond to the needs of hundreds of children in the Recas area, Timis County, and more than 30 years later, we remain deeply committed to this community. Who are those children today? Camelia (pseudonym) was a small, fragile girl with big eyes and a sad look. The challenges of growing up in an orphanage leave lasting marks.
Today, Camelia is the mother of two children, a teenage boy and a young girl. We continue to be part of her life, supporting her family and children with food and hygiene supplies through the Back to School program, while also offering Camelia ongoing counseling. Last year, she completed the Circle of Trust parenting course (based on Attachment Theory), which we organized through our Mom’s School program, designed to support mothers as they navigate today’s parenting challenges. Camelia is deeply committed to keeping her family together. Though she had little growing up, she has chosen to raise her children with responsibility, dignity, and courage. Her story shows that long-term, appropriate support truly makes a difference.
Even in 2025, we continue to be surprised by the deep needs of many children in Romania’s rural communities. For them, opportunities and access to education is significantly reduced. Camelia’s story reflects the reality of 60 families across 11 towns in the Recas area which are part of our Back to School dropout-prevention program, implemented by MLI in partnership with the “Constantin Paunescu” Inclusive Education School Center in Recas.
In addition to material support, we provide weekly moral and spiritual education, Bible lessons, and most recently a new course, The Six Keys to Success (John Maxwell), where children learn, by age group, the importance of integrity and attitude.
All of MLI’s Children at Risk (CAR) programs address long term, deep-rooted needs in our communities. Beside Back to School, we provide care and prevention through programs such as Deborah House, Aspirations, and Harmony.
Since 2002, more than 160 underage girls with life stories marked by neglect, severe abuse, and exploitation have received care, shelter, and recovery support at our two Deborah House licensed residential centers. This year, three girls were accepted into vocational schools in Timisoara. Four girls, upon reaching adulthood, transitioned out of Deborah House and into independent living. Through the Aspirations program, we continue to offer assistance during this critical stage.
Andreea (pseudonym), a former Deborah House beneficiary, is now the mother of Vlad (pseudonym), a three-year-old boy with special needs. Like an extended family, we remain close to Andreea, covering the costs of specialized therapies (speech therapy, occupational therapy) and caregiving services, essential for Vlad’s recovery and development.
At the Buzias Educational Center, a juvenile detention facility, through the Harmony program, we work annually with approximately 170 incarcerated youth, ages 14 to 23. In partnership with the center, our goal is to reduce recidivism and facilitate successful reintegration into society through Christian education workshops. A new initiative introduced this year is the Choices for Freedom course (EQUIP), accredited by the National Prison Administration, which equips young people with tools for change, responsibility, and reintegration.
Through your partnership, in 2025 we came alongside more than 400 vulnerable children and youth, as well as 60 families. Thank you and we invite you to continue to invest in the safety and flourishing of vulnerable youth in 2026 as well.
