ROMANIA - AMURTEL

AMURTEL FAMILY CHILDREN’S HOME

At the AMURTEL Family Children’s Home, we offer safety, love, and hope to twelve children needing protection from situations of abuse and neglect. The home opened in 1995 and has since raised more than 20 children who are now adults, many with families of their own. Today, we are caring for our fourth generation of children, continuing a legacy of stability, healing, and growth.

VISTARA HOUSE

Some of the children who grew up in the AMURTEL Family have intellectual disabilities that make it unrealistic for them to live completely independently. As there is a lack of semi-independent residential programs for young adults with special needs and without families, AMURTEL opened a house for them next to the children’s home. Presently there are two adults with a dignified home and the support they need to live as independently and fully as possible.

POVERTY AND ALCOHOLISM LEAD TO NEGLECT

Despite the great strides of progress that Romania has made since the fall of Communism, 46 percent of all children live in poverty, especially in non-urban areas. Although Romania entered the EU in 2006, rural areas lag, even in offering basic modern infrastructure such as running water and flush toilets. There are few local job opportunities and high rates of alcoholism and domestic violence. Child abuse and neglect are, unfortunately, far too common. This leads to Child Protection Services needing to find safe alternatives for such children. Especially when there are several children, the AMURTEL Family offers them the chance to be reunited with their siblings. One family of five children was separated into different foster care and institutional settings, and they are now living together in the Home. AMURTEL Family is one of two private family-style homes in the county.

TRANSFORMING A CHILD’S FUTURE

We have transformed the life of a child like Geani, whose story you can watch in the short video on this page, by offering him everything he needs to recover and grow up well: nutritious food, educational support, therapy, loving care, and the chance to be a child again. Geani’s early years were spent in poverty, insecurity, hunger, and violence. He has been able to rebuild fresh new childhood memories, of camping trips, seaside vacations, bicycle rides, birthday parties, etc. with the generous support of our sponsors.

AMURTEL’S ORGANIC FARM

AMURTEL runs an organic farm nearby, which provides fresh vegetables and fruits to the children of the AMURTEL Family. The farm is a model for regenerative agriculture, hosting different educational programs. We welcome volunteers to help on the farm, alongside the local women who manage and work it. By supporting the project, you directly support two local green jobs and a large part of the food for the beneficiaries of the AMURTEL Family Children’s Home.

OUR ANNUAL HARVEST DAY CELEBRATION

In early October, we all gather at our ZoriZa Garden in Poieni.

We:
-play together,
-harvest the fruits of autumn,
-enjoy a delicious vegan lunch,
-learn from ecology workshops and visit other gardens with special guest presenters,
-and talk about the AMURTEL Family’s cause.

AMURTEL Romania just recently wrapped up two years of supporting the mental health and resiliency of 6250 Slavic refugees within the bigger project funded by CARE-FONPC-SERA. We want to celebrate and appreciate the dedication and hard work of our team