Nine years have passed since Star of Hope started its resource center for Roma children in the village of Dimacheni. Using the center as a base, social worker Antonica regularly visits the most vulnerable children, assessing their needs. Now, we stand inside Anastacia’s home with her nine-year-old brother Stefanut and their parents, Romica and Alina. Over the years, they’ve received various livestock and a new water well from Star of Hope, shared with their neighbors.
“We’ve received so much good help,” says Alina. “We have a cow that provides us with milk, and I attend the sewing course that Antonica leads.”
Antonica nods.
“They’re doing so well,” she says. “I hope we can help them even more.”
The family’s home is very cramped, barely enough space for all four to sleep – and right now, that might be for the best. When it’s coldest, they need each other’s body warmth to stay warm. Ulrika looks around the room.
“It’s hard to comprehend that people live like this,” she says. “I know what it feels like to freeze, and when you’re freezing inside your own home… your heart sinks, and tears come to your eyes.”
The colder and darker it gets, the more it means for the children to be greeted by the warmth and light at the Star of Hope center in the village. There, Stefanut gets help with his homework; assistance neither of his parents can provide. Romica couldn’t afford to continue studying after the 8th grade, and Alina only attended school for four years.
“I’m really happy to come to the center,” says Stefanut. “It helps me a lot, and we do fun things. I’ve been at the center for three years now.”
Stefanut dreams of becoming a math teacher – but it’s challenging to imagine a bright future when the immediate future looks so dark. How long will the firewood last? How cold will it be at home? What happens when the last ember in the stove goes out?
Hope relies on you reading this now. ♥
Help a family survive the winter!
Firewood, food, matches, and winter clothes. These are the most urgent needs for our families in eastern Romania.
Together, we can warm their homes and hearts!”
