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| Romania's Orphans |
From 1965 until his violent overthrow in 1989, the dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu ruled Romania. While he and his wife Elena lived in luxury, his social and economic policies led to the impoverishment of Romania’s people. During his reign, the law required every woman have five children by the age of 45. Ceaucescu’s goal was to double the size of Romania’s population and to provide the State with a large labor pool. Poor families unable to care for their children, often turned them over to state-run orphanages. By the end of his rule, hundreds of thousands of orphans were warehoused in institutions where they faced malnutrition, neglect, and inhuman conditions. Ceaucescu’s cruel legacy continues. Today, grinding poverty and limited options force many to turn their children over to state-run "placement centers". Child abandonment has continued and many children face life in the "placement centers" or are forced to live on the streets. Romania's abandoned street children face a perilous existence where they face exploitation, abuse, and the lack of nurturing and protection that are so critical to a child's development. Many children condemned to a life on the streets face sexual exploitation and many seek solace and comfort by abusing inhalants. Carter's Corner is working to keep families intact by focusing on prevention of child abandonment. In the 1990s, the media brought to light the horrible condition under which Romania's orphans and street children were forced to live. While the spotlight has since moved away from Romania, the problems faced by Romania's impoverished children remain. Today, untold thousands of children live on the streets of Romania's cities. Carter's Corner is working to offer alternatives to children, and their parents, by providing the means to keep families intact. |
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| Our Story |
Carter’s Corner International was founded by Carolyn Buchanan and named for her son Carter. In June of 2003, Bill Sinyard joined Carolyn as Co-Executive Director. Together they endeavored to evaluate how they improve the lives of Romania’s forgotten children. After visits in 2003 and 2004, Carolyn and Bill determined that preventing children from being abandoned would be the focus of their efforts. A Romanian program director was hired and 79 at-risk children, ages 0 to 17 identified by local school officials, were selected for inclusion in the program. We believe that mitigating the financial burden faced by the families of these children will reduce the pressure for them to leave home to beg, run away or be taken by the state. Carter’s Corner International is providing nutritious lunches seven days a week to school children. Lunches are delivered to the school by the Romanian Program Director and to the homes of the pre-school children. The families of pre-school children are provided with supplies to make three nutritious meals per day. In addition, clothes, shoes, blankets and other donated items are distributed to the children and their families during site visits. We decided to establish this program in the village of Tancabesti, as most aid agencies working with abandoned children are located in major cities. Many of the children who end up on the streets of Romania’s cities come from the outlying villages and countryside. By focusing on prevention, and keeping families intact, we are endeavoring to keep children in school and with their families and provide the chance for a brighter future than that of those forced to live on the streets. |
Carter's Corner International - 2003, 2004