Romania
Active in Romania since 1992, Terre des hommes (Tdh) has been working in various ways to improve the protection of children. In 2011, near 3,000 people benefited from the activities of Terre des hommes.
Context
Poverty, unemployment and the absence of economic perspectives despite entering the European Union in 2007 – not to speak of the persistent discrimination against the Roma minority – create huge problems when it comes to child protection. Many parents emigrate, leaving their children behind. Others take their children with them, heading for the big cities, where they have to contend with begging on the streets. It is the ethnic minorities that have to endure the greatest discrimination. The Romanian authorities are making efforts to prevent the marginalisation of these sectors of the population, but real changes at local level only take place very slowly.
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26.097279
44.443659
Bucharest
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23.813496
44.330799
Craiova
Centered at 24.96676 45.943161 6
Children's situation
- Approx. 10% of the active population work outside the country
- Rate of early drop-out from school in Romania: 20%
Delegate: Joseph Aguettant
Expatriate staff: 1
National staff: 8
Budjet: 558'088 CHF
In collaboration with: Dolj Schools Inspectorate, Child Protection and Sport Division, World Vision, SOS Villages des Enfants, Espoir de Bania
Combating exploitation and trafficking
By putting in place a child protection network focused on children at risk in Craiova in the south of the country, Tdh is working in collaboration with institutions to prevent the scourge of child exploitation and trafficking. Tdh has assisted members of consultative community councils in five partner communities. Prevention campaigns and training mean that communities have a better understanding of their role in child protection.
Social protection and combating early school drop-out
Tdh is combating poverty, segregation and social exclusion of particularly vulnerable children, especially those in the Roma community, who live in extremely precarious conditions. A programme to prevent early school drop-out has involved the creation of five study centres that can accommodate around sixty children of primary school age.
Get up and MOVE
The improvement of psychosocial and methodological skills of activity leaders, teachers, sports coaches, and social workers enables the psychosocial development of children through games and sport.
Renewing its commitment towards improving child protection systems, Tdh expanded its work to 30 municipalities in Dolj county. We paid special attention to reach the most disadvantaged children including the Roma. Through a combination of applied practical training of 137 professionals, robust local partnerships and direct aid, 2,194 children benefitted from interventions including afterschool activities, psychosocial support and material aid. Romania is the second country in the EU for people at risk of poverty or social exclusion: children we support are socially excluded, severely materially deprived or victims of abuse, neglect, exploitation and trafficking. Special efforts were made towards prevention and strengthening the coping abilities of children through movement, games and sport.
