4th November 2014 Bucharest, Romania
25 years of Children of Distress
2014 is an anniversary year because it marks 25 years since the 1989 Revolution. It also marks a milestone in the history of British NGOs operating in Romania. One such example is Children in Distress, whose pioneer work for HIV positive children in the 1990s paved the way for professional palliative care in Romania. We’ve invited Valentina Zaharia, the charity’s Executive Director to share with us her impressions.
For the last 25 years, Children in Distress, a small charity registered in both the United Kingdom and Romania has cared for chronically, incurably or terminal, ill infants or those with disabilities, abandoned by their parents in poverty, as result of their condition and costs of treatment or simply left without appropriate quality care.
In September, Children in Distress celebrated its Silver Anniversary in Bucharest with staff, volunteers and supporters reflecting on how important it has been to offer tender loving care, and support. The last 25 years of caring for children has been amazing journey for all of us, tinged with sadness, touched with disappointment but full of a challenges, happiness, joy, and satisfaction in delivering the best possible care.
Some 50 British supporters traveled to Romania for our week of celebrations, to visit the projects and programmes developed and delivered by the Charity, to see the beauties of Romania and enjoy the hospitality of its people.
Our celebrations ended with a moving Annual Service of Thanksgiving held in the Anglican Church of the Resurrection in Bucharest. The service, led by Bishop John Flack, the former Bishop of Huntingdon and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, was joined by the Paul Brummell, Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador in Romania, member of the Embassy staff and many local supporters of our mission of care.
The Charity looks to continue its celebration with “Special Times for Children” a Family Concert of Festive Music presented in concert hall of The Romanian Music Academy, “Ciprian Porumbescu” at 18.00 on Wednesday 17th December.
Information and updates on events run by the charity are available on their Facebook page and website.