WORKING IN THE SHANTY TOWNS

Iasi, NE Romania

Conditions are very bad and most houses do not have running water – it must be fetched from a well in the street. There is very little electricity – candles are used which are particularly dangerous. No heating - wood has to be gathered before a house can be made warm. Children are being born and growing up in these towns and know no other life.

Link Romania’s team reach out a helping hand to the poor and in particular shanty town residents such as those that live in ‘Dallas’ on the outskirts of Iasi. Although we can question some of the decisions that residents of the shanty town make unless we have suffered as they have or experienced their extreme poverty then it difficult to understand.

Link Romania employs a social worker to visit families in this town to see how they can be helped.  Many are not registered with the authorities and therefore 'do not exist'.  This mean they cannot get help from the government, can't go to school, are not able to claim any child payments and can't get jobs.  Our team help to register people so they do exist and have a chance to move on. 

We also help with medical and dental bills, with food parcels, taking people to hospital, encouraging their children to attend our kindergarden, give them clothes and most of all show them someone cares for them. 

Poverty drives us to extreme measures sometimes. Over 12,000 children in the Iasi area are without one of their parents, 6,000 children have no parents at home at all and are looked after by siblings and grandparents.

Link Romania need you to help fund these projects. If you are able please either donate on-line for a one off payment or set up a standing order for £25 a month to support a family in the Shanty Towns.

We would also value your prayer for this project.