Children At Risk

James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Forty-three orphanages scattered across Moldova house thousands of children.
Many children in Moldovan state institutions have been placed there by their parents, motivated by grinding poverty, alcoholism, or other family problems and encouraged by a paternalistic state. According to official figures, more than 90 percent of the children in Moldova's state institutions nationwide have at least one living parent. Statistics show that 40 percent of children were subject to physical abuse, and 8 percent were subject to sexual abuse. Although there are some state programs that are supposed to care for these kids, Moldova's resources are extremely limited. The conditions inside the orphanages rarely provide enough heat for the winter, nor are the children adequately fed or clothed. At the age of 14, these children are sent away from the orphanages with a few dollars and a bus ticket to whatever town appears on their birth certificate. Untold thousands of them simply fall through the cracks and are never seen or heard from again. Many become the victims of human traffickers.

In 2003, Ghiorghi and Cristina Cazacu “adopted” the Cornesti Tuberculosis Recovery Orphanage, home to over 100 children ages 2-13. U.S. sponsors remodeled the central gathering room for the children, where the ceiling was in danger of collapsing. Fresh wells were dug and water was piped into the building for the first time. The physical therapy room was remodeled, and antiquated equipment was replaced with modern equipment. A heating system was installed in the outer dining room so that the children could eat their winter meals in warmth. Clothing, food supplements, school supplies, and winter shoes have been provided during the past nine years to make life more tolerable for these precious ones. (See photos on right)

But the Cazacu’s know that God created families. Having six adopted children of their own, they have facilitated the adoption of fourteen other children within their network of sponsored national missionaries in “Homes of Hope,” and are working to expand this concept. The children are placed in a nurturing Christian home where they are healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They are taught life skills which will enable them to provide for themselves as adults. Most importantly, they receive the love they long for.