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*We have parental permission for all children shown in pictures on this website. |
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Hospital ProjectIn January 2005 a new law was instated regarding abandoned children in Romania. Children under the age of two were no longer to be placed in orphanages. By July 2005, the orphanages closed including the Brasov orphanage where the FFR team was working as volunteers. After the orphanage closures, the FFR Team moved its operation with abandoned children to the Children’s Hospital in Brasov. FFR started volunteering there independently.
On a regular basis we drive the healthy children home to their parents, many of whom come from the nearby Roma (Gypsy) community and often do not have the money or time to pick up their children. While most of the parents do care for their children, they can not financial care for them. We have started a Milk Project, where we provide formula for mothers to encourage them to keep their children home. The aim for the hospital project is to have healthy children return home from the hospital and when possible help families to understand the importance of keeping these children in the home. The hospital social worker has been the key player to the success of FFR; she is the link between our association, the hospital, and the parents of the children we help. A lot of heart and soul has been poured into this project. We are very thankful to those who have given of their time and resources. We have a contract with the hospital for approved volunteers to work with the healthy children providing play therapy, changing diapers, and feeding the children. We work in partnership with the hospital staff to care for the children. The hospital project is extremely demanding, but incredibly rewarding. Consider volunteering with us to make a difference in a child’s life. |
To help the helpless in this situation, FFR started a diaper drive. For the past four years FFR has been working five days a week in the hospital, changing, holding, feeding, and playing with the children and giving them much needed love and attention. After a period of time, it became apparent that many of the same children were being brought back to the hospital. We also found that many were simply left there for months at a time. The hospital social worker advised FFR that many of the children are being brought in by their parents and then not being picked up. Because of this unfortunate trend, the social worker has the huge responsibility of finding these parents and bringing the children home. RenovationFFR efforts have also extended to the hospital itself. Our first renovation was in 2005 where we asked the State to build a playground on the hospital grounds that can be used by all the children in the hospital who need fresh air and fun. Thousands of euros have been generously donated throughout the years and invested into improving the hospital; new thermopane windows, painting, and purchasing much needed medical equipment. Volunteers have also used their talents to brighten up the rooms for the children by painting murals of Winnie-the-Pooh, Mickey Mouse, and other beloved characters on the walls. Little by little the children’s hospital is improving inside and out.
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