Orphanages are filled with children from newborn babies to teenagers. Such children suffer from poor nutrition Some caretakers of the orphanages are reusing the disposable diapers (first rinsing them out and hanging them to dry then they use it again, fastened with a safety pin). An old, rusted meat grinder is used in the preparation of baby food. Most importantly emotional care is virtually nonexistent in their lives No one has time to focus their attention on only one child ...to give them a hug or even smile at them. Caretakers, due to inadequate support, are forced to look upon them as animals that must be fed. Examples abound to show how badly the Romanian orphanages need help.

In many cases, two children are forced to share a common crib that was designed for one infant. Needless to say, the conditions are appalling. OHTC and its sister organizations (in Romania), are dedicated to providing these children with the necessities needed for to live with dignity. In particular, OHTC provides the children with food, clothing, bedding and books for their education. In addition, it is the goal of OHTC and its sister organizations to upgrade the existing orphanages and hospital facilities (and build new ones when and where possible) to house the children and provide them with the basic health care that is often taken for granted in the West.

Presently, thousands of children left homeless by general poverty and abandonment live in orphanages where conditions cannot even approximate those found in the most substandard facilities located in the West.

There are as many as 20,000 homeless street children in Romania. About 5000 of them are in Bucharest, and the rest of them are scattered about the Country. When a child turns 18 years of age, they must leave the orphanages. Since these children were abandoned at birth, they don't know any of their relatives, therefore they have nobody to turn to. Because of this, they wander around aimlessly. They are living in sewer canals, parks, under bridges, or on the streets. Many of them will die of disease, hunger, and the exposure of the harsh Romanian winter. According to many of these children's testimonies, they inhale paint spray, and other drug substitutes to reach a state where they forget about their hunger.

With the help of our volunteers in Romania and with the funds given to support the effort, many of these children now avoid hunger and are protected from cold. Our dedicated volunteers in Romania are preparing sandwiches daily and handing them out to the homeless street children.. The street children are overlooked by the Romanian people...they sadly close their eyes when they see these children. The Romanian people are unable to help these unfortunate children, and young people. They are too busy struggling for their own survival.

The plight of orphans in Romania, both those in orphanages and those in the streets are very clear. Letters from orphanages and hospitals illustrate the crises imminent if there is no help from outside Romania. The dire need of a considerable part of the youth in Romania today must be answered .Not only will many orphans not survive but, perhaps even more sinister is the possibility of youth maturing never having been exposed to anything but constant fear of starvation and never knowing the wonders of love.

These children desperately need help with the basics of life: food, medicine, clothing, blankets, but most of all they are in need of a shelter. A shelter would help the most... a home away from home... a children's sanctuary.

OHTC can attack this problem at its heart. In is our goal and hope that the children whose lives we touch can be successful citizens of the World as craftsmen with skilled hands (vocational education) as well as the tool of the mind (university education).

Philosophy of Operation Help The Children

In a very real sense gifts to feed and warm the orphans with the hope these steps will play a role in bringing young Romanians with character into the World is a true effort in World peace. Without intervention, the orphans and the lost children can only but add to the turmoil of Romania.

Goals of Operation Help The Children

Our immediate goal is to purchase, rent, or construct a shelter to offer homeless children the security of a home, a bed of their own, and to guide them to a vocational education. Some day we may be able to prepare our brightest children for one of Romania's universities. Given nourishment, warmth, and love, the children whose lives we touch can well succeed as citizens of the World as craftsmen of the mind as well as the hands.

Additional Comments

A 10-person volunteer board of directors governs Operation Help The Children. We have no full-time paid staff and our board members provide volunteer services for our programs

Thank you taking the time to find out more about OHTC.

OHTC WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF : $500,$250,$100, $50, $20, OR ANY AMOUNT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE.

YOUR DONATION IS TAX DEDUCTABLE!

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