Light for Children

Many of the children in orphanages in Romania are not actually orphans. During the time of Ceausescu’s dictatorship, women were forced to have at least 4 children. Due to extreme poverty, couples would register the birth to satisfy the authorities then simply abandon the child in one of the state orphanages. These children often grew up to discover that their brothers and sisters had been kept but they had been abandoned.

The following passage was written by one such child.

The Dream of an Orphan Child
By Alice (not her real name) aged 15 yrs.

Childhood is the most beautiful part of the journey that man makes on this earth, because it is during this period that he learns many things and goes through many experiences, through which he matures.

But I don’t know if you can imagine what is in the soul of an orphan child, a child who has always wished to know his family and to spend even one day with his loved ones. How happy is a child to be touched by his mother and, when coming home from school, puts his head in his mother’s arms and forgets all his problems. But will I ever know that feeling? Why did some of our parents leave us in orphanages and go away along different roads forgetting us? If their paths ever crossed with those of their children, have they thought what they would say?

Some people around us judge us because we are badly behaved, but perhaps missing the very people that we don’t know makes us jealous. The absence of our parents hasn’t made us bad or given us an example that we want to follow. We have been fortunate to have people close to us who have guided our steps so that we can be good children.

Today, we live in apartments that are well looked after so we almost don’t feel the absence of living in a family. We try to understand each other as a family would and to make our childhood as happy as possible.

But I hope that in a few years when I become an adult, I will have a family of my own and all these sad moments will just become memories and my own children will live in a happy united family.

To be an orphan isn’t something to be ashamed of, it is something we can learn from. For many of us, life has been too bitter, with many obstacles, but we need to be optimists and to believe that the sun will shine for us as well and somewhere, sometime, a family will open their hearts and souls to us.

Alice is supported by Light for Children and has an English family who befriend her.

Messages from the children about the way in which Light for Children helps them:


"If I didn't have the support of Light for Children I would be completely alone. I don't know my Romanian family so I rely on my family in England to encourage and help me. If I need anything for school, I know that I can go to Mrs Helen. If I am sick, I know that she will buy my medicine for me. Thank you to everyone in England who thinks about us and sends money to help us."


"I am very pleased to be supported by Light for Children. Whenever I am sad or upset about anything, I know that Mrs Helen will encourage me and help me to see the positive side of things. I know that she visits very sick children and that when I have a problem I should remember that there are people who are much worse off than me. I am very grateful that you, my friends in England, are helping me to prepare for my future. I feel confident that with your help, I will be able to be successful. Thank you for everything that you do to help me."


"I am in the middle of my final school exams now. Helen gave me a key to the apartment so that I can come and revise whenever I want to. It has been a great help to me as there it is quiet and I can concentrate without being disturbed. I hope to go to university to continue my studies. I have been doing work experience in a bakery this year and have been able to save a lot of money in the bank. It will be a big help to me if I go away to university as there will be lots of expenses. Thank you for helping me. Throughout my childhood I have always known that there is someone there for me."


"Thank you for helping me to buy my new teeth! I have recently had 6 false teeth fitted and can now smile again without being embarrassed! You have also helped me to be able to visit my Grandmother in the village and to get to know some of my relatives. I am really happy that I know something about my family even if my parents don't want to meet me. Thank you for all the toiletries that you send to us. It would be difficult to keep clean without this help."


"I am sad about being sick but it is good to know that whenever I go into hospital Helen will visit me. I don't have to worry if the doctor prescribes medication for me because I know that my family in England sends money for my medication. Thanks to Light for Children, we have been to the mountains and the sea-side. We have also eaten in the best restaurants in Botosani and Dorohoi. We have been treated like princesses. Please keep coming back to visit us. We are always waiting for you!"