What our team discovered during our first visit completely shocked us

What our team discovered during our first visit completely shocked us.

*names have been changed to protect the identities of families

March 1, 2026

Recently, a new family entered our support program—two parents and their five young children living together in an old, broken-down house.

What our team discovered during our first visit completely shocked us.

Trash covered the floors. Baby formula was spilled and hardened on the ground. Leftover food and dirty dishes sat out, attracting flies. And most heartbreaking of all, all five children were alone inside the home. We knew immediately that this could not continue.

On our next visit, we found the mother home. We sat down together and had a long, honest conversation about the risks her children were facing—about health, safety, and the long-term consequences of neglect. We spoke about their financial situation: the father was the only one working; the mother had never been employed. Their marriage was strained. But there was something even more urgent.

Their two-year-old son did not have a birth certificate.

Without documentation, this little boy did not officially exist in the eyes of the state. Without legal identity, he could easily become a victim of exploitation or human trafficking. He had no protection under the law. That became our first immediate step. We told the mother to gather her documents, and the next day we would take her to begin the process.

When we returned the following morning, the house was unrecognizable. The trash had been cleared. The dishes were washed. The spilled formula cleaned. It was a small but powerful sign that our conversation had mattered.

With papers in hand, we drove her to Timișoara to the maternity office to register the birth. From there, we went to the city council to request the official birth certificate. Two weeks later, we picked it up. For the first time, this child existed legally.

The next step was deeply meaningful to the family—his baptism. We helped prepare for that day as well, providing a small suit, shoes, and the necessities so the family could celebrate properly.

Just one month earlier, this little boy did not exist in the records of the state. And now, we stood beside him at his baptism—documented, protected, and recognized.

This family remains in our care. Through regular visits, practical guidance, and accountability, we are already seeing improvement.Change does not happen overnight—but it is happening.

Right now, as winter continues to press hard across Romania, we urgently need your help to care for the 270 children and 75 families who depend on us each month for life-saving support.