For the past months, several ExpatRomania visitors requested information about humanitarian organisations that activate inside Romania wishing to ake donations.

In spite of the efforts to reform the child care system in Romania, the current situation is still to be improved. Successive Romanian governments have sustained child welfare reforms however the efforts and the funds put in by the National Authorities are not enough to satisfy the needs of abandoned children, special needs children and poor families.

The involvement of Humanitarian Foundations and individuals activating inside Romania makes a big difference in the quality of life of those in need.

Although there are many organizations offering assistance to children in need, there is one project that stands out because of the dedication of the people involved and because of its survival in spite of the criticism and lack of funding from the State. The ProVita Association and Valea Plopului children's village are both founded by Father Tanase, a priest from the Valea Plopului village of Prahova County. The Internet, especially the filmed reportage available for you on YouTube can give an insight on the ProVita Association's activities and organisation.

This is how one of the people now actively involved in the Poject describes her first visit to Valea Plopului:

A few weeks ago we decided to do more than just browse the humanitarian announcements, and help those who need us the most. The first google search turned out provitaortodoxa.ro, a site that shows a lot about orthodoxism. Entering the site, we discover pictures with children, pictures with a priest, pictures with a village ... it was Valea Plopului, a dreamy place which we immediatly decided to visit because we couldn't believe that there are over 220 children that live there without their families.

This is how we left for Ploiesti, Valenii de Munte and then Valea Plopului near Valea Screzii. We got lost, as was expected, but almost like a miracle, a car stoped in front of us, the driver knew were we were heading and showed us how to get there. At approximately lunch time we entered one of the three houses already built, eager to see the little orphans. In the first house there were the infants ... around ten of them. They were sleeping soundly, tucked in by the nurses. Because the kids are grouped by age, in the second house we found little elementary schoolers who had their timetable on the entrance wall. The timetable showed activities like the daily prayers, cleaning and going to school. Everywhere one could see vivid colorful paintings made by the most talented of them: painted walls, icons painted on wood, paper drawings. In the third house there were gimnazium and high school children, some of them no longer having that serene look, because they have realized where they are and are searching for a way to attend a good school that can provide a better education. All of them greet us happily, almost accustomed to strangers, hoping that they will be helped.

But soon we are joined by father Tanase, the one who founded this place, who lives to help these children. He talks resolute, emphasizing that although the association that he supports is called Provita, it isn't an aggresive association against abortion like the one with the same name in the USA. It is just a naming coincidence. In any circumstances he strongly advises, like any other priest, the mothers must not kill their babies. This advice is what led to the increase in the number of children that stay here. The mothers bring their children to Valea Plopului until they manage to find a suitable source of income. But this isn't how things actually started. It all started with a miracle in the life of the priest. It was a winter day and he found 5 little ones on the porch of his home, all of the five having ages between 3 and 5 days. He didn't know what to do with them, so he went through the village with the children tucked in a blanket. People would ask him out of curiosity what did he have there, and he told them he had little children and would ask them if they wanted to adopt one. Until the end of the day he had managed to find for the little ones warm hearted families. Even today, out of the 220 children, 150 stay with families in the village, families that think of them as their own children.

We were wondering how does the priest handle all of the work, where does he get all of the money to raise all of these children. The resources don't come from social funds as we thought, but from people who have seen these children, people who come from far away to help and support this initiative. This is how they managed to build 3 houses that are home to 60 children. But the needs are great: a boiler is required, another 2 houses are almost ready but have no windows and they are completely empty, the nurses need to be paid, children need food, medicine, clothes, writing materials for school and many more. Everything is welcomed in the little household. Every gesture is repaid with at least a thanking prayer. I would like for you to see how much they need our help, how every little thing we do means a great deal to these children. We all felt that we can give the little ones a chance, that this is really up to us, that next time we will help them more, that we should all tell that there is a place where we can truly help.

For those of you wishing to make a donation or help in anu way please contact the Association directly at:

Priest Nicolae Tanase

• Tel/Fax : 0244 280 695

• Mobil: 0723 597 433

• Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

• This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

• http://provitann.org

• http://valeaplopului.com

• Mrs Tatiana Samoila

• Mobil: 0744 290 471 / 0740 257 259

• Mrs Silvia Mihailescu (english speaking contact)

• Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it