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In April 2002, Vic Brown spent a week in
Romania producing video footage about the life of Romanian street
children. He experienced sights which many people never see in their
lifetime.
It is estimated that
as many as 2000 children sleep rough on, or under the street of
Constanta, Romania. The figure in Bucharest may be nearer to 5,000.
For many, home is amongst the network of underground steam heating
pipes which criss-cross both cities. In the winter, temperatures fall
as low as –25º C.
For many, there is no formal education - no social security - no
access to free medical treatment - and little prospect of employment.
They are prey to abuse, forced prostitution and frequent violence as
well as constant harassment by the authorities.
The profits of this ‘grand bash’ will be used to help support two
projects.
Two care homes in Bucharest. These are mainly for young girls
and single mothers. The girls have, in most cases, been living on the
streets, often in forced prostitution. They now know what it is to be
loved and cared for, and are beginning to develop the skills of caring
for each other.
A project in Constanta, on the Black Sea.
This project is jointly between U.K organisations and the Romanian
authorities. A 5-storey block of flats is presently home to 50
children (both girls and boys) aged from 8 through 17. Many have been
on the street but some come from orphanages.
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