Hope and Homes for Children Romania
Think Human Fund
Mission & History
Part of the global NGO Hope and Homes for Children, our Foundation is dedicated to child protection, working to find sustainable solutions for each vulnerable child we support. We are committed to permanently closing orphanages in Romania by 2027 and preventing family breakdowns caused by extreme poverty.
In its 27 years of interventions, Hope and Homes for Children Romania has supported 43,800 children to stay safe with their parents or extended family and avoid institutionalization, through the Child Protection and Family Reintegration Program. The Foundation has further contributed to the closure of 75 orphanages, and through our efforts, and the efforts of our partners, 128 family-type homes have been developed, with 7,500 children taken out of orphanages and over 2,500 reintegrated into their natural or extended families.
Country Information
Romania’s child protection system has faced significant challenges since the fall of communism, leading to an increase in orphaned and abandoned children. Substantial reforms are underway to shift from institutional care to family-based care.
As of 2021, around 50,000 children remain in the system, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those at high risk of poverty or social exclusion, particularly ethnic minorities like the Roma. Despite progress in education, dropout rates remain critical, especially among children from low-income families, rural areas, and orphanages, with Romania having one of the highest rates of early school leaving in the EU.
Youth unemployment is also a pressing issue, standing at 19.4% in 2023, which disproportionately affects disadvantaged youth lacking necessary networks and skills. Additionally, many children face trauma from early experiences in orphanages, leading to mental health issues that hinder their success. Various NGOs, including Hope and Homes for Children, have been pivotal in closing orphanages, facilitating family care as well as focusing on educational and professional inclusion to break the cycle of poverty.
The Need
Every year, thousands of children are abandoned or separated from their families, whether at birth or later in life, with many, including those with special needs, exiting the child protection system without the essential skills for independent living. Additionally, numerous children remain in orphanages, living in conditions far removed from the warmth and safety of a family home. We believe that every child deserves to thrive in an environment that fosters their well-being, ideally alongside their families.
The lack of access to resources and opportunities for talented children and youth from vulnerable backgrounds is a critical social need. Many of these children, who exhibit exceptional abilities in academics, arts, music, or sports, face significant obstacles, often hailing from orphanages, maternal assistance centers, or families that cannot afford to provide the support necessary to nurture their potential. This initiative aims to create equitable pathways for these gifted individuals, ensuring they have the opportunities they need to excel and succeed in life.
The Project We Fund
At Hope and Homes for Children, we strive to give every child the opportunity for a brighter future by identifying those with exceptional talents in academics, arts, music, and sports. Despite significant challenges, their determination and dedication can transform potential into a better life. However, many of these vulnerable children come from orphanages or maternal assistance centers and lack the necessary resources to develop their abilities. To address this, we will provide targeted support through a scholarship program offering €1,875 per beneficiary, with eight beneficiaries annually for three years.
This three-year project will first identify and evaluate children showcasing exceptional talents, collaborating with the Directorate for Child Protection. Personalized intervention plans will follow, tailored to nurture their unique abilities and ensure access to essential resources and mentorship. Implementation will involve an interinstitutional team to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments. In the final phase, we’ll assess ongoing needs and evaluate if further support is required. This structured approach ensures each child’s continuous development and success.
The Result
To measure the effectiveness of this project, we will establish a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system that includes several key elements.
First, we will conduct baseline assessments in Month 1 to evaluate each beneficiary’s academic performance, skill levels, and social-emotional well-being, creating a reference point for future progress. Regular quarterly progress reports will then provide updates on achievements, challenges, and necessary adjustments, ensuring that stakeholders are informed and can offer appropriate support. At the end of the year, we will perform a thorough annual impact evaluation to compare baseline assessments with final evaluations, allowing us to gauge improvements and long-term outcomes, particularly in regard to career success and sustainability.
Additionally, we will implement feedback loops to gather continuous input from beneficiaries and stakeholders, enabling us to adapt interventions in real-time for enhanced effectiveness.
Finally, we will document individual success stories and transformative experiences to qualitatively showcase the project’s impact.
