Families in poverty

"Breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty is essential" - World Bank Group

Research shows that to break the cycle of poverty children need to complete their education, an extra year of school increases incomes by 8-9%, reduces the risk of becoming unemployed by 8% and the risk of serious health problems by 8.2%.
Unicef, 2020

710,000 Romanian children are expected to drop out of school before 9th grade over the next two decades - unless the pattern is broken.

Asociate Ovidiuro

The most vulnerable and marginalized children are from poor families, Roma communities, rural areas and children with disabilities.

Unicef

FARA is able to provide...

A daily hot meal
School equipment and books
Teacher led support and
Access to social work

…to promote the whole family’s well-being.

Tackling Poverty Through Education is FARA’s flagship programme

We assist 300 children and their families in six nursery and primary schools in rural communities across Suceava, Northern Romania. This is vital work and planned for expansion throughout this decade.

Life can be a struggle in Romania for children and families facing extreme stresses and instability, food, lack of space in housing, lack of access to social protection and health services. Malnutrition, domestic violence, high rates of school drop-out, family breakdown, neglect and alcohol abuse are all familiar problems. This in turn severely limits a person’s ability to break the cycle of poverty which can affect a family for generations.

How We Help

Education is a way out of poverty. We help children to start and stay in school with a free programme across 6 rural schools supporting 300 children and their families. We employ teachers, catering staff and social workers, changing attitudes, imbuing confidence, and creating brighter futures.

Nutrition. School dinners are not normally provided in Romania, but we understand the difference a nourishing hot meal can make to an impoverished child, providing them daily to those who usually go without, which in turn encourages their parents to send their children to school.

Pastoral Care and Support. We build close relationships with the families in our care, assisting with social and medical needs, supplying warm clothing and boots, helping with home repair, and always working to strengthen the family, keep them together and prevent school drop-out.

Changing children’s lives

Mihai lives in a tiny village in the northern Suceava district of Romania. He lives in his grandmother’s simple, two room house, with his parents and two siblings in one room and his maternal grandmother in the other. Mihai’s family have very little income, they struggle to afford the most basic food. Mihai’s father works seasonally on the land and travels abroad to find work and send money home. Mihai is very lucky as both his parents are supportive and there is a lot of love in their home.

Mihai is supported by the FARA Tackling Poverty Through Education programme by being given a hot meal each day at school and help with homework in after-school clubs. We also support his family with access to social and medical care and food parcels.

Mihai is a serious boy who works hard at school and at home, he quietly gets on with the chores he is given before going outside to tinker with his old bicycle which is his most treasured possession and gives him a way of travelling to see his friends in neighbouring villages.

Mihai’s older brother is attending high school and Mihai is keen to follow in his footsteps. With the kind donations of our supporters FARA can build the community care and support through the area and really make a change to the lives of children like Mihai.

Mihai’s story is true, but his name and photo have been changed to protect his identity.