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Our aim to educate street kids in the ways of farming has not changed. We cannot take kids off the street until we have somewhere for them to live and managers that speak their language. In the past year we have tried training two men whose children are working the streets. They have got jobs in town and one is in an apartment now. The other now has his black book and has been working in the docks, he has been laid off because of the weather but has been promised his job back when the weather is better, so we are hoping for them to be able to move into better accommodation this year. Since we have arrived the government has clamped down on what we can do for children. As you will appreciate we can't just go and take kids off the street, they have to want to improve their lives, you can't force them.
The plans for the house are up in the air at the moment. We have always hoped that we will use the community centre for our work but we have the ok from one political party and a no from the other and at the moment we are in discussion with the board on the best way to jump.
It is our aim to continue supporting poor families with whatever we have available, as long as they need support, at the same time helping them help themselves.
The work with street kids has changed while we have been here because the government sealed the tunnels in which they were living. They have joined together in 'families' renting (with the money from begging) one room where as many as possible sleep. We are in touch we several 'families' and continue to support them.
Poverty and its associated problems does not end quickly. Our aim when we set up Growing Care was to be here ourselves for two years handing over to Romanian managers who would continue our work extending out to other villages. We did not see an end to the project just an end to the project needing financial assistance from the UK. The profits from the farm being used for the assistance needed just extra help at Christmas and aid deliveries once a year. My time scale was way out but we were mis-informed on costs by a professional builder.
POST SCRIPT
Once SIMINOC is up, running and self sufficient, the plan is to move on to another location and continue the work. The location is not sorted out yet and will depend on finance and the needs at the time.
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