Sharing God's blessings with orphaned, abandoned, neglected, & abused children in Tulcea County, Romania since 1997.
NOROC's mission is to offer new opportunities for spiritual, physical, educational, and emotional growth so that at-risk Romanian institutionalized children may escape cycles of poverty, dependency, and abuse, and may become independent adults who can nurture meaningful relationships and contribute to their communities.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
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NOROC's programs flow out of its mission: to meet the spiritual, emotional, physical, academic, and other basic needs of orphaned, abandoned or abused children in Tulcea County, all while sharing the all-inclusive love of Jesus Christ. Although state institutions have improved, Romanian orphans continue to need the help NOROC offers. This includes access to psychological and medical care, and support for academic needs: school supplies, tutoring, computer access, and scholarships and aid for attending university. Most of all, children and youth need ongoing loving and accepting relationships with a safe adult. Staff in the state institutions cannot always provide this, due to high turnover, and a high child-to-staff-member ratio. Helping youth who "rise out" of the orphanages find safe housing and non-exploitive employment is a growing challenge that NOROC is trying to meet. Romania has been identified as a "hotspot" for human trafficking and is a bridge from west to east. NOROC provides a halfway house for youth at risk, and offers job training and financial and emotional support to help youth who grew up in institutions begin to live independent lives and become contributing members of their communities. A disproportionate number of institutionalized children are ethnic Rroma, a word that means "person" in their language. Marginalized, stigmatized, and pejoratively called "Gypsies," over centuries Rroma migrated out of India into Europe. Enslavement of Rroma continued in much of Europe past the end of the War between the States in the US. As Rroma were forced to settle, they became targets of extreme persecution and even extermination. Many continue to be denied equal access to basic services, education and employment today. NOROC nurtures all children, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, or personal history, including Rroma children and families. Whoever you are, whatever you've done, and wherever you come from, you are a beloved child in the family of God. |
HISTORY
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When communism fell in Romania in the December of 1989, tens of thousands of children were left abandoned in Romanian orphanages. Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu had made it a goal to greatly increase the Romanian population with hopes that a larger work force would create a more powerful economy. In an attempt to achieve this goal Ceausescu implemented policies requiring families to have at least 5 children. Due to extreme poverty many families were unable to care for these children and were forced to place them in state institutions.
As the world became aware of this problem, people flocked to Romania to adopt these abandoned children. Among those coming to Romania for adoptions were Fred and Carolyn White. After adopting their fourth child Natalie, they teamed up with Petru Solca to found New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children or NOROC. Getting its name from the Romanian word for “God bless,” NOROC was originally designed to aid American couples seeking to adopt children from Romania. International adoptions closed in Romania in 2001. However, NOROC felt God's call to action and evolved to meet the needs of institutionalized children in new ways. The first outreach program the new NOROC established was "Big Hearted Grannies." The worker to infant ratio in baby hospitals was often forty to one. Many infants did not get the sensory stimulation or socialization they needed as a result. Petru Solca placed an ad in the Tulcea newspaper hiring women to come to the baby hospital for four hours every day and interact with the children. Six women applied and all were hired. From here the "granny" program quickly expanded to the toddler hospital. The results were miraculous. NOROC quickly noticed a need for academic support among the children. Often children were failing the first grade multiple times. Too many girls were unable to pass the tests to go to high school and were turning to a life on the streets. NOROC stepped in and established "Big Hearted Teachers." This program sent retired teachers into the institutions to tutor children. More children began to pass and to stay in school. NOROC continued to expand this program to provide kids with other academic resources such as school supplies and even the funding to send many children to college. "Big Hearted Friends" was created next. NOROC received its first full-time missionary through the Presbyterian Church USA and began hosting enrichment programs. Classes teaching skills such a sewing, cooking and art began to be offered. Opportunities to leave the orphanages and visit places outside of Tulcea were created. NOROC was able to provide help that enhanced the happiness of the children. NOROC has been able to improve the lives of hundreds of children of all ages since 1997. Thanks to the hard work and devotion of the many NOROC employees, volunteers and partners, lives have been changed. |
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FACILITIES
NOROC is based out of Tulcea, Romania and services all of Tulcea County. Tulcea County is located on the Danube Delta, near the Ukraine border. This area is known as Dobrogea. NOROC currently owns four properties in Tulcea.
The NOROC Office
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The NOROC office provides space for administrative offices, a psychologist office, and housing for emergency needs and short-term guests. The office is also the primary location for staff meetings.
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The Louise Covington Learning Center
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Originally purchased to provide safe housing for girls in need of a place to live, this apartment has been repurposed into a learning center for many different groups of children who live at the institutional centers. It also contains a computer lab and a library which give the children access to a variety of resources. NOROC was able to purchase this apartment thanks to a generous donation by Presbyterian Women.
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Casa Noastra
Casa Noastra, "Our House," serves multiple functions. It serves the purpose as a halfway house for young men in need of emergency housing. It also includes a large meeting space which hosts NOROC’s weekly Bible Studies, small group activities, and many fellowship events, both indoors and at the outdoor garden area.
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Casa Noua
NOROC's newest and largest property, Casa Noua ("New House"), is located on a large piece of land just outside the city limits. Funding for this property came from a very generous grant from Presbyterian Women’s Birthday Offering. It has been renovated to provide space for multiple activities for the children, as well as storage and a garage for NOROC vehicles. It is a place to host NOROC's summer camps and other programs such as cooking classes, archery, table tennis, indoor games and movie nights. NOROC has built a large playground with a swing set, jungle gym, slides, climbing wall, and trampoline. The property contains a regulation size soccer field for multi-purpose use as well as a large covered pavilion for multi-season activities. Casa Noua has many fruit trees which provide delicious fruits for the children. Housing for long term volunteers is also available in the main building.
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PROGRAMS
Big Hearted Grannies
The program that started it all, Big Hearted Grannies originated as a way to socialize babies and provide sensory stimulation and daily care to infants in baby hospitals. Since 1997, Grannies have gradually begun to relate daily to older and older children, now up to the age of 12. At present, NOROC Grannies nurture and educate children in five Tulcea institutions. Four hours a day, 5 days a week and 51 weeks a year, Grannies offer critical presence, loving nurture, sensory therapy and school readiness activities. The NOROC grannies work to give the institutionalized children an even start in life as well as in their education.
"THEN"
"THEN"
"NOW"
Counseling
NOROC employs two counselors who regularly meet with 30 children every two weeks. These counselors are available at NOROC programs and events to meet with other children as needed. In addition NOROC provides funding for children to receive private counseling and for medical diagnosis and treatment. NOROC also actively intervenes in traumatic situations, such as instances of trafficking, as a part of the counseling program. To promote the emotional well being and independence of all institutionalized children, NOROC provides programs through the counseling program to teach the life skills necessary for kids to be successful and keep off the streets.
Eu Pot
Romanian for, "I can," Eu Pot provides children with incentive to attend school regularly. Children with perfect attendance each semester are rewarded with a special trip.
Small Groups
NOROC organizes several small groups of about 10 children in each group every year. These groups meet regularly and are designed to create a tight knit community between the children and their adult leader. Led by a NOROC team member, small groups allow children to receive special attention and form bonds with adults. Together they attend activities, visit sights in Tulcea, and plan their own activities such as a birthday party.
Other small groups are organized with the goal of teaching children a specific skill. These groups are set up temporarily and focus on skills such as sewing, art, photography and other skills. These small groups are mixed up frequently to provide all children with the chance to learn valuable life skills.
Other small groups are organized with the goal of teaching children a specific skill. These groups are set up temporarily and focus on skills such as sewing, art, photography and other skills. These small groups are mixed up frequently to provide all children with the chance to learn valuable life skills.
Speech Therapy
Currently, NOROC employees one part-time speech therapist to work with kids struggling with speech impediments. One of NOROC's newer programs, it has room to grow. NOROC plans to expand the speech therapy program to serve more institutionalized children in the near future.
Summer Camp
Summer camps start in mid-June when students get out of school. These camps provide structured activities to children during the summer along with unique opportunities to learn and play. They provide children with opportunities to improve their large and small motor skills, interpersonal and team building skills, and a chance to enjoy the building outdoor surroundings at Casa Noua.
Tutoring and Other Academic Resources
Tutors are employed by NOROC as needed to service at Sparanta, the largest institution in Tulcea and in 4 local apartments. Tutors provide help to students in Romanian, French, Math, Geography, History, and Science. NOROC provides children with the school supplies they need to be successful as well. Children also have access to computers in the Louise Covington Learning Center.
Weekly Bible Studies
NOROC hosts Bible study for institutionalized teens and youth who were raised in the orphanage system. Bible study provides a positive environment for kids to learn from scripture and share their feelings and responses. After Bible study, the group enjoys a simple meal together before the kids go home. It is an uplifting experience for all.
Other Programs
Institutionalized children have many needs that the system cannot always reach. The purpose of NOROC is to fill in these gaps. NOROC offers financial support to children in need of medical attention, including prescription medications and glasses. NOROC collects gifts for the children during the holidays as well and clothing, blankets, and other material needs children have. One of NOROC's main goals is to provide institutionalized children with the skills and resources they need to become independent, contributing members of society and stay off the streets.