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.
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.
