The contribution that Children in Distress has made in Romania in the last 35 years can best be told through the story of a young man called Alex.
Earlier this summer, his mother, Roxana, called the president of Children in Distress Romania charity, Valentina Smith, and asked how her student son could donate 300 euros of money he’d earned.
A generous gesture perhaps. But the story is more profound and touching_ a perfect illustration of the lifesaving work the British/Romanian Children in Distress has done for thousands of sick, terminally ill and disadvantaged Romanian children since communism collapsed.
In the early 2000s, Alex’s mother was in desperate need of help after her daughter Julia was born with a serious genetic syndrome. Separated from the girl’s father, who blamed her for the situation, she needed some time to arrange accommodation for herself and her newborn.
She knocked on the door of the St. Margaret’s Center and was welcomed by Valentina Smith who offered shelter and care.
“Of course, I answered that we would love to help her. The child could stay with us for as long as Roxana needed help, but I had only one request – to please come and visit her. And so, it was. Little Julia stayed with us because her diagnosis brought challenges every day, and her mother was able to go on to work whilst continuing to visit her child,” Mrs. Smith told an audience gathered for the charity’s gala dinner.
The story took a happier turn, after Julia’s father, Dan, had had time to reflect and realized he had been wrong to blame Roxana for their daughter’s condition. They reconciled and, soon Roxana became pregnant again.
Children in Distress continued to support the young family and not long afterwards, Alex was born, followed by a sister, Tania.
But life had other plans. Julia died and later Dan succumbed to cancer at just 42. “Roxana remained brave and strong to raise Alex and Tania,” Mrs Smith told the hushed audience, some of who were in tears as she presented Alex, now a 2nd year student at the Faculty of Installations, his sister, Tania, an 11th grade student, and Roxana.
“Alex’s birth was an example to many other families who crossed our door step at St. Margaret’s,” she concluded.
On Thursday evening, Children in Distress celebrated its 35th anniversary at a gala dinner in Bucharest. Royal Patron HRH Princess Maria addressed the audience and the British Embassy No. 2, Rebecca Shah, also attended the event. Many of the original founders and sponsors and charity managers flew from Britain, the United States, Scotland and elsewhere. From Bucharest, charity missioner Steven Smith was there, as was Father Nevsky Everett and Portuguese Ambassador Paulo Cunha Alves.
Children in Distress/Copii in Dificultate was born in the aftermath of the collapse of communism, as the world reacted with in horror at the sight of malnourished, sick and disabled children in state institutions, many chained to beds, their heads shaved.
British pastor, Rev. Dr. John Walmsley, organized aid convoys to help hospitals and orphanages that that were now seen globally.
” A little later, Dr. Walmsley made his vision of creating a charity that could make change a reality – a reality we celebrate today after 35 years,” Mrs. Smith said in a speech.
She called it the “first piece of coral in our family tree.” Since then, the charity built the St. Laurentiu hospice in Cernavoda, which has cared for hundreds of children infected with HIV/AIDS.
Other hospices for children with severe neurological conditions, therapy centers for children with autism and other learning difficulties, and educational centers were set up.
“Our main goal was to ensure children and young people were able to remain in the state education system,” she told audience gathered at the majestic Bragadiru Palace.
“Despite the ongoing difficulties and challenges, our centers have seen us turn death into life, and transform pain and sadness into joy for thousands of children and their families,” she said.
In a world shaken by wars and natural calamities, we are grateful to you for opening your soul and heart to us, loving our children, believing in our greater cause and helping us to faithfully fulfill our mission: “to cure, sometimes; to help, often; to comfort, always”.
The 35th anniversary is known as ˝a Coral˝ anniversary, ” and it’s fitting for Children in Distress as corals multiply, a family grows, develops new branches, and increases in size and splendor, becoming a family that crosses many generations,” she said.
