Buckner International: Global Initiatives

Buckner in Romania

NGO Status:
Fundatia Buckner Romania
Founded March 29, 1999

Primary Office:
Targu Mures, Romania

Buckner began its ministry in Romania in 1996, after Romanian officials sought Buckner’s expertise to help overcome mounting problems in the country’s orphanages. Buckner staff realized they had a unique opportunity to use their childcare and social services knowledge to make a difference in the lives of orphaned children in Romania. Buckner became a Romanian foundation (Fundatia Buckner) in 1998 and began taking mission teams to do evangelistic camps in the orphanages in the Targu Mures region.

Buckner services and country support include:

• Provision of large-scale humanitarian aid, orphanage renovations and emergency needs to orphanages and orphans since 1998.
• Operation of a Child Development Center in Târnaveni, a primarily Gypsy community.
• Developed a relationship with Child Protective Service in Targu Mures, including emergency relief and coordination of all humanitarian aid.
• Assists Child Protections Services in Targu Mures with programs such as the “Cry for Help Program” to report child abuse.
• Follow-up program which allows Buckner staff members to visit orphanages on a weekly basis, building relationships and mentoring children in the Gospel.
• Grandmother “holding” program in Leagunal Orphanage to provide infants with basic nurture.
• Collaboration with Pathway to Joy Ministry in Oradea to provide foster care to approximately 35 children.
• Supports four group homes with ongoing financial assistance and humanitarian aid such as shoes and socks.
• Large-scale orphanage renovations and emergency needs.
• Provides staff to coordinate emergency relief and humanitarian aid efforts with Romanian Child Protective Services in Targu Mures region.

You can provide change in Romania:

In 2008, we hope to:
• Raise $20,000 Operational Capital with Go Therefore…Orphan Ministries, to begin Transitional Living Program for four female ages 17-21 years old in Targu Mures.
• Expand Child Development Center in Tarneveni by 25 additional children.
• Develop Child Development Center in Tarneveni, Romania into a community-based program providing a Healthy Families model and an After-School Program.
• Develop and define relationship with owners/directors, Estera and Vio Grigore, of El Shadai Camp in Carpathian Mountains.
• Asses camp needs to potentially bring mission teams/interns to work at summer camp for Gypsy children
• Begin sending mission teams to overnight at the camp for country orientation.
• Provide shoes, art and craft materials to camp. If you are interested in learning more about the ministries of Buckner in Romania, please visit our Web site at www.buckner.org/Change.