The FARM history

The history of the foundation Working with homeless youths commenced in 1990 following the pronounced increase in homeless adolescents who, because of the lack of funds, couldn't remain in the care of state institutions after coming of age (18) and are forced to live in canals, train stations and basements. Many young people have an unstable lifestyle, facing various difficulties, such as the lack of a home, health problems, drug addiction, and dependence on others. The initiators of the project were Etienne Metreau and Daniel Rusu. The objectives of the project were: teaching the Gospel, ensuring two daily meals, clothing and shoes, medical and social assistance. Over the years, they have taken care of approximately 100 homeless young people. Due to the love they had for them, and because they did everything out of their love for God, they went with food to rat-infested canals, basements of unfinished buildings and old train wagons. This project was taken over by the *Romanian Children*s Hope* foundation, set up in 1998 and having the same objectives. The *Romanian Children*s Hope* foundation carries out its activity in Podu Iloaiei, 25 km from Iasi, where it owns a 4-ha lot of land, with a 3 *room house, a place for breeding hens, two ponds and 3 ha of tillable land. This land was purchased with the aid of the Christian Foundation *The Children*s Hope for Romania* and is paid only in half. Due to a sponsorship from an English missionary, the foundation could purchase another 5.5 ha. *From the beginning of its activities, the Podu Iloaiei farm sheltered over 150 young homeless people. Some of them, with the aid of the farm personnel, have managed to form a moral conduct that has allowed them to obtain jobs and start a family. Others, after a short period of time spent at the farm, not being able to adapt to an organized and disciplined life style, chose to leave, ending up on the street again

Email: nicu@mail.dntis.ro