Verslag Roemenië September 2009
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The wealth of the poor. The exchange of family homes in Romania. Ria Verschueren Foreword This report captures the experiences from the project Romania, by Ter Loke (2008-2009). The project aimed to exchange and support to create family homes, and especially asistance for young people in Belgium and Romania. Ria Verschueren was commissioned by Ter Loke into the project work for more than a year. And even earlier, she took Romanian language courses, with the purpose to communicate with people in their own language. The methodic is using an anthropological approach. This approach can be found in the well written report, where documented information is alternated with testimonials, press, newspaper articles, links to websites etc. Thus we get a surprising and unique perspective on the development of youth, in a former communist country and even younger EU country, which is Romania. We also get a mirror. Just as it happened here at the middle of the 20th century, when the family homes for small children were created and managed by idealistic and passionate people, so we see it happening there. The Youth Care in Flanders has made a long way. In Romania, they are also trying to find a way, their way. That‟s different than ours, and so it should be. Every nation has its history, every nation has its future. With this project, we have offered direct support to caregivers. We have sought and found rapprochements between different organizations in Belgium working for Romanian children. We have also planted more seeds for further cooperation and new initiatives, that in the future will include further exchange and support. This report provides the interested reader a wealth of information. The conclusions show a number of tracks which can be further developed. In Belgium, there are almost no family homes left. In Romania, they are in full development process, and we are gladly encouraging the managers and supervisors. They are moving further, day after day, and they can count on our understanding and support. We hope this report inspires you too. As Director of special youth divisions, I would very much like to thank Ria Verschueren for her relentless efforts. The project is completed, the contacts continue to run. Lex Vorsselmans Ria Verschueren Director BJB Ter Loke Project Assistant, Romania project 31/03/2010 Maximilian Bara, translation 2 I. INTRODUCTION 4 A. Salutation ‘Que le feu continue…’ - ‘That the flame lives on…’ ........................................................................................... 4 B. Title and cover photo explanation .................................................................................................................................................. 4 C. Thanks ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 D. Start of the project ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 E. Formulation .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 II. GENERAL 7 A. Geography ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 B. History......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 C. Language .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 D. Culture and Religion ............................................................................................................................................................................. 9 E. Conjuncture ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 F. Special Youth Care, Protecţia Copiilor ....................................................................................................................................... 12 III. CHRONOLOGIE 14 A. Travel log 2-13 October 2008 ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 B. Travel log 12-30 March 2009 ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 C. Travel log 13-20 September 2009 ............................................................................................................................................... 24 D. Travel log 15-29 november 2009 ............................................................................................................................................... 32 E. Proceedings of the contacts in Belgium. ................................................................................................................................... 36 IV. THEMATIC APPROACH 42 A. Schools ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 42 B. Youth ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44 C. Price tag ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 D. Exchange: “sens dublu” .................................................................................................................................................................... 46 V. PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS 49 A. Open tracks ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 49 B. Open end ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 50 VI. WORK IN 2010 52 VII. ANEXES 52 A. Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 B. TV-stories / Video ............................................................................................................................................................................... 52 C. Romanian language ............................................................................................................................................................................ 53 D. Internet Explorer................................................................................................................................................................................. 53 3 I. INTRODUCTION A. Salutation „Que le feu continue…‟ - „That the flame lives on…‟ I am very satisfied. I have a burning torch to pass and there are people to hold it, too… B. Title and cover photo explanation Poverty is laziness. Poverty is not at all laziness. You are both free from nothingness and come closer to the essence of life. Dyonisys thinking. Poverty can make you creative. We dozed off in our luxury. I challenge anyone to find ten recipes of potato soup. Here I want to introduce the term 'time racism', which I read about in an article by Leen Huet in Knack. "Is to avoid the thought that by definition you're smarter than those poor souls that lived five hundred and fifty years ago". The sewing on the cover photo is the evidence of a wonderful discovery and exchange. During my first trip I learned that the foster mother in the family home was interested in my embroidery, which I was doing for relaxation. She also loved embroidery, but had no time... Fortunately, she found some peace that summer in Belgium, and did me great pleasure to see her sitting in our garden, where she patiently and quietly continued working on her embroidery. She is the symbol of our exchanges, the red thread that runs throughout this report. Find each other. The much needed peace and meditative power emanating from this activity show us where the Achilles‟ heel of the family homes is. They also show our work: it is never finished. C. Thanks This report wouldn‟t have existed without Lex Vorsselmans, Director of Special Youth Care, Ter Loke. In random order, I bring thanks to: Stela and Călin, Pol, Eric, Marc, An, Koen, Annick, Marleen, Michèle, Beatrijs, Karel, Rebecca, Marc, Johan, Inge, Fons, Eduardo, Nuria, Mieke, Marij, Yorik, Tiphany, Eric, Nadine, Senne, Cisse, Jos, Tinne, Yannick, Steffie, Ryan, Carolien, Nathalie, Tim, Jacqueline, Ferdinand, Britt, Saskia, Georges, Poupun, Anita, Rita, Andrea, Maria,