Caritas Romania focuses much of its work on one of Romania’s major social problems – the large numbers of street children, many of whom have become addicted to drugs. It also works to support poor families, the disabled, the elderly and migrants, providing food, home care, medical services and medicines.

Budget	US$ 2,190,627
Paid staff	500 - 1,000
Volunteers	500 - 1,000
Beneficiaries	300,000 - 500,000

Caritas Romania also supports programmes aimed at capacity-building, social justice and emergency assistance and is helping to develop anti-drugs and anti-trafficking capacities. It played a significant part in flood relief work in 2005, sending food, clothing, medicines and shelters for the victims.

Themes

Caritas Romania has several areas of activity:

• Street children and orphans: shelters, anti-drugs and social counselling, food, medicines, advocacy;
• Social: canteens, laundry services and long-distance support for abandoned and in-care children;
• Education: homes, hostels and kindergarten schools;
• Disabled people: shelter, care and counselling;
• Migrants and refugees: counselling, mediation, guidance, advocacy;
• Health: medicines and home nursing care for the elderly and needy;
• Anti-trafficking: training for Caritas workers.

Operational Areas

Caritas Romania works in all areas of the country, though the main social problems of street children and poverty are centred in Bucharest.