dreamt i was back
theres a world outsider her window everywhere the wind blows everywhere's amanda's dream
went to romania. got sick on the way. celebrated my birthday in a pub in london. thought i was prepared but i wasnt. got attached to the kiddies, broke my heart to leave them. wanted to cancel my ticket and stay. decided i'll be back next summer. cant adjust to being home, definately feel like i'm in limbo. wish i could say more but i cant. check out my photos on facebook.
there are hundreds of thousands of children who have been orphaned in romania. most of this is due to the countries only 18 year old overthrow of communism. most people lived on communes and never learned how to parent their own children, causing parents to give up their children to the state. the majority of these children end up involved in prostitution and drugs because many of them are sent off on their own if they do not make it through high school. also it's important to note that because romania recently joined the european union, it is no longer legal to adopt orphans from the country because the vast numbers of children without homes/parents would make adoption romania's most thriving economic activity and the eu does not want countries that export children to make money as members of the union.
vosy is the oldest of four who attended our camp. their parents gave up five of their children to the state and kept the other seven of their 12 children. vosy is 13 and acts in place of all the childrens parents in the orphanage. it immediately broke my heart to meet this kid because he is grown already at the innocent age of 13 he is a man, who knows his place in the world and modestly accepts his responsibility as the oldest. the chances that he's burnt out by age 20 and realizes he had no childhood is so likely it makes me cry.
this is cristica and sandi, two of vosy's younger siblings.
ile is the youngest of two daughters who were orphaned by a family of gypsies. ile was found in a hole in the ground eating dirt and was taken in by an orphanage.
florina's mother was schizophrenic. she was found in a ditch in the mountains and taken in by the orphanage.
this is a photograph of all the kids that were at camp last week. just keep informed, there are so many children out there who need the love and support of others. attach some faces to the problem, it makes it that much more real.