Tag Archive for: Poverty in Romania

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Poverty Reduction in Romania

Poverty Reduction in RomaniaWhen talking about Romania, many people still associate the country with its communist past and its significant economic struggle, which lasted for 24 years under the rule of Nicolae Ceausescu. There are different perspectives regarding decades ago and current poverty in Romania. The communist regime fell in 1989, and Romania has changed considerably since. According to the World Bank Group, poverty reduction in Romania reached 6.9% in 2024. 

Minimum Wage in Romania and Most Affected Regions

As an European country since 2007, Romania is doing better than it did decades ago. Yet, the minimum wage of 795 euros per month may lead some to question the extent of its economic growth. This positions Romania at 43rd place among the 124 countries that have the lowest minimum wage, out of the 195 countries in the world.

Rural regions in Romania are the most affected, with rates three times higher than those in urban areas, where children never attend school, or they are forced to drop out of school at an early age so they can work various jobs in agriculture or construction, helping their family to stay afloat. People living in these poor rural regions endure hunger, malnutrition, limited access to health care and often live in homes without running water, sanitation or electricity. 

Projects Designed To Reduce Poverty in Romania

Given all of the above, there is hope on the horizon with promising news ahead. After decades of economic struggles, new developments and projects may signal a meaningful shift towards inclusion and opportunity, contributing to poverty reduction in Romania.

As a global development organization, The World Bank Group seeks to lower poverty levels below 3% of the global population by 2030 and Romania is one of the countries that benefits from its generosity. Elisabetta Capannelli, World Bank Country Manager for Romania, declares that the organization goal is “to reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent of the population.” The World Bank has contributed in Romania over the past two decades addressing policy and institutional constraints on poverty reduction. By promoting social inclusion and economic growth, this approach offers promise that vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas, will see real improvements.

In February 2016, the Government passed a comprehensive anti-poverty package of 47 measures to combat poverty in the country through 2020. Several key measures, including boosting employment and reducing early school leaving rates, are expected to play a crucial role in narrowing the urban-rural poverty gap.

Empowering Citizens

Another hopeful project comes from Real News for Romania’s Media Desert Regions, where “the funding helped the media to reach Romania’s three poorest regions (Moldova Southern Muntenia and Oltenia) to inform and raise awareness about corruption, misuse of public and EU funds.” This project demonstrates that addressing poverty is not just about money or jobs, but also involves informing and empowering citizens to hold authorities accountable. By reaching Romania’s three poorest regions, the project is helping people understand how public and EU funds are being used. The project used social media, guided by experts, to reach more people and set up a weekly newsletter. After doing so, those involved in the project now hope that audiences are more informed, more aware of their rights, and more engaged in improving public services for their communities.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, these initiatives and others yet to come, could bring lasting change by helping more families rise above poverty and improve their quality of life, ultimately contributing to poverty reduction in Romania.

Future generations of rural children may have access to education instead of working from a young age, and while challenges remain, both existing and new projects offer hope for poverty reduction.

– Elena Ghimis

Elena is based in Bournemouth, UK and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Romania

Poverty Eradication in RomaniaVisiting Romania can feel like traveling to two separate countries. On one side, urban, rapidly advancing cities such as Bucharest and Cluj are thriving. On the other side, poverty and stagnation affect rural communities and smaller towns. 

According to the Brookings Institution, more than 25% of the population lives on less than $5.50 a day. This problem worsens because most affected individuals live in rural regions, where 75% of the population experiences poverty. Many of the citizens lack drinkable water and children struggle to maintain a well-resourced education; 40% of the children in Romania cannot read or write at a functional level, and one in five children drop out of school entirely. Romania’s communist roots in the mid-20th century account for much of the country’s persistent poverty. 

Romania’s Escape From Communism

Communist leaders imposed centralized control over Romania after World War II. Nicolae Ceaușescu became ruler in 1965 and oversaw the forced industrialization that contributed to severe poverty and repression, according to Local Histories. The Romanian Revolution in 1989 ended the regime and Romania transitioned toward a market economy. This shift continues to influence innovations in poverty eradication in Romania.

This transition proved difficult because the communist regime directly controlled many key industries. With the collapse of these industries, many small-to-medium cities relying on these industries stagnated. Eventually, through liberalization, privatization and political reform, Romania improved economically. Romania’s acceptance into NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007 marked a turning point for citizens, but it also revealed gaps in development and social justice. This felt especially true for many of the children living in vulnerable populations.

Community-Driven Change

In 2014, to address the extreme poverty that families in Romania experienced, Foundation Botnar partnered with UNICEF and the Norwegian and Romanian Governments to develop a pilot program in 45 communities in the Bacǎu region. Their solution, the Minimum Package of Services (MPS) model, aimed to expand Romanian children’s access to necessary services and improve their educational outcomes.

An innovation in poverty eradication in Romania resulted from the digital platform Aurora, which efficiently organizes and evaluates data for the MPS model. A trained team consisting of a social worker, community nurse and a school counselor used this platform to collect data on each of the family’s needs.

The program’s nontraditional approach to social change delivered many benefits:

  • Data-Driven: The integration of Aurora made the MPS model more effective by offering evidence-based guidance for supporting children and families within the social welfare system. Aurora further allows for the clear visualization of data, making the model scalable and replicable across communities and regions. 
  • Cost-effective: Preventative measures such as reducing school drop-out rates, limiting family separation and increasing immunization coverage lowered long-term spending for governmental agencies.
  • Community-focused: Families often struggled to navigate the complex welfare system. This program removed many of those barriers by providing comprehensive guidance and support to households, preventing vulnerable families from falling through the cracks.
  • Holistic: To maximize the program’s impact, teams exchange information through strong horizontal (inter-community) and vertical (national–county–community) communication. The program also prioritized comprehensive training, equipping teams with skills in data analysis and project planning.

Impact of the MPS Program

UNICEF conducted independent evaluations in 2017 and 2019 to determine the effectiveness of the program. The 2017 report found a decrease of 20% in households with children at risk of domestic violence and estimated costs fell under $46 USD per child. Furthermore, the 2019 evaluation reaffirmed its cost-effectiveness, determining that the cost per person for the MPS model was one-third for active cases and one-eighteenth for closed cases compared to similar projects funded by European programs.

By strengthening community-based services and emphasizing prevention in health, education and social protection, this initiative set the standard for innovation in poverty eradication in Romania and across Europe.”

– Sachin Kapoor

Sachin is based in Atlanta, GA, US and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Path Out of Poverty? Higher Education in Romania

Higher Education in RomaniaAlthough the European Union maintains a high standard of education throughout the member states, the higher education system in Romania is outdated and struggles with polarities in access between urban and rural regions.

Romania’s Education Trends

The Romanian government allows higher education institutions to operate independently, within the framework of the Romanian legislation. Through budgets and advice from the Ministry of Education, the government creates programs and materials to support higher education in Romania, according to the European Commission. Romania has more public than private institutions, and institutional departments and faculty members oversee internal educational and university matters.

In 2024, a survey revealed that 16.8% of Romanians, aged 18 to 24, left school before completing higher education in Romania, according to the European Union. Through education, individuals learn elementary skills but also prepare to find work and contribute positively to their society and economy. With a growing number of young people leaving the education system early, Romania’s societal and economic progress faces increasing challenges. Another factor affecting Romania is that, unlike other EU nations, many who leave the education system early are women. Given the prevalence of the gender wage gap throughout the world, Romania experiences even greater economic inequities when fewer women complete higher education.

Although the Romanian economy has rebounded since the COVID-19 outbreak, Romania struggled to provide online education, and the pandemic especially caused tremors that still affect the country’s struggling education system. There is a strong correlation between inadequate education and high rates of unemployment. Jobs requiring fewer skills and experience lead to decreased overall wages, working conditions and job mobility for Romanians and minorities living in the country.

Discrepancies: Lack of Funding and Access

According to the International Trade Administration, a report from a Romanian Non-Governmental Organization notes that 38.1% of Romanian children face poverty, with nearly half of the country’s children struggling to access quality education and less able to pursue higher education in Romania. Additionally, only 0.15% of Romania’s GDP is reserved for research, with a slight expansion to 2% by 2024. Low funding rates negatively impact education and job opportunities for Romanians.

Poverty negatively impacts the Roma, an ethnic group of people from northern India who migrated to many European and other nations. Poverty among the Roma both stems from and results in a lack of education. According to the World Bank Group, 70% of the Roma experience poverty and high rates of illiteracy and reduced educational skills caused by the inadequate quality of and access to education. Segregation prevents the Roma from gaining the same level of education as their counterparts in Romania, according to Broken Chalk. Like other populations living in poverty, personal and familial conditions play a significant role in the ability to gain education or attend higher education. Education often becomes a lower priority in households struggling to meet basic needs. The outcome of an uneducated population, in cyclical poverty with no upward mobility, is dire for the Roma.

In addition to the Roma, other Romanians living in poverty struggle with affording education for their family members or themselves. Romania spends less money annually per university student compared to other developed nations, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with too little financial aid to enable students to afford education. The government’s underinvestment and the resulting lower quality of educational institutions make it less viable for students to achieve a positive gain when paying for an education.

Modernizing the System

Recent governmental policies seek to minimize the effects of poverty through renewed access to education for Romanians and the Roma. The government is allocating funds for educational improvements to target access and quality, as reported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Access to education remains the key concern, especially as Romania increases efforts to extend skills and work habits to minority and impoverished populations. Romanian efforts have specifically earmarked educating teachers on how to engage with students and foster a knowledge of real-world problems and events. These improvements are key to establishing a stronger education system for all citizens and especially promoting learning opportunities in younger generations.

New policies aimed at supporting agencies have been created to encourage Romanian populations to send their children to school with a positive outlook for their future via education. Romania created one such initiative, the Relevant Curriculum, Open Education for All – CRED, which allows the country to assess and directly change certain current policies to improve education, according to CRED. By analyzing its lower educational standards, the government can create a stronger foundation and path for its students to achieve higher education in Romania. A subsection of the CRED project is the Second Chance – ADS, where modern policies allow and give support to those who left education previously to return. By modernizing the Romanian education system, more individuals, including those in rural areas, can access quality education, enabling the population to become more informed and reducing the risk of cyclical poverty.

Progress and Hope via Education

Romania’s current efforts to enhance and improve educational policies and funding will lead to greater access to skilled jobs and a stronger economic outlook, and progress towards inclusive communities and eradicating poverty. New education policies increase professionalism and excellence through the foundational years of education, focusing on individuals’ well-being and well-roundedness and ensuring that students become stronger job applicants, according to the European Commission. By increasing funding and equity and enabling citizens to gain a strong education in the country, minimizing brain drain, the Romanian government will improve the entire country’s outlook. Through education, Romania will thrive and attract individuals from across the world, positively impacting its economy and society. National and international efforts may also increase the hope and positive outlook within Romania among its citizens, fostering hope for a future of equality and prosperity.

– Avery Kachmarsky

Avery is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About Hunger in Romania

Hunger in RomaniaOriginally under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, Romania was occupied by the Soviets after WWII, which was followed by the abdication of its king. It was ruled for decades by an oppressive dictator who was overthrown in 1989, and controlled by communists until 1996. Now, Romania is a member of NATO and the European Union. Its population of over 18 million is 55% urban and is fairly evenly distributed throughout the country. 

10 Facts About Hunger in Romania

  1. Poverty in Romania has decreased, but inequalities exist. The National Poverty Line rate in Romania was 21.1% in 2022, but the lower International Poverty Line rate was just 1.8% in 2021. However, the rural poverty rate was almost five times higher than the urban rate. Yet, in 2023, Romania had the EU’s highest rate (approximately a third) of its population at risk of poverty or social exclusion. 
  2. Hunger in Romania is low. The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) groups Romania with 22 countries (out of 127 countries ranked) that have a Low score (less than 5; the high is ≥50). All of the GHI’s component indicators for Romania are classified as Very Low. Less than 2.5% of the population is undernourished, 0.7% of children die before reaching their fifth birthday, and of children under 5, 8.1% are stunted and 3.1% are wasted. 
  3. Romania receives high marks on the Global Food Security Index. The overall score Romania received on the Global Food Security Index 2022 ranked Romania 45 out of the 113 countries assessed. Its strength was based on affordability (rank 36), availability (rank 50), quality and safety (rank 27). 
  4. Romania’s rural food insecurity is related to food availability. Research based on a sample of rural small farmers (published in 2024) concluded that perceived food insecurity was more a matter of the amount of necessary and appropriate food available domestically (food availability) than the resources to acquire that food (access). There was direct access to basic foods while there was a lack of diversity in crops available in the geographical area, and increased dependency on imported products. 
  5. Challenges to food security in Romania require a regional response. A study presented at the October 2024, 5th International Electronic Conference on Foods, suggested that food security solutions require collaborative efforts in the region (Romania and the neighboring countries of Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova). Recommendations for coordinated approaches to developing sustainable and resilient food systems identified agricultural diversification, infrastructure, food safety regulations and strategies for climate adaptation. 
  6. The war in Ukraine impacts Romania. Action Against Hunger reported that approximately 100,000 Ukrainian refugees are being integrated into Romania, with many considering staying there. Action Against Hunger initiated its program in Romania in 2022, helping almost 12,000 refugees and their host communities last year. The NGO provides monetary assistance for basic needs, in addition to mental health support—psychosocial and psychological services—to refugees. 
  7. Romania is a nation of small farmers. Romania’s agricultural land is estimated at 61% (2018), but only 39% (13.5 million hectares) is arable. Nevertheless, the highest percentage of people employed in agriculture in the EU are in Romania—23% of the labor force (3.5 million farmers)—and their farms comprise about a third of the EU’s agricultural holdings. A very large number of these farms (90%) have individual holdings on small plots of land.  
  8. Romania needs national agricultural policies. Despite the overall high 2022 GFSI ranking, Romania was 80th on the index’s assessment of sustainability and adaptation, most significantly because of ocean health, with oceans seen as a “crucial source” of protein. The country is also assessed in the middle range with regard to political commitment to adaptation, in large part because of the lack of a national climate change strategy covering adaptation for agriculture, and lack of a national policy/incentives for sustainable agricultural practices. 
  9. There is a need to improve the crisis response of Romania’s agricultural systems. A post-COVID-19 study identified the vulnerability of Romania’s agricultural systems, particularly its production systems. This was not unlike the situation in other countries. The agri-food sector supply chains were disrupted, adding to the pandemic restricted access to inputs, technologies, and labor, all of which increased global food insecurity. Conclusions of the study noted several ways to maintain food security during a crisis, including accelerating digitalization, investing in agricultural mechanization and innovation and, in general, maintaining a proactive relationship among agricultural actors in public institutions. 
  10. Romania’s CAP Strategic Plan (2023-2027) addresses agricultural sustainability. Romania has developed a plan to implement the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP). The goal of Romania’s CAP is to “develop a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector by increasing the economic viability of farms, reducing disparities between farms, and increasing the market orientation and competitiveness of the agricultural sector.” 

While Romania is not facing a hunger crisis, the country’s vulnerability to climate change demands attention to agricultural practices. It is not unreasonable to assume that developing sustainable agriculture will increase food security. Romania’s attention to agricultural innovation goes hand in hand with maintaining its continuing ability to feed its people. This includes the refugees it has welcomed into the country.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Pixabay

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3 Nonprofits Fighting the Effects of Romania’s Orphanage Crisis

Romania’s Orphanage CrisisNicolae Ceausescu was the Communist ruler of Romania from 1965 to 1989. During his time in power, he established radical policies meant to increase birth rates. This meant that many more children were born. However, because of the widespread poverty in Romania, parents could not afford to care for them and had no choice but to send them to state-run facilities. These orphanages were overfilled and left without funding. Hence, the conditions for the children were inhuman and little attention was given to their health or education. By the end of the 1900s, 10,000 Romanian children were living with AIDS and many more were malnourished or diseased. In addition, Romania’s orphanage crisis resulted in long-term issues for those who lived there.

The Bucharest Intervention Project launched a study that found institutionalized children took longer to learn language skills and struggled with executive functions such as memory, reasoning and problem-solving. Their IQs were lower than their peers and they progressively decreased as the children aged. After Ceausescu lost control over Romania and the reality of what was happening in orphanages was made public, many organizations began to reverse the damage done.

COTE Foundation

COTE is a nonprofit based in Iasi, Romania. Its mission is to help vulnerable youth achieve high levels of education, build a community of friends and prepare for the workforce. One of its projects, Together for Education, was implemented in 2014 and continues as of 2024. This program invests in children whose families can’t afford necessities and supports them financially throughout their high school years.

The Grigore Ureche school has 78 children who would not have been able to graduate without the support of COTE. Of these 78 kids, 50 have graduated from 8th grade, 46 have continued to high school and 20 are still receiving financial support during the 2024 school year. To break the cycle of poverty that children in Romania’s orphanage system face, education is a key component and COTE’s work is bringing the country closer to that goal.

Popa Soare

Popa Soare is an organization based in Romania’s capital, Bucharest. It aims to advocate for vulnerable groups, including Romania’s orphanage crisis victims. In 2024, one of Popa Soare’s biggest projects seeks to improve the living conditions of two families living in extreme poverty. The beneficiaries are a single mother facing severe health issues who is raising three children and a 45-year-old woman who cares for her grandchildren in a small, worn-down shelter.

Popa Soare will provide contractors and construction/repair work and provide these families with safe and comfortable living spaces. In the long term, it hopes to build a “social cafe” to provide an area where the community can meet and support one another.

Forgotten Faces

In 2008, a group of Romanian-American teenagers living in Seattle founded the nonprofit Forgotten Faces. Although they were born in the United States, their parents emigrated from Romania. These teens are passionate about addressing Romania’s orphanage crisis and giving back to their ancestral country. However, being based in the U.S. presents challenges in directly supporting disadvantaged children in Romania.

To overcome this, they organize fundraisers at their local church. In the past two years, they have raised $20,000. The funds have been used to provide children and their families with clothing, school supplies and other necessities. They have also funded high school students’ educational field trips and cultural immersion experiences.

– Sophia Manole

Sophia is based in Bellevue, WA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Tackling Poverty, Transforming Lives: Child Poverty in Romania

Child Poverty in RomaniaRomania is a high-income economy with a high human development ranking. However, almost half of the 4 million children living in the country are at risk of child poverty in Romania. To combat this issue, FARA, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) founded in the U.K., offers a variety of practical solutions to give a range of vulnerable groups the best start in life.

Child Poverty in Romania

According to UNICEF, during 2019-2021, 29% of Romanian children were living in relative income poverty, the highest of all member states of the EU. It also noted that Romania had the most cases of persistent child poverty, which amounted to 25% of all children. UNICEF explains that prolonged periods of poverty throughout childhood can exacerbate the disadvantages already created by poverty and provide particularly negative outcomes for children in the future.

One of the reasons for this particularly high rate of child poverty may be the limited impact of social protection benefits on the issue, according to UNICEF. Eurochild calls for investments in social infrastructure to address the needs of vulnerable children in Romania, especially those belonging to minority groups such as Roma.

FARA

FARA, which means “without” in Romanian, is an NGO focusing on breaking the cycle of poverty experienced by children in Romania. Jane Nicholson founded the organization in 1991 and was appalled to find out about the extreme cruelty inflicted within state-run orphanages during the dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu, FARA states on its website.

Since its founding, all of the services FARA provides continue to match her initial ethos that abandoned children should have access to quality education and live in places that resemble families, not institutions.

FARA believes that to break the cycle of poverty, children must complete their education. According to UNICEF via FARA, an extra year of school attendance could increase a child’s future income by 8% to 9% and reduce their risk of unemployment by 8%. FARA has identified key groups that currently face barriers to their education. These include children from poor families and communities such as Romani, vulnerable children and children with disabilities.

Tackling Poverty Through Education

Tackling Poverty Through Education is FARA’s flagship program which assists 300 children and their families in nursery and primary schools in rural communities across Northern Romania. To help children start and stay in school, FARA offers a free program that employs teachers, catering staff and social workers in schools across rural communities, according to its website.

As part of this program, FARA provides children from poor families with free school meals which both fuels them for a day of learning and encourages their parents to send them off to school. In addition to appropriate nutrition, the program also provides pastoral care and support to children and their families to strengthen family ties and prevent school dropouts. The organization hopes to expand beyond the 300 children it assists in the next decade.

FARA Family Homes

According to FARA, “Romania has one of the largest alternative care systems in the EU.” Figures from the Romanian Government and UNICEF show that over 56,000 children receive some form of support, with 18,000 living in foster care, 13,900 in kinship care and 18,500 in state-run institutions. According to UNICEF via FARA, for a child under the age of three, spending three months in an institution can delay their physical development by one month and may also pose a risk to their cognitive and language development.

As one of few NGOs providing an alternative to state care in Romania, FARA’s children’s homes are modeled on the principle of giving a “family for those without.” FARA’s current home, St Nicholas, which can accommodate 12 children and three students, provides a caring and loving environment for children over the age of three. The children get accommodation until their mid-20s to ensure that they receive support in their pursuit of further education and have the best chance of finding a future career. Over the years, more than 70 children have received support through FARA Family Homes, according to its website.

Therapy for Children with Disabilities

There are approximately 72,000 children registered as disabled in Romania, many of whom are unable to access mainstream education. Children with disabilities face negative attitudes, daily discrimination and costly health care, causing them to be one of the most marginalized groups in Romanian society. The combination of these barriers to success significantly endangers the development and life of disabled children and their families.

FARA offers a lifeline of support for isolated children and their families through their three therapy centers in Bucharest and Suceava District in the northeast of Romania. According to FARA, every week the centers support 228 children by providing them with physio, speech and sensory therapies for various disabilities. It also provides social support for their families, ensuring they can meet their children’s needs. In the last decade, 630 disabled children have accessed therapy in FARA centers, with 67% of those children going on to enroll in kindergartens and mainstream schools.

In addition to these three main groups, FARA also helps “youth at risk and adults with learning disabilities.”

A Brighter Future

Although child poverty remains a prevalent issue in communities across Romania, NGOs such as FARA are working hard to ensure that every child has the best chance at life. Hopefully, going forward, the government can improve the social infrastructure to create more effective welfare solutions to ensure every child receives the education and support they need, which could further help alleviate child poverty in Romania.

– Carla Messinger

Carla is based in Oxford, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Renewable Energy in Romania: A New Way To Fight Poverty

Renewable Energy in RomaniaRomania is a semi-presidential republic located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, with a population of more than 19 million citizens. Like many other developing countries, much of its population suffers from energy poverty, defined as a lack of access to modern energy services in homes that negatively impacts one’s physical health, mental well-being and living standards. Nevertheless, Romania has been steadily progressing toward the European Union’s (EU) goal of full electrification with the breakthrough of new renewable energy projects.

The Extent of Energy Poverty in Romania

Almost a third of the Romanian population (28%) is affected by energy poverty, experiencing difficulties paying their bills on time and being unable to heat their homes properly. Moreover, about 7% of all households have no access to affordable energy sources at all. This issue partially stems from economic struggles, including regional disparities, weak institutions and skilled labor shortages, resulting in severe inequality throughout the country.

According to the World Bank, Romania’s Gini index of equivalized disposable income reached 34.3 in 2020, the fourth highest in the EU. The bottom 40% of society is largely disconnected and lives in impoverished, rural areas, which limits their access to productive jobs. However, there is hope for the future as Romania’s poverty rate declined significantly from 27.8% in 2015 to 10.7% in 2020, with economic growth accelerating due to rising disposable incomes, increased private consumption and new EU-financed investments.

Clean Energy: Out With the Old, in With the New

Despite growing concerns, Romania’s solar and wind energy output has remained flat since 2014 due to a lack of funding. However, in March 2024, the European Commission approved funding for €3 billion (approximately $3.24 billion) under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework to support the construction of new solar photovoltaic facilities and onshore wind farms.

The fund will be split between installing three gigawatts of solar energy and two gigawatts of wind energy. One gigawatt of solar or wind energy can power approximately 750,000 homes per year, representing a significant step forward to supporting clean energy sectors and reducing fossil fuel dependencies.

These new solar and wind farms will also promote equality, as they will be built in remote rural areas with the highest rates of energy poverty. They will allow for decentralized power generation that will help stabilize and prevent future disruptions or blackouts. Opening up new solar and wind plants will also allow for new job opportunities, not only providing long-term benefits for energy usage but also regarding education and training.

Furthermore, compared to traditional fossil-fueled power plants, solar and wind farms require less continuous maintenance and simultaneously benefit the environment, so through this plan, more homes will have access to reliable, clean and affordable power without electricity and restore their heating systems. An expert from the Romanian Energy Poverty Observatory stated, “Energy is a basic need. The poorest consumers prefer to put less food on the table but not stay in the dark or cold.”

Thus, not only will this plan raise the standard of living within the communities, but Romania as a whole will experience both economic and societal benefits with an increase in productivity and the overall standard of living within all communities.

Big Plans for the Future

Looking ahead, the Social Climate Fund has initiated discussions about a €6 billion (about $6.48 billion) fund for Romania to continue supporting efforts to reduce its energy poverty rate to the national level, set to occur from 2026 to 2032. The fund has a diverse range of purposes, which include transitioning the rural community’s inefficient housing structure from thin panel-type building blocks and adopting new heating appliances rather than continuing to rely on a mix of wood, gas and coal.

Moreover, it will help vulnerable groups pay energy bills and access transportation services. This action, alongside other subsidized government programs, will allow Romania to have the needed support in combating increasing consumer costs and reaching its aim of raising the share of renewable energy consumption to 30.7% by 2030.

– Kewe Chen

Kewe is based in Memphis, TN, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Charities Operating in Romania

5 Charities Operating in RomaniaRomania, an Eastern European nation, has seen rapid economic growth since the 2000s, with a 3.8% annual GDP growth in 2024. However, before this surge, many Romanians faced poverty under Nicolae Ceaușescu’s Soviet regime from 1967 to 1989, following World War II. Ceaușescu banned abortion and contraceptives, claiming it would fuel economic growth. As a result, economic instability significantly affected childcare in the country. Consequently, many Romanian children ended up in state care or orphanages because their biological parents were unable to support them due to this policy. Currently, five charities are operating in Romania to ensure the well-being of every child, both in care and those living in impoverished families. Here are the five charities making significant impacts in Romania:

5 Charities Operating in Romania

  1. The Delia Foundation.  Founded in 2017, the Delia Foundation is a nonprofit organization named after Delia, an orphaned baby girl with significant limb limitations born in rural Romania. Laura Larkin, the foundation’s founder, encountered Delia while volunteering at a local orphanage. This experience motivated her to create the foundation to support children and orphans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Inspired by Delia’s story, the foundation dedicates itself to offering orphaned children the care and love they need, focusing on finding them the most suitable families.
  2. Care2Travel. Care2Travel, a volunteer organization, aims to inspire positive change by providing volunteers with memorable adventures in Romania, where they can help those in need. The organization’s vision is to create “a world where citizens are socially aware and motivated toward working for positive change.” In addition, Care2Travel strives to connect volunteers from different countries to promote the growth of an active civil society. It encourages collaboration across nationalities to make a tangible impact.
  3. Fundaƫia Inocenţi (Romanian Children’s Relief). Romanian Children’s Relief, a nonprofit organization, delivers tailored and professional support to children and their families. It believes “all children deserve a healthy and happy childhood” and works toward a future where no child’s potential is constrained by their background or disability. The organization aims for a society where parents, communities and authorities collaborate to support this ideal. Fundația Inocenți operates six programs in Romania, including socio-recreational activities, educational support, medical art therapy and psychoeducational resources.
  4. Te Aud Romania (TAR). Founded in 2014, Te Aud Romania (TAR) is a nongovernmental organization dedicated to supporting Romanian orphans and disadvantaged children. It provides educational tools and activities to keep them engaged and entertained. It has a particular focus on enhancing their communication skills. In addition, TAR uses sports to foster discipline, integrity, teamwork and honesty. This proves particularly beneficial for children who tend to isolate themselves. Moreover, by encouraging participation in sports, TAR helps these children open up, make new friends and promote their social and emotional development.
  5. Hope and Homes for Children. Since 1998, Hope and Homes for Children has dedicated itself to eliminating orphanages in Romania. The organization commits to building initiatives that reinforce family structures. This includes day centers, emergency reception centers, mother and baby units and community centers. It also develops alternative care options for children without parental support, such as foster care and small group homes. Through these efforts, Hope and Homes for Children have played a pivotal role in reforming the child protection system across Romania.

Looking Ahead

The efforts of these five charities operating in Romania signal a hopeful future for the country’s most vulnerable children. Through compassionate care, innovative programs and unwavering dedication, these organizations are not just addressing immediate needs but are also laying the groundwork for systemic change. Moreover, they continue to transform lives and challenge the status quo. Their collective impact promises to reshape Romania’s approach to childcare and family support, ensuring a brighter, more inclusive future for all children.

– Nevin Guler

Nevin is based in River Vale, NJ, USA and focuses on The Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr