you click on the pause button and then click to view each photo once you are ready.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They also raised 3,000 euros for our new angels with disabilities that recently became a part of our family, helping to make it possible for us to launch Operation Brighter Day. It helped us tremendously get this project off the ground. It’s absolutely amazing to see such devoted teenagers willing to give their time, money and effort towards making a small difference in the children's lives. They worked diligently for one week at HOA... cutting the grass,  painting the outside of the building, working with the daily care kids and playing with the disabled children. None of them wanted to go sightseeing or take even one day off.

 

 

... but we were given 17!!

 

 

 

 

The children range in age from 3 months – 12 years old. Their stories are too well known... either abandoned at birth due to their medical condition, abandoned later because of the cost of raising them or their parents are deceased.

As you can imagine, this is a very expensive and challenging venture. We accepted whatever help we could get from the local Child Protection which came in the form of some necessary employees for the new kids. Unfortunately, these new employees previously cared for the children when they were under the care of the state. They care very little about the children, and demonstrate little empathy. We are working diligently to change their mindset by integrating our nurses among the new ones and by demonstrating what a difference better food, toys, playtime and physical and occupational therapy can make in the lives of these little ones. 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

"Once upon a time there were two siblings, Ionela and George, who were extremely poor.

 

 

 

 

As you can see, it was all in a days work. Well... not exactly.

 

Operation Habitat was launched in July of 2008. We never quite raised the funds required to fulfill this dream. But House of Angels never gave up. Over the following months, HoA searched and negotiated... negotiated and searched... until finally, the right company turned up; one with a compassionate owner. Priced at 2,000 euros, the price was cut in half for the benefit of the Sandu family. So at 1,000 euros (approximately $1,500 usd), a deal was finally made. And we are hoping that current negotiations with the Gaesti Mayor will result in bringing electricity into the house, something this family has never known. Since the family does not have a stable income, this poses a problem but a simple light bulb and a heater through the night would be such nice icing on the cake! 

 

With no funds available to have the house transported or re-assembled, our wonderful Gelu (HoA administrator) and his wonderful friends recently disassembled the house and then transported it to the Sandu family to reassemble it there. Arriving late at night, time only allowed for unloading, so the family decided to keep watch over the logs by night to ensure they would not be stolen. 

 

The next morning the sun was shining on their labors. Gelu and friends spent the day putting the house back together, with the help of the family; Ionela and George refusing to eat or do anything, instead staying close by to help. Says Simona upon witnessing the event, "I noticed George's look like being far away in a dream, thinking probably that he will have a real room for the first time in his life. The contrast between the old house and the new one was just stunning. It seems like desperation vs hope, or dark vs light. It was a revival of life. The family was so happy and grateful." 

 

 

 

 

And... "they all lived happily ever after."

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning next month, we will have ten babies entrusted to us.

 

These babies have been either abandoned or orphaned.

 

Without us, they will have no "brighter day".

 

With us, the "brighter day" begins now.

 

 

in great need of financial support.

who specialize in treating children with special needs.

 

 

In a world filled with sadness and tragedy, what could be more important than being a part of healing the world? What could be more important and fulfilling than making it a better place? And if not us, then who? After all... "We are the world. We are the children. We are the ones who'll make a brighter day...". When contemplating your opportunity to make the world a better place, we hope you will give thoughtful consideration to our newest angels.

 

The task before us is a tremendous one...

... please help us spread the word regarding our needs...

     ... for the lives and future of these new little ones now rest in our hands.

 

 

If you would like to be a part of providing this brighter day for our ten new angels,

please click here to find out how.

 

 

 

 

"... It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me."
 

Some of Our Devoted Supporters

"Heal the world. Make it a better place." 

 

In light of our recent additions to House of Angels, we have decided to make YOU, our supporters, our angels of the month. We would not be here without you. Ionela, George, Catalina, Adrian and Georgiana would have no hot nutritious meals, nor would they have help with their homework or a place with electricity in which to do it. Mihai, would have made no progress at all when it comes to walking. He, along with Lili and Ionut, would have no opportunity to feel pride in what they are able to accomplish. And ten more abandoned or orphaned babies, with varying degrees of special needs, would have remained in state care with little attention paid to even their most basic needs, much less to their special needs.

 

Because of you, all of these children have had, continue to have and/or will have their most basic needs met, opportunity to grow and succeed, a positive loving environment in which to thrive and most importantly, love.

 

When contemplating your opportunity to make the world a better place, we hope you will continue to give thoughtful consideration to our angels. We are now, more than ever, in great need of financial support. And we are in great need of volunteers who specialize in treating children with special needs. 

 

We appreciate all of you, more than you know. Please help us spread the word regarding our needs. The task before us is a tremendous one, for the lives and future of these new little ones now rest in our hands.

 

 

 

 

 

One year ago we congratulated Simona on her new degree in Diplomacy. We stated how very proud we were of her and how we were eager to see what types of doors this would open for House of Angels. Well... it has opened BIG doors!  

 

It is official!!! In September, 2009 we will re-open our doors as an emmergency shelter for babies... this time for children with special needs. We mentioned to you in our last newsletter that the orphanage for the disabled next door recently asked us to take in some of their babies while their building was being refurbished. And then, by a strange twist of fate, the state requested that we keep the babies permanently.

 

So Simona has been busy using her diplomacy skills. She has used them well and has done a fabulous job negotiating with the state when it comes to the lives of these children. The state has finally verbally agreed to a partnership and plans to supply a couple of nurses and about 30 USD per month for each child.

 

The news gets even better as Simona will also be able to keep the After School program and the Physical Therapy center going!

 

So congratulations Simona, on a job well done! We can't wait to get to know our new angels!

 

Lori Scott, Executive Director of Little Miracles, Inc., has recently set up a new humanitarian blog! Little Miracles graciously handles all of our funds for House of Angels. But above and beyond that, Lori has personally donated time and again, above and beyond to help sustain HoA. We are forever indebted to her and what she has done for the House of Angels children.

 

Read about House of Angels and other the humanitarian projects of Little Miracles at http://dreamofachild.org/ .

 

Thank you Lori, for all you have done. We would not be here without you!

Romania is once again receiving pressure to re-open it's doors to international adoption. read more

 

Click here to read the letter from the US to Romania on this subject.

 

According to a google translated excerpt of this article, "the United Nations recommends Romania to re-authorized international adoptions. Under the management of National Authority for Protection of the Rights of the Child, quoted by France Presse, the institution received a document from the UN agency for children's rights, which recommended "the acceleration of national adoptions, sometimes considered" excessively long", and resume international adoptions... UN Committee recommends Romania in May to withdraw the existing moratorium in 2001 on Romanian adoptions of children by foreign couples. Moratorium is considered as a barrier to the application of the Hague Convention on child protection, and cooperation in international adoption."

  

A few changes have occured as Romanians based abroad will now qualify for adopting. read more

 

However, Prime Minister Emil Boc also recently granted the honorary office of High Representative for child protection and care to Emma Nicholson.  read more  If you'll remember, it was under the insistence of Nicholson that the EU initially required Romania to shut down international adoption.

 

So... the Battle continues... 

 

From a Romanian's perspective, Simona has this to say, "Here in Romania, people are still afraid to open up about international adoptions. It's a strange feeling that I have when trying to talk about that as the feeling I had during the Communism regime speaking about Ceausescu. The positive aspect though, is that the media has became more in favour of reopening international adoptions which was not the case in the past. They all presented the worst adoptions examples. It's like they woke up now and started seeing the truth."

 

 

We were recently visited by Thierry Lebon from France. His story is a prime example of the current Child Protection laws gone awry.

 

In March of 2001, the Lebon family decided to adopt a little boy from Romania and started the adoption procedures. However, in October of the same year, the new laws governing Romania's abandoned and orphaned children put an abrupt end to this adoption and dashed the hopes of both parents and child. As you can imagine, this was a tremendous blow for all involved.

 

But this family amazingly, has not wavered in its devotion to their would-be child. Where some may have given up hope, they have not. They come to Romania every year for the child's birthday, Easter or Christmas and spend several days with him and his foster family. Each visit includes a long explanation for the boy as to why he cannot be adopted and start a new life with his "papa and mama" in France. But of course, NO explanation will suffice. To him, no explanation justifies why he cannot. "I don't like the politicians anymore", says the now 9 year old boy. "They are mean and selfish people".

Simona expresses her admiration for this family saying, "It's so amazing and heart breaking to see a foreigner coming each year to the Romanian airport, renting a local car and driving hundreds of miles to be with his 'son' for a couple of days, bring him everything he needs and paying for his major medical problems. And all this effort without the authorities knowing since his visits were in their minds not in the superior interest of the child".

If you can believe it, this story recently took a turn for the worse when the Child Protection found out about the visits and decided to move the child to another foster family. "What a disaster!!" remarks Simona, "How can a bunch of people play with the life and mind of a 9 years old child. For the last 6 years, he only knows one foster family and his "family from France" and now, he will have to get used to a different family."
 
While in Romania last month, Thierry wrote a letter to the Governor trying desperately to convince them to leave the child in the same foster family and also trying to explain that his visits are harmless. Tragically, the child has resigned himself to the fact that he will never be adopted or go to France. BUT fortunately, he will always have "Papa Thierry" there for anything he needs.
 
Needless to say, once at HoA all that Lebon love was redirected to the HOA kids, who were extremely spoiled by him with homemade cakes and fuit salads. And each child received a personalized card for "Operation Lend-a-Hand ". Thank you Lebon family, for sharing your love!