At the end of the Second World War, the Communists took control of Romania and changed the way of life of hundreds of thousands of people who had previously followed agricultural traditions.  The monstrosities created by industrialisation destroyed the landscape and many thousands of people were brought into the towns to work in the mines and foundries. 

In 1989, when the Communists were ousted from power in Romania, the state-controlled industries collapsed and mass unemployment followed.  People found themselves without any means of earning a living and their circumstances deteriorated rapidly into extreme poverty.  

They were compelled to live in mud huts or rotting housing blocks, without water, gas or electricity.  There was little food and no health care.  Orphaned and abandoned children were forced to beg, steal or prostitute themselves in order to stay alive.

In the autumn of 1992, a friar named Csaba travelled to Déva in south Transylvania and broke down the doors of the derelict, long abandoned and desecrated monastery, previously closed down by the Communists.  Brother Csaba began working to rebuild the monastery.  However, local children started to come to him for help and soon he had taken in 15 starving, filthy, abandoned youngsters and made a home for them in the cloisters.

As social conditions in the country deteriorated, the number of children seeking help increased rapidly and soon there was no more room in the monastery.  With the help of three of his Franciscan brothers and some supporters, Brother Csaba began to buy up the flats in a block adjacent to the monastery buildings.  

Here they created homes for the children, with 10-12 youngsters living in each small flat under the care of a housemother.  The old cloister buildings were converted into a school, which continues to provide a high standard of education for the children at Déva. 

When the young people who had grown up in the care of Brother Csaba were first eligible for university entrance, 14 out of 15 students were accepted.  In addition, young people who are not academically inclined, are given training in the Foundation’s joinery workshop which makes the furniture for the children’s homes (tables, benches and bunk beds), and are helped to find employment when they leave.

As more money became available, Brother Csaba and his supporters bought up old houses in other parts of Transylvania and converted them into children’s homes.  Some homes have been purpose-built.  One of these, the home at Szovata, opened in September, 2005, has accommodation for 100 children. 

The Foundation now has 13 homes and cares for approximately 800 children.  All children receive totally free care, including education and upbringing, in a warm, family-like atmosphere and Christian spirit.  Initially there was no help from the state but, since 1998, state support of 15 Euros per month is paid for each child who comes from the county of Hunedoara – about 130 children.  All other children are supported entirely by voluntary contributions.

Hilary Parker