Yet beneath these positive changes we saw, there are still many deep wounds that cannot be as easily healed. Homeless youth like Patrick, who have no opportunity to help themselves are forced to live on the streets. Dr. Valy and Geny Bosneac, directors of the Humanitas Pro-Deo orphanage in Otelu Rosu, Romania, shared their concerns with me about the many young people in their charge who will soon become young adults. By law, they are required to leave the orphanage as soon as they turn 18. After years of carefully nurturing them, the Bosneac's do not want to see these young people become the victims of street gangs and other criminal elements of society.
Unemployment is still a huge problem in Romania and throughout Eastern Europe.
Even young people with a good education and a stable family life are struggling to find jobs. Patrick and others like him, with no family to support them, with little education and a government that is powerless to help, have even fewer opportunities to establish themselves. Too old to remain at the orphanages and unable to find work, many of these young people are forced to live on the streets. Three years ago, I visited Hope Farm on the outskirts of Folt, a small village nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Transylvania mountains in Romania. This summer my heart was touched again with compassion for these helpless young people.