Samantha Kassir is our Philanthropy and Partnerships Development Manager. She travelled to Romania with our Director of Programmes to witness firsthand the impact of Hope and Homes Romania‘s work with families and communities.
“Following a smooth flight and a scenic, if rather winding, drive through the stunning Carpathian Mountains, we arrived in the Transylvanian city of Baia Mare. Known for its mining history, it is also home to HHC Romania’s headquarters.
On our first morning, we were taken to see the abandoned Pokol House. Once the grand home of Baia Mare’s leading industrialist, it was appropriated by the communist government in 1965 and later operated as an orphanage until its closure by HHC Romania in 2002. As a student in the 1990s, more focused on parties and finals, I hadn’t fully grasped the severity of the Romanian orphanages scandal as it unfolded on the world’s TV screens. Standing there, confronted by the reality of these imposing, dungeon-like buildings, the horrors of what happened inside these institutions now felt real. Children were stripped of their individuality and left to endure neglect and violence, inflicted not only by the adults responsible for them, but often by older children as well.
Only then did I really begin to appreciate the urgency and scale of our work globally, at Hope and Home for Children.
Over the next few days, both in Baia Mare and later in Bucharest, we visited several families supported through HHC Romania’s prevention work. One that particularly stood out, was a grandmother caring for her three grandchildren aged 7, 8 and 9 after their parents chose to leave the country to live and work abroad, separately. Had it not been for HHC’s support: guiding her through gruelling court visits to secure official family placement, covering rent and providing food, clothing, shoes and medical assistance, it would not be hard to imagine a different outcome for this family. Without that help, those children would almost certainly have entered the protection system.
Thankfully, a year later the court officially transferred parental rights to the grandmother, confirming the children’s placement with her and ending the constant fear of separation. This family’s story moved me deeply and is a shining example of how Hope and Homes for Children stepped in at a critical moment, making all the difference.
We also visited some family-style group homes – each caring for between 9 and 12 young people, mostly teenagers, some with disabilities and special needs. I was unsure what to expect. While we remain committed to ensuring every child is brought Back To Family, in some cases – when all alternatives have been exhausted – young people are placed into one of these homes.
What I encountered here were homes filled with warmth and affection, led by house parents who are clearly loved and respected by their wards. As a mother of young adults myself, I felt an immediate connection. The teenagers were curious and full of questions – from whether we’d met the Queen to what food is eaten in the UK and how many children we each had. We were proudly shown medals, paintings and handbags, and talked football teams – Steaua Bucharest, of course, though it seems Arsenal and Liverpool are also rather popular!
Above all, these are safe, loving homes, where young people are supported to grow, explore who they are, and dream about their futures. Like my own children, they have ambitions and the team at Hope and Homes for Children Romania is undoubtedly helping them to achieve them.
The highlight of our week was attending the inauguration of a family-type home in Bucharest, Sector 5. The home will provide care for nine children and young people with special needs and marks the closure of the last institution in the sector – a testament to the tireless work of the HHC team in Bucharest. With the invaluable support of celebrity ambassadors and local politicians they have created a beautiful, welcoming home, complete with framed photos of the children, a decorated Christmas tree and piles of presents, gifted by the Romanian rowing team.
The children’s joy was unmistakable as they opened their gifts and claimed items of their own – from soft toys and school supplies to fashionable clothing and even a beard trimmer for one of the boys. Seeing gifts so like those I have given my own children over the years was deeply moving and a privilege to witness.
I am still processing everything I experienced last week. Romania is a special country, with warm, welcoming people, excellent food and a deeply troubled history. The brutality of Ceausescu’s communist regime left a legacy of trauma, poverty, fear, and tens of thousands of children growing up without families.
Yet Romania has been rebuilding. The progress made in reforming the child-protection system over the past two decades is remarkable. Since 1998, when more than 100,000 children were living in infamous institutions like Pokol House, or worse, HHC Romania has worked relentlessly to end institutional care. Today, around 500 children remain in 22 institutions: a reduction of more than 99%.
We are working alongside the Romanian Government to close all the remaining orphanages in 2026, and to ensure that families at risk of separation receive the support they need to stay together. I have no doubt that we will succeed.
It was both a privilege and a joy to visit our team in Romania and I sincerely hope to return one day.”
Samantha Kassir
