Since 2000, the Daniel Centre, near Cluj-Napoca in Romania, has offered a home to almost 100 abandoned young men who have spent their lives in state care. This project helps fill many of the social, emotional and educational gaps in their lives. 

 

Young people leaving state care often end up living on the streets.  Growing up, they receive very little education or training in life skills and struggle to find work and somewhere to live. 

 

At the Daniel Centre, where up to 10 young men can be accommodated at a time, we help them with basic life skills, emotional support, professional ethics training and through our partner organisations, work skills. This equips them for full-time employment or further education.

 

After a childhood in state care, the modified “therapeutic community” approach is used in the centre enabling the young men to integrate into society. This care, provided in a Christian environment, is an all new experience for them and they learn to cook, wash and iron their clothes, to keep their rooms clean and tidy and to help with jobs around the Centre. They then progress to semi- independent living in on-site apartments while learning to budget their money and take care of themselves. 
 
Those who have achieved independence still regard the Daniel Centre as home, knowing that there is always an open door. The Daniel Centre is a licensed social service.