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| Project Amos is Shelter of Care's latest exciting project in Iasi, representing a significant step forward in our mission to bring hope to Romania's abandoned children. |
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The prophet Amos spoke out fearlessly against those in society who exploited or ignored the needy. He called on all believers to work against society's injustices, and to help the less fortunate. His name means 'bearer of burdens'.
Through Project Amos, Shelter of Care is building on years of experience to provide abandoned and institutionalized young people with targeted life skills training, advocacy and advice services, and opportunities for Christian counseling.
For the first time, we are working out of a dedicated office base in the city of Iasi, overcoming the increasing difficulties of gaining access to young people in institutions and foster placements.
Opened officially on 9th February 2008, Project Amos is already making a difference in the lives of abandoned young people. |
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Our office base is situated in the north-west of the city, in the lower floor of a three-storey property. We have three, large working rooms, and a kitchen, as well as plenty of storage. To the side of the building is a large terrace area with superb views over the city, which will be perfect for outdoor activities with young people in the summer months.
Our attention was first drawn to this property when a friend told us that he was giving up his lease on the middle floor office suite. It was perfect for our needs, and within our budget, but when we contacted the landlord, we found that the property was already let.
It was weeks later, when, after a lot of prayer, we found a likely property in the local newspaper. Only after following the estate agent across town did we realise that this was in the very same building that our friend had recommended.
If possible the bottom floor suite is even more perfect for our needs, with direct access from the street, and easy access to the terrace. We believe that this is the building that God chose for us. |
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A light on a hill . . .
With its hillside location, Project Amos's office has an unspoilt view across the city which we will be serving. It's a wonderful place to pray, and be envisioned. |
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| Children who are raised in families receive a wealth of learning experiences as part of their upbringing, which are often taken for granted. They will watch and help as their parents cook, clean and maintain the home; they will accompany them shopping for food and clothing; they might learn about handling their own money through receiving a weekly allowance; they will learn valuable lessons about managing relationships as they interact with their parents, siblings and extended family. |
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Children who are raised in institutions miss out on many of these vital life experiences. We have worked with young people who have never seen a meal being cooked, who have never been shopping for food and who have no idea how to manage the most basic home maintenance tasks.
Setting up your first home is a challenging prospect for any young person, and even more so for an 18 year-old who hasn't had the advantage of growing up in a family home, and who now has nobody to call when something goes wrong. Managing finances is particularly difficult. Inexperienced young people will sometimes spend most of their first paycheck on an expensive gadget, like a cellphone, only to be forced to pawn it later for a fraction of its value, to get money for food and utility bills.
| At Project Amos, we provide a series of free life-skills training courses for groups of young people nearing the end of their time in the care of the state. Our courses are tailored to the needs of the young people with whom we have had years of experience. Each course lasts from 6-10 weeks, and participants receive a certificate upon completion of the course. |
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Elena (not her real name) had recently set up home with her sister in an apartment provided for them through Shelter of Care. She was delighted when, after weeks of searching, she finally found a suitable job, but after just one week, her employer called her into his office and told her that she was no longer required. He sent her away without even giving her the paycheck for the week that she had worked.
Sadly, this story is not unusual. Young people who have been raised by the state are routinely discriminated against. When preparing for transition to independent living, they often find that employers won't even consider job applications that give an institution or project apartment as the home address.
Our young people are naive in business matters. When it comes to negotiating a rental agreement, they are vulnerable and easily deceived by unscrupulous landlords. In these situations, young people need an adult to stand with them. Shelter of Care is committed to providing practical support to young people before, during and after transition to independent living, through the resources of Project Amos.
Project Amos provides transitioning young people with: |
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Many of the children we work with have experienced traumatic events in their early childhoods, such as abuse, neglect, bereavement and grinding poverty. Each one of them has suffered the rejection of abandonment, and separation from their families.
It is common for young people to have clear memories of being brought to an institution or hospital one day and then simply left there. Some of our young people are in touch with their families and have to live with the fact that they were abandoned while siblings are still living at home. These experiences distort and damage every aspect of normal childhood development.
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Even for children who have adapted well to life in an institution, or who have found successful foster placements, the effects of their early experiences can last well into their adult lives. Most commonly, children and young people suffer from the symptoms of severe attachment disorder, making it difficult to form any meaningful relationships, which has implications for the rest of their lives. |
There are very few government-funded projects that offer any kind of counseling for abandoned young people, and none that offer Christian counseling. As Christians, we recognise that only in Jesus can any person find total acceptance and fulfilment. Using trained Christian counselors, we offer regular individual and group counseling to older teenagers and adults who were raised in state care.
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One of the biggest successes of Shelter of Care has been the way we have been able to form significant relationships with young people through the clubs and activities we have undertaken in the institutions where they live.
These relationships have been long-lasting - young people we met as children are now living fulfilled adult lives, and we are able to share with them as they work and live independently. Some are now married and with children of their own.
Project Amos is building on this successful foundation with a regular schedule of clubs, activity days and summer programs aimed at abandoned young people of all ages. through these programs, we are able to provide a range of enriching activities for young people who lack these experiences in their everyday lives.
Project Amos is providing worthwhile recreation experiences for children and young people:
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Our programs encourage young people to explore talents that may have gone undiscovered, and to develop co-operative relationships with adults and other children. Most importantly, we are developing new relationships with those who will later benefit from our transition programs and adult support strategies.
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At Shelter of Care, we have always welcomed the efforts of volunteers, working on our behalf in their home countries, or right here with us in Iasi.
With the opening of Project Amos, opportunities for volunteering with Shelter of Care have increased greatly.
Project Amos welcomes volunteers able to help with the following:
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If you are considering travelling to Romania to volunteer, either short or long-term, Project Amos can provide valuable volunteer opportunities. However, as we work with vulnerable young people, we adhere to a strict policy regarding those who will have direct contact with the young people.
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Please check out our Requirements for Volunteers before applying to become a volunteer.
Of course, we understand that not everyone is able to come to Romania in person, but there are many other ways that you can support the work we are doing here.
- You can donate money to Shelter of Care in a number of ways, including making a simple online payment. Click here for more information about donating money. At the moment, we are raising money to equip our premises with furniture and office equipment, so we welcome any donation you can make.
- You can pray for us regularly, keeping up-to-date through our Praises and Prayers webpage.
- You can sign up to receive our regular e-newsletter, Shelter of Care Update (email us, putting 'Newsletter' as the subject of your email), or read the newsletter online.
- You can download the latest pdf newsletter, and distribute it to your church, and among your family and friends.
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| Project Amos Photo Gallery |
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