Costin & Viorel

I'm leaving for Romania soon! Here's why....

During the first summer I spent in Romania (in 2001), I met two brothers at the foundation for street children whose story I will never forget.

Costin and Viorel were about 17 & 15 when I first met them. Costin immediately struck me as a big brother & role model to all the other foundation kids. His English was impressive, and his leadership skills were obvious. All of the boys looked up to him. He and Vio both had a brightness in their eyes that showed their kindness and strength of character.

Costin on the left, with younger boys, Robert and Mihai

Viorel (on the right) arm wrestling Lucian
After witnessing Costin & Viorel's cheerfulness, you might never guess what these boys have been through. Communism fell in Romania around the time Costin was 5 or 6 and Viorel was 3 or 4. Shortly thereafter, their father lost his job and began drinking--that's when he started physically abusing the boys and their mother. Both Costin and Vio remembered the day their mother attempted to get a divorce. Their father locked the family inside the house and threw a smoke bomb inside. Fortunately, they were able to escape that day, but avoiding the abuse and harassment from their father became impossible. That's when Costin decided to take his little brother and run away.

Costin and Vio spent the next several years living on the streets. They sought shelter in train stations in the summertime and spent their winters in the sewers. They would beg, steal, and dig through garbage for food. They even began huffing paint --a common, inexpensive drug used by street children to cope with hunger pangs.

When Costin was about 12 years old, he and Viorel met some kind people handing out sandwiches to the street children at the train station. They were later invited by these people to live at their foundation. They offered the boys shelter, food, clothing, an education, and the chance at a safe, happy adolescence surrounded by people who cared about them.

The foundation is where Costin and Viorel spent the rest of their childhood. They formed brotherly bonds with the other children and developed the skills necessary to become contributing members of society. Since Costin and Viorel were two of the first children to live at the foundation, they took it upon themselves to take care of and watch out for the younger kids.

Vio (left) with Gigi (hooded) making some newer additions to the foundation feel welcome

The summer I spent getting to know these boys and watching them interact with the others was the most memorable, inspiring summer of my life. Their friendliness and senses of humor made me smile and laugh regularly.

Vio had found this shirt one of the foundation girls made for me and decided to model it for us.

Costin (left) and Florin (right) help an edlerly woman cross the street (could these boys be any sweeter?!) Vio, me, Costin, and Vlad, hanging out at the foundation

I feel so fortunate that I was able to meet these boys and get to know the good people they had become, despite their circumstances. And that is thanks to the kind volunteers at the foundation who gave these boys the closest thing to family they could.

In 2006, Jed and I went back and were able to track down Costin. He and Viorel had reunited with their mother and sister. Vio now lives in Germany with them, while Costin and his girlfriend now live in his hometown of Bacau. He works in a kiosk in a local marketplace and last I heard, was excitedly expecting his first child.

Costin at his Kiosk

Costin and I at a coffee shop in Bacau (now that he's an adult, he has to look serious in pictures)
Reconnecting with Costin and seeing that he was independent and happy was a great experience. No doubt, it is thanks to the foundation that Costin and Viorel are well-adjusted, independent adults today.

Costin and Viorel's story is one of the reasons I want to offer Rebeca as much help as possible. The four boys she continues to care for have a chance at a future like Costin and Viorel's because of her willingness to take care of them. But, she needs help. If you'd like to contribute, you can make a donation by following the PayPal link in the upper right corner of my blog (if you're lost, check out my previous posts). And a HUGE thank you to the many people who have already contributed! Your donations will go a long way and will absolutely make a difference in the lives of Rebeca's children!

If you're not in a position to donate right now, maybe you can find another way to help someone else in need...even just by smiling or holding the door for a stranger. These boys know how to to show kindness, and I bet you do too.