When Andrei smiles, he smiles with his whole being. His big, dark eyes sparkle with joy, reminding us to look at our own life with gratitude.
He plays hosting a podcast, and his childlike voice lights up the apartment he shares with Lucia, his foster mother, and her husband. Yet, his life has been vastly different from the lyrics he sings with unmatched enthusiasm: "Childhood is like paradise, a world of miracles and dreams."
Andrei has autism spectrum disorder and hyperkinesia; he endured great hardships during his early years, a time marked by instability and insecurity. When he came into Lucia’s foster care at age four, he could barely utter a few syllables and words. Thanks to therapies and different services, as well as Lucia’s tremendous effort, the boy—now 9—has made remarkable progress. Today, he has a well-developed vocabulary, reads well, and can hold conversations in English.
“He has a way of bonding very easily. He is very intelligent and affectionate; everyone loves him wherever we go. He has a way of bonding very easily," Lucia says.
The foster mother’s dedication has changed the little boy's life, as the challenges stemming from his diagnoses are a moment-to-moment presence.
Over the course of ten years as a foster parent, Lucia has brought hope and the chance for a better life to seven other children. All of them were eventually adopted. Most were infants when they first came into her care. Andrei stayed with her family the longest.
"Parting ways with the children is hard. We get attached to them; we live with them and care for them around the clock. We miss them—we pour our hearts into it. We form a bond with every child," says Lucia, while also sharing the joy she feels when the adopted children "make progress, go to school, and have a secure future."
Less chances to get foster care for children with severe disabilities
©UNICEF/Adrian Câtu - 0L6A8585
Children with severe disabilities living in residential care centers have fewer chances of being placed in foster care.
Caring for them involves participating in therapies as well as habilitation and rehabilitation services, which sometimes require extraordinary effort.
UNICEF works with partners to ensure that more children who need protection—including those with severe disabilities—can grow up in a family environment provided through foster care. Beyond specialized therapies, children need love and stability to thrive—which a family environment offers best.
A foster parent can change the life of children who need protection.
Help Andrei and other children experience the warmth of a family.
Activate a monthly donation now. Month after month, your contribution helps vulnerable children enjoy a better childhood.
Donate now. Thank you.
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Why donate monthly?
Impact: You are helping children every day not just once.
Cost reduction: Your monthly gift enables us to plan effectively and reduce costs.
Rapid response: You help us act quickly and effectively when humanitarian emergencies arise.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund, working to protect and promote the rights of every child, everywhere. We work to help the most vulnerable with health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more.
Thanks to support from donors like you, we have been able to make a difference for children in need, to save, nurture, and protect the most vulnerable. We are active in over 190 countries and territories and have helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization.
You can choose to securely make a one-time or monthly donation online, by clicking the Donation button.
To contribute to a fundamental change in the lives of vulnerable children, the longer you choose to get involved, the more powerful your donation will be.
Vulnerable children’s lives can be improved with your constant support. By donating, you become an active part of the solution and of the change process.
The money raised is used where it is needed for vulnerable children. For example, to provide free access to specialized services for vulnerable children in Romania or offer a rapid and effective response to children affected by wars and natural disasters.
UNICEF asks for monthly contributions to help us provide sustainable long-term solutions to help children around the world.
Please note that the stories of children and price point descriptions mentioned (if any) are to illustrate activities and the impact your donation can make on the lives of vulnerable children from Romania and around the world. UNICEF, based on the needs on the ground, will allocate resources to areas that need funds the most.
A monthly gift is a recurring gift amount that you choose to send each month, and it is even more impactful because you're helping children every single day.
Your monthly gift will also enable us to plan effectively in our upcoming work, reduce costs and most importantly, reach even more children in need. The support and generosity of monthly donors contribute significantly to UNICEF efforts to help vulnerable children.
We will be sending you regular updates about UNICEF’s work for children in Romania and around the world.
Don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist you.
Donating online through the website is just as safe as any other online payment. UNICEF does not have access to your bank card details as that information is secured and protected by the payment processor. UNICEF has access only to the contact details you provide in the donation form: name, surname, e-mail and phone number.