March 15, 2007
Dear friends,
This month I want to share with you about an exciting project that has already begun. The attached letter was written by David Chronic and describes in detail the goals and reasons for establishing what we have come to call the “Job Creation Project.”
The exciting news is that in February 2007 we signed the pre-contract to purchase this plot of land and now we are seeking to raise the final $18,000 to make this dream a reality.
I already have the privilege of spending several hours each week learning tailoring skills from Audra (a talented seamstress) with our adolescent girls. We received a sewing machine over Christmas and another one is on the way due to arrive this week. Tailoring is just one aspect of the jobs we hope to create at our new location, just two blocks away from the drop-in center.
If God puts it on your heart to join with us financially in this endeavor, please designate gifts towards “Romania Ministry Fund: Job Creation.”(*see below)
As for me, I am doing well, enjoying the children each day and looking forward to our Easter celebration together on April 8th and then our staff retreat in the mountains April 23-28. Do keep us in prayer during our staff retreat with the chosen theme “Day-to-day Spirituality.”
Peace and grace to each one.
In Him,
Rachel
JOB CREATION PROJECT
Dear Friends and Co-laborers,
Some of you may have heard that the population of Romania is plummeting. In 1989 the population was about 23 million. Today it is around 20 million, and statisticians predict that the trend will continue until it reaches 16 million. The major reason for population decline is migration. Romanians are moving to Western Europe, America and Israel in order to find higher wages. Of course, Romanians accept much lower wages than their western counterparts, representing a benefit to employers and a threat to the labor market.
Romania was admitted into the European Union on January 1, 2007 and the situation of migrating labor has received much attention in the news. Much of Western Europe fears a great influx of Romanian workers and foresees the increased social costs of medical care and unemployment. Until Romania becomes a viable economy that offers fair wages, the west will continue to be inundated with Romanian workers.
But the brain-drain and labor-drain is not purely an economic problem; it is a child protection problem. In September 2006, the Romanian government announced that 24,000 children are currently abandoned by both parents who have left to work in the west. Many parents find jobs in Spain or Italy in order to provide more opportunities for their children. In actuality, the children are worse off than before. Instead of seeing the development of the next generation of Romanians, we are watching its breakdown.
In August 2006, we struggled to find a family to take in a 9-year-old boy and his 12-year-old sister. They were left without food and heating by their mother who found a job in Italy. This month another father left his wife and their two children to pick fruit in Spain. Although he is a talented and trained craftsman, he cannot find a job that pays a viable salary in Romania.
Although it may mean losing some of its cheap labor, the west must realize that it costs more to service immigrants than to help develop the local economies. And this is what we are working towards. Since 1997 we have been investing in neglected children and their disenfranchised families. We have helped them go back to school and stay in school. We have taught them health care, nutrition and child development. And we hope that these skills can be further transferred within the local community, but this will only happen when there is a healthy local economy.
Miu is one of the boys that we have helped come off the streets, go back to school, and acquire skills in construction and mechanics. Miu decided to become a Christian early on in our relationship and last year was baptized. But instead of using his skills and being a Christian witness in the local community, Miu has considered moving to Italy to find a better paying job. What can we do to help Miu, the parents with little or no income, and the growing children in our community to stay in Romania and continue to transform their communities?
Our response is to develop a job creation project with the following goals:
Community building
We aim to build up the local community by creating jobs where there is market demand and sustainable employment.
Fairness
We seek that each worker receives fair and viable wages in exchange for their quality work.
Participation
We seek to include the marginalized, encourage initiative, and assist through transparent legal and administrative support.
Discipleship
We aim at ongoing discipleship in the local community through teaching life-skills, stewardship, generosity, and the relationship between faith and work.
Recently, we located a piece of land near our Community Center on which we can build both workshops and a storefront. The cost of the land is 60,000 GBP. Once we buy the land, we will begin building workspace.
Some of the older boys in our program have already been trained in construction and carpentry. Our staff have training in web design, textiles, and accounting. We plan to create jobs in these fields.
Please pray with us as we establish this project, and please consider partnering with us as we continue to invest in the lives of our friends and families in Galati.
If you would like more information concerning this project, please let me know.
In His service,
david chronic
*Options for giving financially. 1) on-line at http://www.wordmadeflesh.com/support/ or
2) Fill it out and send in a response form (also available on-line), along with your check or money order to: WMF, P.O. Box 70, Omaha, NE 68101. Please make all checks payable to 'Word Made Flesh' and do not write anything in the memo portion of the check. The IRS does not allow us to give tax deductible receipts if a designation has been written in the memo portion of the check.