Weekly update 11/22

The war unleashed by Putin is making increasing numbers of victims and causing unprecedented human suffering. Our support centers and the people in Romania are increasingly confronted with this new reality.

Our foundation has been providing assistance for thirty years, especially to the poorest part of the population in Romania. We have five different distribution points there from which aid reaches all capillaries of society.

During a short visit together with Nico Groot and Henk van den Heerik I was able to see and experience with my own eyes the incredibly bad conditions under which many people live. On top of that, the flow of refugees does not make it any easier.

On Wednesday we were at the farm in Marghita, a wonderful company with the aim of creating employment. In addition, to act as a source of aid. The social purpose of this wonderful company is increasingly apparent, the intention is to expand this even further.

Attila and his team of around 25 employees are always faced with new challenges. Not only the normal risks such as periods that are too wet or too dry and uncertain pricing of the products have been added. The price of fertilizer, for example, is four times higher, wages have risen sharply and people's purchasing power has decreased despite the wage increases, which is not good for sales. We have had good conversations with the people in charge of the work on the farm. Borsi Attila is the manager there, he has been doing this for many years to full satisfaction, you cannot expect more involvement and commitment. Ferenc is the second man there, also someone with knowledge and a lot of commitment. Beni is responsible for the greenhouses. Under the current circumstances, he will make an extra effort to achieve good results.

During our meeting, a truck came from Breaza to collect potatoes and vegetables to distribute to the poor people there. Almost at the same time, a truck loaded with new duvets from Manchester unloaded at the farm. We immediately gave a part for Breaza and the surrounding area. We got the duvets through the HRIF foundation from Weesp.

In Getz it is nice to see that after-school care has resumed its normal rhythm. As in many places, the problems in the neighborhood where Roma live are great. Paul and his team are looking for a more structural solution for this. After-school care has resulted in significant improvements in the education of the children there. On the road to adulthood, however, more is needed to later acquire a good position in society.

On Thursday, Paul left the farm full of "our" stuff from the farm to a border crossing between Hungary and the Ukraine. Together with others, they entered this country in a convoy with relief supplies.

Here is the link to photos of the farm.

Here the link to pictures of the transport from the farm to the Ukraine.

Friday we visited Toth Attila in Peris from Breaza, the first children now live there, they end up there through child protection. There are more and more children whose home situation makes it impossible to stay there and where child protection has to intervene. A life-size problem, it's great that Toth Attila has managed to get his beautiful reception location to work after all these years. A number of women and children from Ukraine now also temporarily live there, who had fled the war. They were helping in the store with second hand goods, they didn't like sitting still but wanted to do something.… Too bad the language problem makes it so difficult to get in touch with them. Google translate is working overtime.

We then visited the district of Glodeni, where many Roma live. Toth Attila helps with after-school care, build houses for the worst cases and assist the people. There are many and the living conditions there are downright bad. It is difficult to see how the many children live and live there. A structural solution must come from the government, but that hardly ever gets off the ground.

Then we went to Toth Attila's farm in the hills near a forest. A beautiful location to grow wool hair pigs. The idea of being able to pay part of the costs of the orphanage with the proceeds seems special.

The next stop was at Alejandro and Rozanne in Tirgu Mures where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.

Together with Alejandro we then visited the village of Band. Henk Muller is working with the local pastor Marin Poczo to help the people from the Roma neighborhood there. The reception was wonderful in the local church. Children, led by Henk, sang a number of songs with his guitar very enthusiastically. 

Alejandro wants to take up the challenge together with Henk Muller, Marin Poczo and a team of Youth with a Mission. Children's work, improvements in living conditions, education, plenty to do. It would be great if this works.

You see things that you really wouldn't think possible, the cemetery of these Romas, for example, has no fence, children run over the graves.

The house of an enormous family rich in children has been burned, the mother has left some time ago and the father has passed away. The community is now building a house for them.

These were very briefly our experiences. Seeing all these things brings up emotions that give inspiration and strength to continue this meaningful work.

Here is the link to photos.

Just before our departure on Tuesday, I went quickly to the storage in Broek op Langedijk where two trucks were loaded with very useful relief supplies. The team of volunteers from the Promotion Foundation continued to work hard and it was finished in the course of the afternoon. The first truck has already been unloaded in Botsani, the second has been delayed due to engine trouble in Germany and will be unloaded on Monday.

Here is the link to loading the first truck.

Here the link to pictures of the loading of the 2nd truck.

The destination, Cristi in Botosani, can handle large quantities. The Promotion Foundation is the main supplier of the relief goods, but aid also comes from Denmark and Austria, as well as from local shops and companies. A group from Denmark that generously contributes to the new construction of Casa Ioana also came with a van of relief supplies. On the way back they take refugees to Denmark.

To get an idea of the number of refugees coming in, watch the video between the photos below.

Last Saturday afternoon Cristi was also seen on Dutch TV in a broadcast of the EO. Nowadays, looking back is possible in different ways.

Here the link with explanation to photos from Botosani.

Regina from Ticau has continued to provide assistance in the normal way. Important work, I wrote it before, especially at this time of year it is difficult.

Here is the link to photos.

Henk Muller is and remains active, he is a special person who does a lot for his fellow man, he is right in the middle.

Here is the link to photos.

Another series of special people.

Then all the action of the Promotion Foundation last week in the Netherlands, unfortunately it will not be completely complete.

The JCI Heerhugowaard has become a sponsor of a transport to Romania!

Very soon we will have a visit from someone from this association.

At the initiative of Piet Dijkstra, a successful food collection campaign was held at Aldi in Noord Scharwoude. Piet mainly did the performance together with volunteers from Dorcas (!), which was great of course. The yield is 60 crates of 25 kg of food each.

Jan Valk and the members of the motor club Promotion are not sitting still, a lot of food has been collected, I dare not mention numbers, but they are hundreds of kilos. Some also give money with the order to Jan, you buy it. Members of the motorcycle club from Westzaan have moved the local Reformed Church to hold a collection for our activities. This goes even further, several municipalities in the Zaan region will also do this. A befriended motorcycle club from Akersloot has collected a considerable amount and is going to do some shopping at the Sligro.

Former colleagues of mine at Rabobank don't sit still either; we can pick up potatoes and other products as well.

Verkade Zaandam generously hands out cake to organizations that provide aid to the population in Ukraine. We were able to share this with the people who bring it from Poland to Ukraine. Willem Twijnstra knows these people well, Thursday a truck came to load it to take it to Poland.

Here is the link to photos.

A volunteer of the Promotion Foundation lives in Den Helder knows how to inspire all kinds of people to give. Den Helder is doing well!

A reporter from Rodi Media will visit on Monday. Local attention will then be paid to our work.

Monday we can pick up three pallets of baby food at Budget Food in Middenmeer.

At the Han Fortman college we can collect hundreds of hygiene packages on Monday as a result of a spontaneous fundraising campaign.

Two trucks will be loaded in Broek op Langedijk next week. It is not yet clear when exactly.

This is the best possible description of the events we came into contact with over the past week. It won't be quite complete.

The 4.200 packages that we are going to make due to the Easter celebrations go to the same audience as always. The poorest part of the population in Romania. The organization is in full swing, the packing days are March 31 and April 1.