Starting from 2009, ADRA Romania runs the “ Emergency Reception Center for Victims of Domestic Violence - ADRA House” . The objective of this project is the social reintegration of victims of domestic violence through shelter, social counselling, psychological counselling, emergency medical care, food, and guidance to a lawyer. The lives of the beneficiaries housed in the centre were changed because they experienced a different way of life: without physical, verbal, economic, mental, sexual, and religious violence, based on spiritual values and cultivating healthy eating habits, exercise, training, and recreation.
The story of Ionel
Ionel, a 7-year-old boy, is a large-group student in kindergarten and arrived at the "Emergency Reception Center for Victims of Domestic Violence - ADRA House " with his mother and younger sister because of his father's violent behaviour. Ionel is the eldest child so, compared to his younger sister, he witnessed numerous disputes between his parents due to excessive alcohol consumption, gambling addiction, and lack of responsibility on the part of the father. When he arrived at ADRA House, the boy only ate pasta cooked with salt, made only a few sounds and answered "yes" and "no" questions. Lack of proper nutrition, neglect of parents and abusive family environment have managed to leave their mark on his development.
Immediately after arriving at ADRA House, the 7-year-old boy received support from all team members, who worked with the child for several months on the cognitive, emotional, and social side and managed to diversify his diet.
"Ionel is a very cute boy, intelligent, eager for attention and affection from those around him,” said Mariana Ros, ADRA Romania psychologist. “He has made great progress; he comes alone with the notebook into my office to show me what else he has written. He likes to be appreciated, he focuses on writing nicely, now he knows numbers and letters, and he can connect short sentences and when you think that a few months ago he only made a few sounds,” continued Ros. “I am happy with his results, although I know that continuous support is needed for the minor to be able to integrate into school in the fall. The mother and the two children had to leave home with [only the clothes on their backs], with important documents put in a garbage bag so that the aggressor would not realize that they would leave home. My satisfaction as a professional is that I am perceived as a person with good resources, support for souls so sorely tested by fate, and can do little to alleviate them,” concluded Ros. “I take my strength and energy every day to move forward, seeing how these beneficiaries find resources in them to overcome the difficult moments they had to live through.”
Nowadays, he is recovering from a tumultuous and careless childhood of his parents, making progress every day.
During the years 2009 - 2021, through the ADRA project " Emergency Reception Center for Victims of Domestic Violence - ADRA House " , which falls within the field of expertise "Fight against domestic violence" , over 3,552 victims of domestic violence were assisted—mothers and children—of whom 1,015 were hosted at the "Casa ADRA" .
More about ADRA Romania’s ADRA House
ADRA Romania is licensed for the social service "Emergency Reception Center for Victims of Domestic Violence - ADRA House" . The decision to grant the operating license was issued by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Protection, and the Elderly, following the evaluation of the submitted documentation and verification visits. The centre is licensed until December 30, 2025, in accordance with Law no. 197/2012 on quality assurance in the field of social services, with subsequent amendments.
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