#11 Veritas

#11 Veritas

“Veritas” means truth.  This organization is based in Sighisoara.  In 1989 after the fall of Communism 7 students came from the U.S. to volunteer at an orphanage.  They wanted a Romanian study abroad program.  So Dorothy and 8 students from Eastern Nazareth College began one.  Dorothy never left.  In 1995, they moved the program to Sighisoara.  Dorothy hoped to find local Christians who would work with students.  They needed to find need.  What they found was poor begging children, abandoned children and elderly in hospitals.  In 1998 they purchased the family center.  Veritas was officially founded in 2001.  Their mission statement is, “Seeks to effect positive change in the lives of the people of Sighisoara through service to the community and to the people in need.”  They currently have 4 accredited services: children, elderly, people with special needs, domestic violence and a variety of educational services.  They have whats called, “Kids Club” for 7-13 year olds as well as a prek and teen program.  In Romania there is now a new form of child abandonment.  This is when the parents leave the country for work and do not leave adequate care for their children.  For support for the parents they offer counseling, home visits, parenting classes and group meetings.  While on the tour we got to see their soup kitchen and their day care room.  Many of my fellow students want to do their extended weeks here but the problem is that it is far from Cluj.  This organization seemed to have a strong Christian faith influence.