Frequently Asked Questions

How many children has Good Samaritan helped already?
We have helped already more than 50 young people. On average, there are between 20 and 30 youngsters enrolled in Good Samaritan programs every year.

What is the average age of the youth in the program?
The average age of the youth is 23 years.

What kinds of jobs do the youth get after leaving the program?
Youth who leave the Good Samaritan programs have secured jobs at bakeries, construction companies, sewing companies, shoe manufacturers and carpentry shops.

Where do the orphans come from?
Primarily the youths come from the state orphanage in Beius, Northwest Romania. Good Samaritan has also assisted youth from orphanages in Oradea, a larger town which is 60 kilometers from Beius.

Why are there so many orphans in Romania?
During the 1960s, the Communist government banned birth control and abortions and required women under 45 to have at least five children, all in an effort to populate the country's secret army. With the collapse of Communism and Romania's widespread poverty (today's average monthly wage for a family of four is $125), many people cannot afford to raise children. In addition, the rate of child abandonment is extremely high among the three million Romas (or gypsies) in Romania.

What are the biggest barriers for youth who have been in orphanages from being successful?
The barriers to success are many, including lack of family and support systems; communities and businesses that are often wary of accepting and hiring orphans; mental disabilities or behavior issues; and limited skills for interacting with other people, particularly in work situations. Moreover, many of the orphans in Good Samaritan come from gypsy families and encounter much prejudice when they try to integrate into society.

What is the education level of the youth?
Most often the youth from the orphanages complete eight grades (elementary school) plus one and a half years of vocational school, skilled as a painter, carpenter, electrician, etc. Very few are able to study in college. The majority of orphans know how to read, but few are able to do basic multiplying. On average, orphans from the state orphanage have an IQ between 70 and 90.

What can I do to help?
There are a number of ways you can help the Romanian orphans to have a better chance at life, including financial assistance for improving or expanding the current programs, sponsoring a youngster for a year, volunteering as a teacher for a short-term seminar, or simply praying for the youth and spreading the word about their needs.