Exciting news!

A new After School Club launches in Romania.

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"We love it here because the people don't yell at us. They're nice and they care about what we think."

Mission Without Borders (MWB) has partnered with the Baptist church in Simleu Silvaniei –a small town in the north-west of Romania – to start up a new after school club. It provideseducational support to children who are living in poverty and facing challenging situations at home. Many of these children are at risk of giving up on school as they don’t receive much support at home, and the teaching style at school can be harsh. The school system in Romania is still influenced by the Communist era, when belittling and shouting at the children was the norm. Although this dictatorial style is now prohibited, some teachers still follow the old ways, especially when it comes to children from rough backgrounds who struggle to keep up with the routine and requirements.

The children at this after school club speak Hungarian and are taught at a Hungarian school, although they also learn Romanian at school. Simleu was allocated to Hungary between 1940 and 1944 through the Second Vienna Award and today a significant number of the population are of Hungarian origin. 

Meet Miranda

Ten-year-old Miranda is from a Hungarian family living in poverty and she loves the supportive, warm environment of the after-school club. She seems shy and unassuming, but her quiet confidence intrigues the other children at the club. As soon as she sits down at her desk, a few other children gather around her, watching her and trying to copy her. Miranda quickly takes out her books and starts on her homework, and the others do the same. 

Geanina, Miranda’s mother, said, “At the moment our family is going through a hard time as both my husband and I don’t have a job. Our only income is the girls’ state allowances.

“We live with my father-in-law in a three-roomed apartment. He’s on dialysis and needs help. We don’t get along very well with him, but we’re doing our best not to upset him, as the apartment is his and he can kick us out whenever he wants. We have nowhere else to go.”

The weight of her family’s challenges presses on Miranda too. Her father is doing well now, but for a while he had a drinking problem, which distressed her very much. Miranda said, “My mother left school after the seventh grade and she doesn’t work, nor does my father. My dad used to work for the water company but not anymore.

“I have two siblings: an older brother who’s 21 and who still lives with us. I don’t know if he wants to continue his education, and he doesn’t work. I also have a younger sister, who’s six.”

Despite the lack of role models in her family, Miranda loves learning and is diligent and hardworking. “I love writing, reading and maths,” she said.

Miranda really looks up to Maria, the after school club coordinator, and loves having a calm, peaceful place where she can focus on her homework, write, and read her Bible. Maths is her favourite subject and she dreams of becoming a Maths teacher when she’s grown up. In her free time, she enjoys playing school with the children in the neighbourhood. She also likes hide and seek, catch, and football.

While her mother may not be educated herself, she is very happy that Miranda is receiving the support she needs.

Geanina said, “I always ask about Miranda’s progress both at school and at the after school

club. I’m very proud of how well she does and of how she behaves. I remember when my father died, I said that Miranda could stay at home for a couple of days to process everything that happened, but she chose to go to school instead, saying that there she can learn and forget about things. 

“I know she has great potential. She is only in the third grade, but often I’ll ask her about calculation, for example, as she’s already much better than me.”

Maria, MWB’s after school coordinator, said, “Miranda is amazing. I’m sure she can become anything she puts her mind on. Ever since she started coming to after school club, she’s demonstrated a strong desire to excel in everything she does. She goes every day, even if her friends don’t. She simply loves school. When she doesn’t have homework, which is very seldom, she takes a book and reads and writes in Romanian, so she can improve. Miranda studies in Hungarian at school. 


“At MWB, we're dedicated to helping children like Miranda and others through the After School Club, which is a blessing to many families and a great investment into future generations!" 

 

"And even though her mother doesn’t understand much about the school system, she’s very responsible when it comes to Miranda’s studies and she’s happy to know that Miranda is going to after school club.”

And in the meantime, Miranda’s whole family began attending the local church a few months ago, as a result of MWB’s support. This makes Miranda very happy.

Geanina said, “Having Miranda at the after school club is a great help for our family. I feel at peace knowing she’s here and she’s safe. My husband is very pleased as well and Miranda is so happy that she can come.”

Miranda added, “Thank you for helping me do my homework and for this nice place to come to. Doing it at home by myself would be very difficult as my parents aren’t able to help me with it.”

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