We’re a UK founded in December 1989 and were intensely involved in many aspects of bringing relief to people in need – many of them survivors of Ceausescu’s appalling regime. Ceausescu and his wife ruled Romania for 24 years, from 1965 to 1989. The policies implemented brought austerity and suffering to the Romanian people through social engineering, rationing and corruption.

We were founded by leading Romanian exiles led by Ion Ratiu (1917-2000), distinguished Romanian diplomat, entrepreneur, publisher, writer and humanitarian. His life was devoted to the fight for democracy in Romania. “I will fight until my last drop of blood so you have the right not to agree with me!” (1990).

When Ceausescu’s regime collapsed, Ion Ratiu set up the charity where we’d become a major focal point of the UK’s generous aid response. We were soon involved in publicising the terrible plight of the children and adults in the orphanages and psychiatric hospitals following Ceausescu’s policies and rule.

We then played a significant part in coordinating the huge aid response to the Romanian orphans, transporting large quantities of emergency supplies and networking aid efforts to Romania.

However, we quickly saw the dangers of enthusiastic but unfocused aid and so led many of the more deliberate and organised aid groups on formative policies. Whilst donated toys and other materials were given with the best intentions, these were often broken and of little use to the orphans, as well as expensive to transport.

It was clear that following decades of oppression that more serious, long-term approaches were necessary. That is why we now help fund many long-term, community-based and national projects and campaigns helping the most vulnerable people of Romania for a more sustainable and prosperous future.