Descrierea organizației

Caritas Alba Iulia in Romania is an NGO of public utility, founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alba Iulia.
At its beginnings the organization was mainly preoccupied in organizing the charitable help coming from abroad. Then a period of organizational consolidation came when structures where reorganized, regional centres where formed in order to help the needy. Meanwhile the main interest was in naming the concrete problems of the local communities, finding ways to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental institutions on local, regional and national level. Our organization is one important pioneer for the development of professional social services in Romania as well as one of the main providers in the Transylvanian region of the country.
Caritas Alba Iulia is member of Caritas Confederation Romania, the representative forum of the Romanian dioceses’ Caritas organizations. Caritas Confederation Romania is member of Caritas Europa (Bruxelles) and Caritas Internationalis (Rome).
In 2004 Caritas Alba Iulia gained the status of NGO of public utility, a distinction given to it by the government of Romania. In 2005 the services of the organization were accredited by the institutions of the state.
The organization has complex projects in the field of social assistance in 6 counties from the central region of Romania.

Mission and objectives:
The mission of Caritas Alba Iulia is to promote charity and social justice, while being rooted in the Christian faith and order of values.

Some of our services:
- Family Assistance - Within the Family Assistance program our goal is protecting the human life's most important relationship, the protection of the family with the values of Christianity. We accentuate health, the definition of parental roles, developing personal abilities, vision for the future. The program’s activities include: Camp for Disadvantaged Children, Support Groups, Activities for Communities, Activities for Education and Prevention, Caravan – Program for the Summer Vacation, Saint Barbara Counseling and Suport Centre Parents and Children, Petroşani, For Happier Families – for the protection of marriage and family.

- Programs for Children and Young People - In this program we are dealing with small children and youngsters living in familial environment or in its absence. The aim of our Day Care Centers is developing basic skills such as social skills, speaking, listening, sense of rhythm etc. Compared to this, children's homes exist to provide a family environment for disadvantaged children and young people, providing counselling and guidance, expanding educational skills. Related intitutions: Day Center for Early Development and Education; Family Home Centers, Teius and Stremţ; Maria Stein Day Care Center for Disadvantaged Children and Youth, Petrosani; Counselling Center for Disadvantaged Children and Youth, Alba Iulia
Programs for People with Disabilities - The aim is to help parents with a partial supervision of these disabled people, who in the meantime can also enriched with positive experiences during colorful activities, events, concerts, camps, handicrafts, cooking, gymnastics and other activities that make their life more complete.
Related insititutions/programs: Saint Augustine Day Care Center, Chance Program etc.

- Programs for Roma Integration - The roma community is a disadvantaged group from many points of view. Our roma friends need support in believing in their inner strength, in finding their identity and in finding their place in the local and regional communities, cultures. We experienced that some roma people want to break out of the poverty by learning and finding their place in the labour market. We find it an important task to help them in moving forward, supporting them in facing the difficulties.
Related instititions: Day Center for Children from Disadvantaged Background, Sf. Gheorghe; Support Center for an Independent Life; Vocational Guidance and Counselling Centers.

- UNITED NETWORKS – Integrated initiative for social inclusion of marginalized communities - The project aims to support the fight against social exclusion among children and youth within disadvantaged communities (including Roma communities) in Mureş, Harghita and Covasna counties, through developing the social infrastructure in the field of social inclusion.

- Elderly Care - We take care of elderly people who find it hard to bear loneliness, who need attention, security and a familial environment. To defeat loneliness, we offer a community for them where they can share stories, their everyday experiences. We find it important to accentuate that our clients are as valuable parts of the society as others. The time spent in the nursing homes or day care centers can bring joy and strength in their life. Related institutions: House of Providence Nursing Home, Saint Elisabeth Nursing Home, Saint Clara Nursing Home, Mother Theresa Day Center, Saint Lucas Nursing Home.