Along with our guide to the roads of Romania, we have another special reason to be here. We found a special organization that cares for abandoned and neglected children in a loving and creative way. We wish to share with you a few details about this organization, Caminul Felix Family Villages in Oradea . The C.F. Villages provide more than 200 children with a home, loving parents and extended family. These special children of Romania were once abandoned and neglected – either in the care of state-run institutions or hospitals, or sometimes being without family, even on the streets.

And while Romania’s orphans and orphanages seem to be the sore thumb that always sticks out in Western media outlets (when they run out of other "spectacular" stories), there are plenty of positive and heart-warming real stories that do not quite make it in the headlines. As we spend time on the streets of Romania, the reality is similar to other places around the world, where a market economy does not find an equilibrium price for social needs. When the price of caring for orphans, oftentimes pushed by political interests, is too high, many a children go hungry, homeless, or in terrible conditions. Of course, many other countries create this ugly reality, but of course, the media have found other subjects to tag those places with, so Romania is, unfortunately, stuck with "orphanage disasters."

The organization started in 1990 with an apartment and a couple of children rescued from the local orphanage. Through the relentless work and compassionate care of its founders, house parents and volunteers, today, Caminul Felix has grown into two villages with 16 homes, a transitional home for teenagers leaving the adoptive family and moving into adulthood, and a non-profit commercial arm that provides food, clothing and training opportunities for children. There are dedicated couples who are living as integrated families with up to 16 children per family, and who provide a normal family life to kids who would, otherwise, be in an institution or on the streets. And to actually meet, talk and experience these children and their current realities in light of their early lives is most amazing. These children were abandoned by their parents, literally left on the doorsteps of orphanages and hospitals. They were kids without a chance, without a future. Yet, today, they smile, they dream, they communicate vividly about their life and their hopes and plans for tomorrow.

We spent this week for a few days in the company of one such family. The parents started at Caminul Felix in the early stages, back in 1992. Most of their children are now teenagers, facing realities common around the world—exams, summer vacation, favorite musicians, plans for college. They are bright, engaging, constantly eager to communicate, share and learn. As the house father smilingly says, "I hope you brought an open heart and your listening ears. The kids will keep you busy while you’re here..."

The house is alive with twin sisters who insist on staying close by and sharing jokes; boys who love cars and motorcycles, and girls who are mini-experts in everything from soccer to fashion. They are twelve beautiful children only wanting a listening ear or a hug, or help with homework, or a snack. But most importantly, they simply want to be loved. We thought we could understand the realities of these once abandoned and neglected children who have been adopted into loving families – but the experiences of the three days have changed our hearts in ways hard to express. Of course, we cannot forget their house parents, who have dedicated themselves to building a loving family while being committed to the day-to-day administrative operations of Caminul Felix. A very special ”thank you” to them for opening their hearts and home to us.

While I realize that today I don’t have an exciting road to write about, I hope you’ll take a few moments to visit their web site and learn more about a Romanian success story. It is a story of love, dedication, and commitment—one that is showing real results. Several generations of Caminul Felix children have successfully made the transition into adulthood, graduated college, and started their own families. All of those achievements being possible because someone cared enough to offer them a chance, a future. – BGR