A Case Study in Poverty

Livia is very good at assessing local needs, because they vary a lot from town to towm, but also within a town. Despite the almost glitzy appearance of Radauti now compared to how it used to look, there is still plenty of local poverty. But knowing how the system works, what the real needs are, assessing family situations, has enabled Hannah to focus in on where their activities can be most effective.

In fact Romania still doesn’t do terribly well with its levels of child poverty, see the graph in the Stefanesti article.

Here is a case study from Horodnic, a village near Radauti, where Hannah help with day to day necessities but would also love to be able to transform this family’s unsanitary conditions. But these things don’t come cheap.

Family profile

Father, a security guard earning approx. £400 / month, kidney failure and will probably need dialysis in the near future

Mother, a shop worker on £300 / month

Eldest son, aged 22, cancer of the testis with probable secondaries. Has had chemo and doesn’t want any more. Medical treatment is free, but it was expensive for them having to travel frequently to Suceava Hospital. Unable to work, receives £60 / month assistance

Daughter, well and at University in Iasi

Youngest son aged 10 with what sounds like a congenital heart problem

No inside toilet/ bathroom, although there would be space for one.

A dream project would be to install a water supply, sewage, shower and toilet, including the tiling and finishing.