Stories heal, and the 15 libraries built for children from vulnerable families foster care centers are a valuable educational resource that helps them navigate the world more easily.
The libraries were built with the support of Starbucks and Burger King.
We have made sure that all the books were carefully selected according to the children’s ages and interests so that they will be read with pleasure. Starbucks volunteers helped us set up the bookcases and create a dedicated reading space where they can learn and relax quietly. The children greeted us with enthusiasm and placed the gifted books on the shelves.
In addition to the libraries, school dropout prevention programs have also been implemented with the help of Starbucks and Burger King.
In total, we helped 56 of the most vulnerable children from 9 counties and Bucharest to continue their studies and not drop out of school. That was achieved through various interventions, from covering their needs related to school transport, clothing and footwear, school supplies, books, laptops, hygiene products or internet access, up to renovating and furnishing rooms for study or paying for boarding school, in some cases.
In disadvantaged areas, there are no daycare centers with an extended schedule. This circumstance increases vulnerability due to the fact that one of the parents has to stay at home with the preschooler and can no longer work; hence, many financial shortcomings arise from here, while the situation becomes even more complicated in the case of single-parent families. To combat this problem, together with Starbucks and Burger King, we also support afterschool programs (e.g.: daily meal or teacher’s salary).
A little help can change lives, families and destinies. If an afterschool program and the necessary school supplies can help these kids continue their education and be ready for life, then a little goes a long way. For children from disadvantaged backgrounds, education is the only chance to break out of the poverty cycle they were born into.