Romania is changing, and changing fast. But not necessarily  for the better, says Beth Yorath who reports from the frontline.

Living in Romania, with a large shopping mall nearby, restaurants and bars and almost all of the mod-cons I would expect in any part of Europe, (except perhaps for running water…), it is easy to think that the country really is ok now.

On the surface all looks very healthy and developing at a fast pace, however, in my voluntary role I am in the position to peel back that surface layer and see what’s going on underneath, and all is not as it seems. 

Since I’ve been coming to Little John’s House, a children's home, for over 8 years now, I have seen the area develop in ways I wouldn’t think are possible in such a short space of time. Anyone visiting the area to see how life has improved here would be impressed. However, the real story behind this fast paced change is the legacy it is leaving behind.

Of course, for those who have money this development is a welcome boom - but in Romania, that’s a minority. The reality for most is a struggle with huge inflation rates, crippling taxes and wage cuts. They already had nothing and now they have less.

So the general attitude remains the same, after all, it’s hard to change your feelings and opinions about something just because somebody has put a burger chain in your back garden. Progression has almost been forced rather than evolved here and therefore, many problems remain from before and new ones have arisen.  

Recently, we ran our Christmas outreach program for Little John’s House where we visit families with special needs children. This is the very best time to assess how the families are coping and what kind of support they need us to give them. I saw three examples of something which brought me back to the reality of the situation from the heady heights of the pre-Christmas shopping malls:

A struggling granny

An 81 year old lady is the sole carer of her special needs grand-daughter. The mother is not in a position to do so and granny cares really well for this girl despite being on a very tight budget with a small pension and having to cope with medical and food bills for both of them. Romanian people are very proud, but this year again, she broke down on me again, crying because life is just too difficult. As a temporary fix, if you like, I have informally adopted her as my granny in Romania and she is going to teach me to cook Romanian dishes in exchange for me buying her the ingredients.

A disabled daughter

I also visited a girl who has cerebral palsy and has spent all 26 years of her life in a tiny bed unable to do anything or even stretch out. This is one visit I always find distressing. She is kept behind closed doors as the mother is embarrassed about having a disabled child. It breaks my heart to think of her there day after day and she is so happy to receive a visit. So it is another New Year’s resolution that I will be going to visit her more often and who knows, one day I may be able to convince her mum that I could take her out for a walk.

An abandoned family

But the example most fitting to the dizzy heights of fast development is a family I know in a small flat in a poor area: two boys and their mother. Their father wanted to give them everything – so he did. Credit cards and loans are now big business over here and because the concept is so new, many people are yet to learn how to handle it. These luxury items came with a hefty price tag, and the father was engulfed in so much debt that three years ago he killed himself. Despite their mother’s hard work I know that life is still hard.

I can't avoid having my eyes opened on these matters  every time I visit somebody’s house. I see the hidden layer that the politicians don’t want me to see. I am fortunate to be able to make a small difference to these people's lives, acting as Father Christmas and watching their faces light up is a true pleasure.

Every year is a poignant reminder of how spreading a little Christmas cheer to those who really need it is so very important. I am also met with warmth and hospitality wherever I go and people are happy to give me a little of whatever they have to thank us for what we do for their children. A very generous act for a people who, still, desperately need assistance.

Beth Yorath is one of the eight 2010 Vodafone Foundation World of Difference International winners. To find out more about the programme, visit www.vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference.