Since 1995 vzw-Oradea, a Belgian non-profit-organisation, has been organizing solidarity projects in aid of children suffering from a handicap and/or social exclusion in Oradea, Bihor, Romania. Initially, the foundation provided care and support in two special kindergartens, Gradinita Speciala No 20, Oradea and No 54, Oradea, both equipped for about 30 so-called “partially recoverable” children between 3 and 7 years old.

These recuperation programmes evolved to the integration of children aged over 7 and suffering from a handicap and/or social exclusion in existent normal and special circuits, formerly only consisting of non-abandoned children (project Scoala Ajutatoara – project Integration and Inclusion).

Since 2000 vzw-Oradea has started several disinstitutionalization projects for schoolable socially handicapped children, establishing a network of Family Care Units (Casa Noastra, Casa Iepurasilor, Casa Pasarea Maiastra,..).
From 1996 onwards vzw-Oradea has uninterruptedly been staging bilateral sensitization projects and training sessions in order to improve the living conditions of children and youngsters suffering from a handicap and social exclusion (Project TINC (Training and sensitisation program to support the Implementation of the National Childcare policies) and to promote more child-centered, personalized care and family support (Project PARI (Preventing Abandonment and Reducing Institutionalism).

Currently, a centre for child care and family support is being built in Oradea, supported by vzw-Oradea (Project CCF (Centre for Child care and Family support) – the initiation of which is planned for January 2007. The centre's aim is to offer crisis intervention for children aged 0-12 at risk of abandonment, pre- and postnatal counselling and early intensive support of teenage parents and/or single mothers.

Initially, all attention was directed towards the intervention in individual cases of child neglect; at present, all eyes are on Preventive, Integral Youth Care and Family Support, in accordance with a recent Unicef report, calling for and promoting an holistic approach to child protection and alternative, integrated services within communities,
such as a CCF.

Vzw-Oradea has always opted for co-operation with the Romanian, local, competent authorities (for instance the Oradea Municipality, the Bihor County Council, Bihor County School’s Inspectorate, the General direction for Social Assistance and Child Protection Bihor,…) and hence all our projects are officially recognized and approved for subsidizing.

By acknowledging the subtleties and variations that exist within each culture and person, the need to respect each individual and his specific requirements, vzw-Oradea strives for diversity and the realization of a multiracial and multicultural society. In its struggle for true equality and solidarity vzw-Oradea endeavours to work pro-actively so as to include people of all races, ages and classes, giving particular attention to the vulnerable, the disabled and those on the fringes of society.