The goal of "I want to go to school!", a project initiated by ADRA Romania, is to combat school dropouts, by trying to help children overcome two difficult thresholds that they often face: entering high school. ADRA beneficiaries are identified through partnerships with local town halls and through close collaboration of local ADRA volunteers together with principals of the educational units in the area.

According to Eurostat, in 2019, the school dropout rate in Romania was 15.3%. Children are often not allowed the opportunity to study because it is considered more important to stay at home, take care of household chores, or take care of younger siblings. Little ones also often go to work in order to cover the needs of the family, thus not having time for school.

Dropping out of school generates unemployment, social exclusion, poverty, and health problems. There are many reasons why some young people drop out of school, including personal or family problems, learning difficulties, or a precarious socio-economic situation. Other important factors are the functioning of the education system, the atmosphere in schools, and the relationships between teachers and students.

Autumn has come and, with it, ADRA Romania has started a new edition of the project "I want to go to school!". We are all going through a difficult period from a medical point of view, and many families are facing a precarious socio-economic situation. Clothes, shoes, books, notebooks, and other supplies for the little ones are obtained with great effort. Internet access or technical equipment necessary for online education is a luxury many cannot afford. Under these conditions, we have chosen to once again invest in education because we are convinced that this is the only way we can offer disadvantaged children the chance of a better future.

"I want to go to school!" is the cry that boils in the hearts of many children who have understood that their only hope is in education. At the beginning of this school year, we find that the needs are great, but not greater than the power of God. Our resources are limited, but we know that we serve a great God, and the 374 bags equipped and offered to children are like a drop of water in an ocean, but still, I believe that together we will be able to bring a ray of hope to the hearts of the beneficiaries. 

“We would like to extend a hearty thank you to all of our supporters, including the local volunteers and collaborators for all of their support and I wish the children a lot of success in the new school year! ” said Gabriela Istrate, ADRA Romania Project Manager.

For the 2021 - 2022 school year, 374 students from vulnerable families, but with outstanding educational results from Banat, Bucovina, Crișana, Maramureș, Moldova, Muntenia, Oltenia, and Transylvania are supported by dozens of sponsors and volunteers at the national level. They will receive basic food supplies, school supplies, hygiene items, and clothing every month.

ADRA Romania supports education!

ADRA Romania aims to improve the quality of life for those in need and invests in people's potential, through community development initiatives, focusing on five main areas: economic development, education and basic health, the fight against domestic violence, and assisting victims of natural disasters and disadvantaged social categories.

Those who want to join the ADRA Romania team in the project "I WANT TO SCHOOL!" and get involved, can do it by:

• volunteering,

• through material donations (especially school supplies, food, and hygiene products, but also clothing), but also through

• financial donations in ADRA accounts or

• donating right now on the website adra.ro / donate, for the project "I want to go to school!" or

• donating 2 Euro right now by SMS to the number 8845 with the text "ADRA".

Since 1990, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Romania has been mainly involved in development projects that benefit the entire population. Leading in the projects undertaken after the motto “Justice. Compassion. Love.” ADRA Romania brings joy and hope in the lives of its beneficiaries by promoting a better future, values, ​​and human dignity. An accredited social services provider, ADRA Romania is part of the ADRA International network, the global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, one of the most widespread non-governmental organizations in the world, active in more than 118 countries and guided by a philosophy that combines compassion with practicality, addressing people in need, without making racial, ethnic, political, or religious distinctions in order to serve humanity so that all may live as God intended.

https://adra.ro/stiri/374-de-copii-ce-provin-din-familii-vulnerabile-dar-care-au-rezultate-scolare-exceptionale-sunt-sustinuti-de-adra-romania-prin-proiectul-vreau-la-scoala-in-anul-scolar-2021-2022.html