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School drop-out in Romania targeted by World Vision & Church partnership
14 Sep 2009 13:43:29 GMT
 Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe/ Central Asia office
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Anita Delhaas van Dijk, National Director for World Vision Romania receives the highest order given by the Orthodox Church to non-clergy. Photo by Gabriel Mitroi
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Anita Delhaas van Dijk, National Director for World Vision Romania receives the highest order given by the Orthodox Church to non-clergy. Photo by Gabriel Mitroi
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

Background

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A nation-wide 'Choose for School' initiative developed by the Romanian Orthodox Church and World Vision will help prevent and lower the school drop-out rate among some 10,000 children in Romania over the coming three years, heard participants at the recent 2nd National Congress for the Youth Bible Curriculum (YBC) project.

The Congress launched the innovative project, 'Choose for School', which will enable thousands of school children to attend religious and creative summer camps to nurture a love of learning and encourage parents and families to keep children in school.

Lack of moral and guiding values and religious education is contributing to the alarming school drop out rate, agreed the congress participants including priests, officials from various diocese* and World Vision staff.

'There is a 'virus' insinuating in a whole generation and its results show in the form of behaviour problems, in teenagers skipping school and dropping out, as a result of peer influence', said priest Constantin Necula.

The dire need for appropriate, fun and interactive religious instruction, as well as positive role models, they believe, is met by YBC, which began in 2006 in several Romanian counties where World Vision works and was taken over by the Orthodox Church in 2008.

In one year, the YBC series of easy-to-read and interactive Bible study materials have been adopted in some 3,500 diocese around the country (about 1/3 of the existing Orthodox diocese), reviving hope in a nation where 86,7% of the population is Christian Orthodox, heard the participants.

Designed for children and youth with an emphasis on history, culture and family, YBC was created by World Vision and its publishing partner, Gospel Light Worldwide and presented to Orthodox Churches in Eastern Europe.

YBC is helping the Church to engage some 4 million Romanian children and youth – both inside and outside of Romania, in a structured, yet fun environment, imparting lessons and values that impact children's everyday life.

'Youth Bible Curriculum responds to the urgent necessity of offering children the Word of God in a compelling way, suited to their age, which opens their hearts to true life values. Too many times the character and aim of children's education nowadays serve the values of the secularised world, such as material gain, power, ephemeral pleasures and success', said His Beatitude Daniel, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church in his opening address at the Congress.

'I believe you are aware that we cannot simply stay with our liturgical activities and rely only on the education given in the family and school. There is this huge challenge to counter-balance the chaotic information spread by the media. And it can be met only by adequate religious instruction', affirmed His Eminence Laurentiu Streza, the Metropolitan of Transylvania addressing his fellow priests.

Recently the Romanian Orthodox Church recognised the work of World Vision through the YBC project by awarding World Vision Romania's National Director the order of 'Sfintii Imparati Constantin si Elena - clase 1', the highest order given by the Orthodox Church to non-clergy.

-Ends-


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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