Scope:

    - To assist youths who are forced to leave the orphanages at around eighteen years of age to transition from institutionalized life in the orphanage to being productive members of society.

    - To provide a Christian environment in which they will be exposed to the Gospel on a regular basis.

    - To fulfill our mission statement: "Bringing the forgotten orphan children in Romania to faith in Christ, discipling them, and equipping them to be productive citizens and Christians."

Objectives:

    Short-term:

      1) Keep the orphans off the streets at their moment of crisis by providing a transition from institutionalized life to normal life.
      2) Provide housing.
      3) Provide assistance with finding and keeping a job.
      4) Teach financial responsibility, saving, and budgeting.
      5) Teach household skills: washing clothes/dishes, cleaning, cooking, etc.

    Long-term:

      Leave the program as responsible adults who can manage their money and homes without oversight. Having stayed in a Christian environment for a year and a half they will know the gospel message clearly and hopefully will have made the decision to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Strategy:

    Short-term:

      1) Choose the orphans to include in the Apartment Transition Project from those already active in other ROM projects and with whom we have already established a relationship.
      2) Rent an apartment, purchase furniture and appliances, and provide linens, kitchen supplies, and other basic household needs, as needed.
      3) Establish a contract with the youths to make the program term, financial responsibilities, and house rules clear.
          a) The duration of the program is two years for those not attending school. Youth attending school will be allowed to participate in the program for the duration of their schooling plus 18 months after they have finished school and entered the work force.
          b) Financial Responsibilities
            1. Youth who are attending high school or college and who have a heavy workload at school will have all costs supported by sponsors, as long as they continue to attend school and keep an 80 or above average in all classes. If grades fall, tutors will be provided.
            2. Youths who attend high school or college but have an easier workload will be required to find employment and pay $100 a month towards ongoing expenses. (Note: Romanian staff will determine workload size.) 
            3. Youths who are not attending high school or college must work and pay their own way.
         c) A set of house rules will be established and each participant must agree with and sign a contract with said rules.
      4) Oversight will be conducted by ROM staff in Oradea. Bi-weekly visits will be conducted along with frequent telephone calls. As the youth develop, learn how to take care of themselves, and trust is developed, more independence will be given.

      Long-term:

         After the initial term of the project, continue to provide counsel and, in special situations, financial help to the program graduates for up to two years. If the young person has accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior, continue to disciple him; if not, continue to keep an open relationship in order to encourage future opportunities for evangelism.

Beneficiaries:
3 young men in a 2-bedroom apartment or 3 young women in a 2-bedroom apartment.
                      

Evaluation:
Meet with the youths bi-weekly to discuss issues. Monitor progress monthly and if progress falls below established levels the youth must leave the program. At 3 months a larger evaluation occurs. A final evaluation occurs at 18 months.

                            BUDGET - Apartment Transition Program