Romanian Youth, Charities and Church Partners Help Clean Up a Nation

Leaders of 12 Romanian partner charity organisations met today to strengthen their relationships in support of refugee integration, neonatal healthcare, HIV treatment and to combat domestic violence.

The event was hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at its building in Soseaua Panduri in Bucharest. The Church, which has partnered with some of these charities for several years, organized the event to celebrate their shared values, to look for opportunities to increase their effectiveness and help more children in Romania.

The organisations included Jesuit Refugee Services, Save the Children, CRED Foundation, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, focusing on many aspects of Romanian life. These include support for over 144,000 Ukrainian refugees with education and psychosocial aid, donating vital neonatal equipment to reduce infant mortality and expanding nurse training for newborn care.

“We are deeply honored to work together with you to help survivors of human trafficking,” said Monica Baseff, the executive director of Open Door, her organization helps survivors of human trafficking. “Our joint efforts help the survivors with dignity and love. You preach the gospel without using words!”

A focus of the afternoon was the group’s successful collaboration on two key initiatives. The first, “Romania Without Violence” commission, a response to over 61,000 reported cases of domestic violence in the first half of 2025 alone. Secondly, World Refugee Day and Children’s Day Events, which saw JRS Romania hosting creative workshops and rights education sessions for refugee children.

The Constanța Infectious Disease Hospital was there to report on how a recent flow cytometer donation has improved HIV diagnostics for survivors of Romania’s orphanage crisis.

Christian Ottiker, head of the Church’s welfare and self-reliance services for most of continental Europe, told the group how the Church raises funds to support their causes.

“Members of the Church across the world are asked to skip two meals, usually on the first Sunday of the month. The money they save is given to the Church so someone else doesn’t need to go hungry.”

That simple formula has enabled the Church to bring relief to countless thousands, usually working in partnership with other charitable organizations, Ottiker said.

Church members recently turned out in record numbers to participate in Clean Up Romania Day. Some 100 members worked alongside neighbors, local government officials and community organisations to clean city streets, parks, riverbanks, and coastlines. Dani, a 20 year old volunteer said, "I had the chance to meet new people with a desire to help and make the world a better place—something that brought us all together there, regardless of religion, political views, or social standards."