Romania gained membership of the European Union in 2007. But there are many hurdles still to overcome, not least the huge corruption that is a legacy of so many transition countries.  While political, social and economic change continues, the country as a whole is making a huge effort to be more 'European' than ever. Meanwhile, many vulnerable people are left behind, as the social safety nets don’t stretch quite far enough to catch those at the 'bottom of the pile'. Those without work, single parent families, the elderly, orphans, the sick, and the Roma community have particular difficulty in getting the help and support which many other Europeans take for granted.

Organisations such as Mission East's partner "Solia Speranţei" ("Messenger of Hope") work to bring a difference into these lives in a practical and compassionate way.  Working in the Cluj-Napoca area, this grassroots Romanian NGO works alongside families who find themselves struggling against poverty, sickness, loneliness or discrimination.