Area: 91,699 sq. mi.; somewhat smaller than New York and Pennsylvania combined
Capital: Bucharest (pop. 2.02 million).
Population: 22,275,000
Government: Republic

General Country Information:

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007. Romania is a major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos.

Romania is located in southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine. Total land area is 238,391 sq km - slightly smaller than Oregon. Weather is temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms. Natural hazards include earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides. Total population is 22,215,421 (July 2010 est.) Infant mortality rate is 22.9 deaths/1,000 live births. (source: CIA World Factbook)

Upcoming Project: Oradea, Romania – Project will be at the Government Hospital in Oradea that serves over 650,000 in Bihor County in the Transylvania area of Romania.

Assist International helped build orphanages in Bucharest and updated hospitals with cardiac equipment.

Assist also helped build the children's villages (Caminul Felix). Click here to read more about Assist's efforts to build these children's villages.

In partnership with Caminul Felix Children's Village, Assist International built the Young Adult Apartments for teenagers transitioning out of the Children's Village and into adulthood.

Assist International has also been blessed to host the annual Romanian Orphan Choir tour to the United States on several occasions. The mission of the choir is to keep before the American public the plight of the orphaned and abandoned children of the world and to raise support for the children of Caminul Felix Family Villages.

Donation to Caminul Felix, in Romania

Assist International has been helping the poor and distraught since 1990. Our mission is successful because of people like you, who donate their resources so that the lives of others may be greatly improved. Learn More