Two years ago, the Emmanuel House gained a new family member. Julia is a shy and caring young lady with special needs. Due to the lack of care in the orphanage, she was unable to receive the attention she needed. At the age of 9 years old, Julia was moved out of the regular school system and into the state orphanage school system. She continued having trouble learning at the level of everyone else. With a passion to learn, Julia felt hopeless in her situation. After moving to the Emmanuel House, her progress has been astounding. With personal care and a specialized education program, Julia was able to graduate in June 2017. “I graduated from a two-year program in tailoring,” Julia said. “I don’t know what I want to do yet, but I hope to soon find a job.” Together we helped Julia graduate, accomplishing a dream she never thought would become reality.
“ I WANT TO DO FOR OTHERS WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR ME.”
— MARIA
Maria was one of the first orphans who came to the Emmanuel House. Growing up, Maria’s father was a shepherd, and her mother died when she was 11 years old. Maria and her brothers were placed in an orphanage at a young age. When she was 16 years old, Maria heard about the Emmanuel House from one of her classmates at the orphanage. Maria wanted a brighter future. “I contacted them by phone and told them about myself,” Maria said. “I came here because I wanted to go to high school. I would have been able to go before, but I wouldn’t have had a place to stay. I never thought I would be able to go to the university.” After contacting Marius, Maria came to live at the Emmanuel House. She first learned about God, and later she was baptized at a local church. Maria expresses, “Now I’m a Christian and I have another life. I don’t do the things that I did in the past. I have faith and it’s strong.”
MARIA IS IN HER SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE AND REMAINS IN TOP 2%
During Maria’s visit to America in summer 2015, she was offered a full-scholarship to a university in New Orleans. She turned down the scholarship to the surprise of everyone because she felt her presence in Moldova was more needed. She enrolled in Universitatea Pedagogica “Ion Creanga” in Chisinau, Moldova to study social work and Maria is currently in her second year. When Joe Savage asked why she would turn down a full scholarship in America to study social work in Moldova, she replied, “Because I want to do for others what has been done for me.”
Only 2% of orphans will ever attend a university, yet Maria is successfully doing it. “We are incredibly proud of Maria. Her pursuit of a higher education is a testimony to both her as a person and to the many people who are helping her to fulfill her calling,” stated Savage. Roads of Hope pays for all of Maria’s educational expenses including the provision of a full-scholarship just as she would have had in America.
With the support of our donors, we are communicating the value of education and changing the lives of orphans like Julia and Maria.
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM GIVES ORPHANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE AN EDUCATION