Romania

Since 2009 Damascus Trust has been working with partners in Romania. In 2015 we set up  Asociația Cărarea Vieți  (ACV - Path of Life Association) to oversee our ministry in Romania. Most of our work is in and around Oradea, near the Hungarian border. Our partners include International Teaching Ministries (Romania), Emanuel University, Oradea Prison, Gypsy Church (Baptist) and a number of local churches.

Each year Damascus Trust runs a training programme for students focussing on working with the marginalised. As part of this course the students spend several hours in the prison, a night shelter and a children’s centre.

In 2015, after many months of preparation, ACV ran a pilot Mentoring Programme for prisoners (Apprentices) in Oradea Prison with advice and support from senior prison staff. Over 24-weeks, alternating teaching and mentoring sessions, the course offers an alternative way to live based on Biblical teaching and principles.

Six topics are covered - Morality; Relationships; Money & Possessions; Work ethics; Social Responsibility, and Dealing with Challenges. All teachers and mentors are committed Christians and are qualified / trained for their role. Following the evident success of the pilot course, another course is running in 2016. We are also planning to run the programme for those released from prison.

View more from Romanina here.