Cry in the Dark is a UK-registered charity and a registered non-profit organisation in the USA, that has now been caring for children in the Bacau region of Romania for nearly a decade. It has a proven track record for making a significant difference to the lives of disadvantaged children, young adults and to the communities in which it operates. The charity's two primary projects include Casa Lumina, a residential home for 24 young people with special needs in Comanseti and, Casa Albert, a hospice and community care programme for children suffering from life limiting illnesses in Luncani, which is currently under development. These two complimentary projects combine to deliver Cry in the Dark's mission of 'total care' for disadvantaged children and their communities.


The Cry In The Dark Story

In February 1998 Cry in the Dark visited "Dofteana" orphanage in the Bacau region (in the North East) of Romania, and the conditions were appalling. We found 26 children aged between 5 and 12 suffering from malnutrition and neglect.

They were sometimes naked, not taken to the toilet and rarely washed. Many were seriously ill, physically and mentally handicapped; some with HIV/Aids and hepatitis.

The children were moved to Ungereni hospital where conditions were better but still not very good. Cry in the Dark decided to set up a new home for some of these children. A home where they will receive proper care, stimulation and love. It was at a prayer meeting in the early stages of our fundraising that Steve Cooper heard his sister pray "But Lord, these children just cry in the dark" - and the name was born.

In February 1999 Cry in the Dark purchased a house in Comanesti situated on 5000 square meters of land next to the Baptist Church.

We renovated the existing building and adapted it to suit the daily needs of the children as well as extending it considerably with a new accommodation block.

On 29th May 2000 twenty-three of the children moved into their own home, 'Casa Lumina' - which means House of Light. They moved from the dark into the light and began a new era in their lives. For the first time the Dofteana children have a home where they can be loved and develop to their full potential.

Casa Lumina

Casal Lumina, inside

The children playing in the garden of Casa Lumina

Now we need to focus on raising funds for the day-to-day running costs of the home. We have loving staff, access to doctors and health workers and their focus is on settling the children in and re-building the children's broken lives. It will be a long process with varying degrees of success, as the children all have special needs. Some have already responded and in time will rebuild their lives, others will take longer and there will be a limit as to how much we can achieve. One thing is for sure, however, that with the dedicated staff we have in place we know that every child will, in time, reach their full potential. To keep up to date with the goins-on at Casa Lumina, check out our Casa Lumina Latest News page.


Casa Albert

We also have another project being developed; a hospice for young people with HIV/AIDS, also in the North East Romania region. 95% of HIV/AIDS cases in this area are children between the ages of 13 and 16, as a result of infected blood transfusions they were involuntarily given as babies during the communist era. The young people in this area who are HIV positive are often neglected or even abandoned by their family due to the heavy stigma surrounding the condition. Others have families who want to care for them but don't have the resources and are desperate for respite care for themselves and their child.

We want to do everything in our power to reach these young people, to offer support, treatment, love and care, and - ultimately - a place to die with dignity. We bought a house which stands on 5000sq.m of land in 2004, and you can follow the progress of this project on our Casa Albert Latest News pages). We have decided to call this house 'Casa Albert', named after a young boy called Albert (left, with Director of Cry In The Dark, Steve Cooper), who had been an inspiration and a good friend to us during our time in Romania. Sadly he passed away in May 2004 as a result of Aids.

Please join us in helping and supporting us to keep doing this work, for we can only continue to maintain the children's homes with the support of people like you.

Thank you.

Steve Cooper
Founder of Cry in the Dark