Club told story of Romanian charity
Destitute orphanage inspires the work of Taupō woman
It was a reminder that you never know the stories of those who live and work among you. The Tauhara Luncheon group were delighted to recently host a local speaker with a remarkable story of a now-lifelong role of humanism; Margie Vincent from the Romanian Family Centre.
An impressive woman, Vincent has lived and worked in Taupō since 2015.
Before then, she had over 15 years of experience living and working in Romania, while setting up and being immersed in an orphanage environment in the corrupt and povertystricken country.
A local woman, Vincent’s involvement in Romania and the organisation she established continues and she spoke to the Tauhara group relating how her remarkable link and life in Romania began.
In 1998, she ventured on a standard Kiwi overseas OE holiday and decided to spend the last month of her travels contributing to some form of voluntary work.
Her choices were to work in a South American country or to head for Romania. A quick decision found her working as a volunteer in a destitute orphanage in Draiova, Romania.
That one-month experience completely changed her life.
She told of her first walk through the orphanage — through a huge, ugly concrete building, through corridors and room after room where children were two, or three, or four to a cot with no coverings or mattresses, wearing very little clothing.
A place where the children, some with physical disabilities and some without, had felt no human touch for much of their lives.
The stench of the corridors and rooms was so bad she was physically nauseated.
According to Margie, by the end of that first day she knew there was a bigger reason she was there.
Her planned one-month stay turned into three months, with a visit back to New Zealand followed by her return the following year.
Once back, she was fundamental in establishing a family support centre that focused on the povertystricken children and families in the area who needed support.
From those beginnings, The Family Centre, Romania is now an ongoing organisation assisting children and families, still with Margie’s major involvement.
Her complex story was a fascinating hour’s delivery for those listening.
Her many years of working there was a testament to her continual devotion to giving where the people’s own government had almost washed their hands of those in poverty and need.
Her Families That Thrive message continues through The Family Centre, as does her association where fundraising and assistance continue due to her now lifelong mission.
Margie’s years of work have positively affected so many hundreds, even thousands of disadvantaged Romanian children and families.
Again, one never knows the background or history of that person who works in and walks on our town — some amazing people live here,
people who have greatly impacted someone somewhere, either here or around the world.
We were fortunate to hear Margie’s story.
The Tauhara Luncheon Club next meets at Wairakei Resort on the second Monday of the month.
If interested in joining, phone Katherine Ewen 021641926 or Stephanie de Bazin on 027 3056545. Cost for attendance followed by a three-course lunch is $45.