Workshop: Casa Jacob

Built in 2003 with the support of Eithne and Ettore Barion the workshop “casa Jacob”, has become the focus of the activities for the mission.

Many disabled children rescued from orphanages in Romania, over time have become young adults and their needs have changed and evolved. So in 2001 our workshop was opened giving them the opportunity to work, be creative and the dignity of a job.

After 2 years of working in a small backroom, a donation from a company in Parma, Italy, funded the new building of “Casa Jacob”. More than half the residents are now involved in the workshop Monday to Friday
The children are organised into small groups and their work is supervised by a volunteer. There are 3 main activities: wood work, cross stitching and card making. All the items made here are sold in Ireland, Italy, USA and further abroad.

The workshop is now completely self-sufficient paying for electricity, heating, refreshments, raw materials, tools, and token salaries.

The pride and dignity brought to these young adults is immense. They never believed they were capable of anything before and now are amazed at what they can actually achieve.

Casa Jacob, on Friday evening, is transformed into a cinema. From all parts of the world we receive movies and cartoons sent by friends that our kids love to see on the big screen.

On Saturday afternoons there are the birthday parties. With more than 40 kids there are so many dates to be celebrated with cakes and many games. And then there are the celebrations of Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, short plays are put on and other occasions on which to feast and stay together, always accompanied with the enthusiasm that these wonderful children permanently display.

On Sunday morning we transform this room into our church to celebrate a simple religious ceremony, in which, after reading from the Bible and some singing, the kids, through their prayers, turn their various sufferings into joy and life.