A Summer of Smiles, Growth, and Hope at Livada

Summer may be over, but the memories—and the impact—will last much longer.

At Livada Orphan Care, this summer was filled with smiles, games, lessons, camps, celebrations, and plenty of hugs. More importantly, it was a season of investing in relationships with vulnerable children and reminding them that they are seen, valued, and loved.

Learning, Playing, and Growing Together

The summer began with three weeks of Summer School, where approximately 18 children spent time learning, playing, creating, and simply enjoying being together.

Then came one of the highlights of the season: two weeks of summer camp involving approximately 80 children and 25 local and international volunteers.

Camp provided children with a place to have fun, build friendships, learn, and experience the consistent care of adults and young leaders who chose to be there for them. Livada has long viewed summer camp as an important part of its relational ministry with vulnerable children.

This year also gave Livada another reason to celebrate: volunteers from Ogra and young people from Livada’s Family-Type House helped serve during camp. Young people who have themselves experienced Livada’s care are now becoming part of creating meaningful experiences for others.

Preparing to Care Well

Serving vulnerable children requires more than good intentions. It requires understanding, preparation, and a willingness to keep learning.

That’s why Livada’s new volunteers also participated in three intensive days of TBRI training—Trust-Based Relational Intervention. The training provided time for learning, questions, reflection, and preparation so volunteers could better understand and respond to the children in their care.

It reflects Livada’s longstanding commitment to providing relational and therapeutic care while helping children grow toward healthy, meaningful relationships.

Celebrating the Little Things

Summer wasn’t only about scheduled programs.

There were birthdays to celebrate, complete with cake, candles, and well wishes. And as summer began drawing to a close, Livada prepared school supplies to help children get ready for another school year.

These seemingly ordinary moments matter. For children who have experienced instability or difficult circumstances, having people consistently show up—to celebrate a birthday, help prepare for school, listen, play, teach, and encourage—can communicate something powerful:

You matter. We haven’t forgotten you. We’re here.

That commitment to relationship has been central to Livada’s ministry from the beginning. Its mission is to engage, evangelize, and equip Romanian orphans and at-risk children for life and ministry, with the ultimate goal of seeing lives transformed through Christ.

Thank You for Making This Summer Possible

It was a busy summer. At times it was tiring. At times it was loud.

But most of all, it was a summer filled with people who chose to be there for the kids.

To every staff member and volunteer who served, every person who prayed, and every supporter whose generosity helped make these opportunities possible: thank you.

The activities may have ended and the children may have returned to school, but the relationships built and seeds planted this summer continue.

And that is what makes a Livada summer about so much more than camp.