Population: 19.1 million.
Romania has the highest rate of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the European Union (33.8% European Commission, 2025 Romania Country Report), much higher than the EU average (24.2% per cent).
This is where Orphans Aid International began. In 2004, after hearing about the thousands of children languishing in Romania's institutions and changes that were happening in the Transylvanian region at that time, Fundatia Casa Kiwi was established. Originally a home for abandoned and orphaned children, Casa Kiwi now now runs a daycare centre throughout the school year, providing children with daily meals, education, and creative learning experiences in a safe, nurturing environment.
Alongside this, the foster care programme supports children in family-based care, and dedicated efforts are made to prevent children from being abandoned wherever possible. Over the years, Casa Kiwi has also helped many children find permanent, loving homes through local adoption.
Featured in four documentaries, on TVNZ One, Casa Kiwi continues to be a beacon of hope – caring for children and families in need.
