Many children claim abuses in a private orphanage

Article translated from Realitatea.net Sept. 11, 2006

QUESTIONABLE

Many children claim abuses in a private orphanage

The problem of abuses in orphanages again becomes a reality. Many children who have stayed for years in the care of a private orphanage in Brasov told a journalist from Great Britain that they were beaten by the workers and forced to stay days at a time in isolation. The head of the Educational Complex denies all the accusations. Still, the CPS will open an investigation.

The children who launched the accusations against the employees of the Sunny Glade Educational Complex (Poinana Soarelui) in Brasov, have lived there since 2004. Unhappy with the behavior of those who cared for them, the children asked to be moved into a state run orphanage, and now they are in the state's care.

"The employees beat us (...) They made us believe that our only option was to depend on them, that other orphanages weren't good," a young 16 year old man who lived in the Sunny Glade (Poiana Soareleui) told us.

Even young people who are still at the center say that employees lock them in isolation.

"Yes, as a punishment if we smoke or if we do bad things, but how many days? Well, three days if you smoke..." testified one of the children from the center.

Representatives from the Center do not acknowledge the accusations:

"No isolation exists, besides the room for those with contagious diseases," declared Luminita Tampea, director of the Complex.

What's more, two girls who stayed at the Sunny Glade Complex (Poinana Soarelui) complained that they were violated by the administrator of one of the camps in Bacau during summer camp. The CPS will send a notice to the police, but will begin their own investigation. If the accusations prove to be true, the Sunny Glade Complex risks losing their license.