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Bulgarian Journalists Explore USAID Accomplishments in Romania
11.Dec.2007
Examples of materials from the successful USAID civil society program in Romania.Examples of materials from the successful USAID civil society program in Romania.

A group of seven journalists from national Bulgarian media outlets traveled with USAID to Bucharest, Romania to learn about what USAID has accomplished in their neighboring country. Four print journalists and three radio journalists visited Bucharest on December 10 and 11, where they met with implementers of USAID projects and representatives of the USAID Mission. USAID will close its mission to Romania in September 2008, at the same time that USAID will close its doors in Bulgaria and Croatia. Most of the Bulgarian journalists were visiting Romania for the first time and were struck by the similar challenges facing the two countries.

• At a visit to the USAID Civil Society Strengthening Program, journalists learned about the “two percent” law that enables Romanian taxpayers to allot up to two percent of their taxes to NGOs. The amount donated through this mechanism increased to 5 million euro in 2006.

• Journalists met with Romanian reproductive health experts who, with USAID support, led efforts to cut the abortion rate and triple contraceptive use. USAID has invested $44 million in family planning education initiatives and training for family doctors since the early 1990s.

• The journalists saw how USAID helped Romania overcome the legacy of the former regime and its devastating impact on child welfare. They witnessed the high level of care provided to disabled children at the Sfanta Ecaterina Child Welfare Services Center in Bucharest’s Sector 1.

• The director of a USAID legacy organization, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED), described to the journalists how CEED offices in Romania and Bulgaria are introducing the concept of networks to the region’s small and medium-sized businesses.

• USAID Mission Director Debra Mosel described the role of USAID in building Romania’s vibrant democracy, booming economy, and healthy families.

Mark Cunningham, Program Officer of the new Black Sea Trust based in Bucharest, explains the trust’s goals to journalists. Mark Cunningham, Program Officer of the new Black Sea Trust based in Bucharest, explains the trust’s goals to journalists.
• The newly launched Black Sea Trust, a joint effort of USAID and the German Marshall Fund, hosted the journalists in their new office, located in one of Ceausescu’s former family residences. The Black Sea Trust will extend grants over a ten-year period to promote civic participation, cross-border initiatives, and east-east cooperation in the Black Sea region.