FARA Foundation History and Milestones
- -Winston Churchill
1991 – The Beginning of the FARA Story
Jane Nicholson and Martine Faure-Alderson launched an appeal to help children living in Romanian institutions.
The first convoy—part of a series of humanitarian efforts—brought not only donations and sponsorships from England to Romania, but also teams of volunteers led by Jane. These volunteers supported staff in three institutions in the northeast of the country, providing medical services and education to abandoned children—children without parental love, with disabilities, and without smiles.
This marked the foundation of FARA, created with the mission to ease the suffering of children abandoned in Romania’s vast institutional care system.
1992 – Shop for Charity
1993–1997 – Volunteering, Charity, and the First Family-Style Home
FARA volunteers from England continued to bring donations and worked within existing institutions to help improve care standards for traumatized children.
FARA’s first family-style home—St. Nicholas House in Suceava—was designed and built during this period. It opened its doors in 1997, beginning a new chapter for 16 vulnerable children whose lives had been deeply affected by institutionalization.
1998–1999 – Expanding Our Work
St. Gabriel House, a family-style home, opened in Popești Leordeni near Bucharest, welcoming 16 children from the protection system.
Foster care programs were launched in both Bucharest and Suceava for newborns and children without parental care, with a special focus on those rejected by their families due to disabilities.
A kindergarten was also opened in Popești Leordeni to support the integration of children from St. Gabriel House into the local community.
2000–2005 – Engagement, Symbolism, Innovation
HRH Prince Charles of Wales became the Royal Patron of FARA Foundation.
He visited the children at St. Nicholas House in Suceava.
Two pilot programs were launched: an organic farm and a training center for vulnerable youth in Suceava.
Following the filming of Cold Mountain in Romania, Nicole Kidman joined FARA Foundation as an ambassador. Through founder Jane Nicholson, she met some of the children from St. Gabriel House.
A charity concert was held at St. James’s Palace in London, attended by members of the British Royal Family. During the event, Lăcrămioara, a young girl from St. Nicholas House, performed an oboe recital in support of FARA’s programs.
2006–2010 – Consolidation
FARA launches the Poverty Prevention through Education program, aimed at children from vulnerable families, socially excluded and at risk of dropping out of school. The program expanded to several villages in Suceava County. Today, given the scale and complexity of poverty in Romania, this program has become a central activity and a unifying element across all FARA Foundation programs.
Therapy and recovery centers are opened to provide free services for children with disabilities from vulnerable families:
– Samuel Day Centre in Bucharest
– Rafael Day Centre in Popești Leordeni
– St. Teresa Day Centre in Fălticeni
2011 – 20 Years of Activity
FARA Foundation celebrates 20 years of activity with a series of anniversary events in London and Bucharest (concerts), including a special event in the garden of the British Embassy in Bucharest.
Services are diversified by taking over a transit center for young people in difficulty in Satu Mare from another organization that could no longer continue due to lack of funding.
2012–2014 – Expansion and Recognition
Two protected homes—St. Mary and St. Joseph—are opened to provide care and support for adults with disabilities from institutions, enabling them to live a normal life in a family-like setting within the community.
Jane Nicholson is honored by the Royal House of the United Kingdom for her lifelong charitable work in Romania.
The Emanuel Day Centre opens in Suceava, offering free services to support the development of children with disabilities from vulnerable families.
2016 – 25 Years of Activity
FARA Foundation marks its 25th anniversary at Clarence House in London and through a series of events in Bucharest under the theme “25 Years, 5,000 Smiles.” These events included:
– A visit to Bucharest and the Antipa Museum by FARA children and youth
– A screening of an animated film
– Attendance at a special performance at the Comic Opera for Children in Bucharest
Soprano Felicia Filip becomes a FARA ambassador.
The St. Francis Transit Centre for young people in difficulty opens in Popești Leordeni.
Elisabeta House, a protected home for young people and adults with disabilities, opens in the village of Cacica, Suceava County.
2017–2020 – Symbol and Hope
HRH The Prince of Wales visits FARA programs in Bucharest during an official royal visit to Romania.
The St. Michael Transit Centre opens in Suceava for young people in difficulty.
Princess Marina Sturdza passes away. A devoted ambassador and friend of FARA Foundation, she stood by Jane Nicholson at every key event since the foundation’s inception. She promoted and financially supported FARA’s work and spoke with deep compassion about the challenges faced by beneficiaries and professionals striving to help those most in need.
The Rafael Day Centre in Popești Leordeni, Ilfov County, is reopened in a modern and optimized format to provide free services for children with disabilities in the community.
2020 – Transformation for Sustainability
The COVID-19 pandemic compels the FARA team to find creative solutions to continue delivering services. All programs adapt to continue transforming lives—virtually, in person with safety measures, or in hybrid formats.
FARA Foundation begins a process of organizational strengthening through local fundraising, accessing EU funds, improving service efficiency, increasing program impact, intensifying advocacy, transferring know-how and best practices, influencing public policy, and building organizational capacity.
The Board of Directors and the Foundation’s President approve the implementation of a visionary and innovative dual executive leadership model. The Executive Director and Associate Director combine their efforts, experience, and skills to ensure the organization’s effective operation and competitiveness in the public sector, serving children, youth, and families from extremely poor and marginalized communities.
2023 – Strategy, Implementation, and Expansion
FARA’s team of 95 professionals continues its strategic journey toward resilience, inclusion, and sustainability.
The foundation implements 11 core programs and 10 special projects, reaching over 2,000 unique beneficiaries—including 900 vulnerable children and youth, 100 adults with disabilities, 750 parents, and 250 professionals and community members across 26 counties.
In 2023, FARA Foundation went beyond service delivery. We built and expanded innovations, tools, and ideas, and created modern, meaningful partnerships. We used data to understand the realities of our beneficiaries and to pilot services and projects tailored to their unique needs. We embraced technology to fight poverty and support growth and development through education and increased access to opportunities.
We opened our doors to new partnerships, programs, and knowledge exchange. We welcomed teams from Bulgaria, Portugal, Spain, and the UK who came to learn more about our work and programs.