Teen Challenge Romania, which is active in the rehabilitation and recovery of young addicts, will build the country’s largest center in an affluent and quiet suburb of the northwest city of Cluj. The facility which aims “to provide specialized support and a safe environment for young people struggling with various forms of addiction,” will cost four million euros to build, according to a press release sent to Universul.net.
It will be located in Sălicea and boasts that it will be the largest of its kind in Romania, contributing significantly to the national network of rehab facilities.
Drugs
Romania has an acute shortage of rehab centers for young people. Recent data shows 1.2 million people have tried drugs at least once, and over 100,000 Romanians are addicted to gambling.
Romania ranks first in Europe for the consumption of spirits, and statistics show that in every class of 20 students, two have already tried illegal drugs. Prevention campaigns have not been effective and every primary school is believed to have youngsters battling addiction, the group said.
“These figures underline the urgent need for intervention and the creation of effective rehabilitation centers,” the press release said.
New life
“The main goal of this project is to provide help to as many young people affected by addictions as possible, giving them a real chance to start a new life. Teen Challenge Romania aims to break the vicious cycle of addiction and offer a ray of hope to those who need it most,” said Sergiu Staniște, President of Teen Challenge Cluj.
The location was carefully selected in Sălicea, a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of Cluj-Napoca, Romania’s second-largest city. The geographical location and the rapid development of the area were decisive factors in choosing the locality.
“Our desire was to create an oasis of tranquility and recovery for young people who want to get rid of addictions and rebuild their lives,” he added.
Reintegration
The construction of the center is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2025 and be completed in 2027. It will offer a complete set of facilities to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of young people, including centers for adults, a separate one for minors, and a training center.
Young people will have access to a carpentry workshop, and there will be a multifunctional room with room to hold classes, conferences and other educational activities.
“The capacity of the new center will be about 50 places, of which 30 will be dedicated adults and 20 minors. This will allow the Teen Challenge to provide essential support to a significant number of young people from Cluj-Napoca and neighboring counties, aiding the fight against addiction, violence and life on the street,” said.
Donations
The wider Cluj community have supported the project from the get-go, with donations and volunteering. Most of 450,000 Euros needed to buy the land (15,000 sqm) was raised by donations from “big-hearted people in the community, who understood the importance and the impact that this project will have on the lives of young people affected by addictions.”
On November 2, 2024, Teen Challenge, in collaboration with the NEW Hope Orchestra coordinated by Octavian Lup, one of the best cellists of his generation, will organize a fundraising charity concert in Cluj-Napoca. Money raised at the concert used for the future construction of the center. “We invite the public to participate and support this initiative, which has the potential to radically transform the lives of young people in the region.
Teen Challenge Romania has over 20 years of experience in rehab and is part of a global networks with 1400 centers in 120 countries.
Global Teen Challenge is a network of Christian faith-based corporations intended to provide rehabilitation services to people struggling with addiction. It was founded by David Wilkerson in 1960 and its global headquarters is in Georgia, in the U.S.
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