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George Hook, Patron of the Comber Foundation: 

 

“Having accompanied volunteers from Comber to Romania, I have witnessed the tireless work they do in trying to close down state run institutions in Giurgiu County. This requires help from you at perhaps the most difficult economic times. Please find a little time in your heart for young adults that perhaps unknowingly will owe you a debt of gratitude for the rest of their lives.”

 

 

About us  

Comber Foundation is an Irish charitable trust set up in 1990 to improve the quality of life of children living in orphanages in Romania. We believe large-scale institutional care is unacceptable and remain committed to supporting the right of all individuals with disabilities to live in the community.

 

Opening of Casa Comber, 2007

Vision

Our vision is that every person with a disability will have full participation and inclusion in society.

Mission

Comber’s mission is to build a better future for children and adults with disabilities - a future without orphanages.

Our Work

Comber Foundation is an Irish charitable trust founded in 1991 by Eric & Elizabeth Carson. For 15 years the charity sent volunteers and aid to children's orphanages in Giurgiu County, south Romania in an effort to alleviate the suffering caused by overcrowded and very poor conditions. Over the last number of years, huge progress has been made in the closure of Romania’s institutions for children. Sadly, many adult institutions still remain.

We now actively support the closure of all remaining adult institutions in Giurgiu County, Romania, and the provision of appropriate homes in the community for those still living in care. At Comber we believe that no child or adult belongs in an institution and we support Romanian authorities to develop sustainable alternatives to institutions. Find out more about what we do: Homes, Inclusion, Families, Partnership, Dreams

Where we work

Most of Comber's work is located in Giurgiu County, Romania. Giurgiu is an economically disadvantaged county and has limited NGO activity or international support.  It is the region with the second poorest socio-economic indicators in Romania and has the least developed health services in the country (Price Waterhouse Coopers 2004).  There are over 300 adults with disabilities living in 4 institutions in Giurgiu County.  There are an estimated 5000 disabled adults living at home with their families; 1600 of these are individuals with aging parents who will imminently require residential and other supports from the local authority. 


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