Giving Romanian homeless a second chance.

Located in Bucharest, on the site of a dilapidated Communist-era industrial complex, the Ateliere Fara Frontiere or Workshop Without Borders, is recycling used computers and giving Romanian homeless a second chance.

"This project is about the only one that gives an opportunity to homeless people and to youths who dropped out of school and left their families to get back to work," said Elena Adam, a Romanian social worker.

The Workshop Without Borders recycling program began in 2009, and has so far helped over 20 people find employment.

The program recycles and repairs used computers donated by embassies or multinational organizations, and is the first MAR (Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher) in Romania.

Workshops Without Borders hopes to refurbish 1000 computers per month when they reach full operating capacity.  Repaired computers are given to local schools and communities, but any computer that cannot be repaired is broken into parts and sold to other recycling firms.

The weakened Romanian economy has lead to high unemployment in recent years. In fact, the unemployment rates have nearly doubled in the last year.

Adding to the problem, the homeless in Romania do not have I.D. cards, which are needed when applying for a job in that country.  The stigma of being homeless and without identification has made the situation for Romanian homeless dire.

But for those who are able to work at the Ateliere Fara Frontiere, it is a chance to springboard back into productive society.

The workers spend about eight hours each day working on the recycling program and make about 150 euros a month, a little more than the Romanian minimum wage.  Those working in the program also get a free card to use for public transportation and food at a  near-by collective restaurant.  Workshop Without Borders Executive Director Raluca Gheorlan says the project is meant to help workers find permanent employment within a year.

The Workshop Without Borders program is helping the marginalized and vulnerable within Romanian society regain a foothold toward the things we all cherish – home, family and a brighter future.

via Mother Nature Network