Migrant parents in Romania are leaving their children behind, and as many as half are forced to assume adult responsibilities, according to a warning issued by Save the Children.
In a nationwide awareness campaign launched by Save the Children Romania, the organisation has drawn attention to the challenges faced by children who are left behind when their parents migrate for work. The campaign, titled "Call Them Daily! Connection Beyond Borders," encourages migrant parents to maintain regular communication with their children.
According to Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of Save the Children Romania, these children deeply feel the absence of their parents and are often forced to take on responsibilities beyond their age. They need sustainable support mechanisms to ensure their protection and emotional balance.
The organisation reports that children affected by economic migration are often invisible in public policies, leading to insufficient protective and emotional support structures. Over 130,000 people have been directly informed about the risks of family separation by Save the Children Romania.
The campaign highlights the impact of a simple video call on children. Over 5 million people have been reached through media campaigns by Save the Children Romania. Emotional video spots, personal stories, and resources are available on the platform Copiisinguriacasa.ro.
The challenges for these children are significant. Over half of them have a parent working abroad for more than four years, and one in three regularly assume adult roles and tasks in their parents’ absence. Many suffer emotionally, with 22% reporting sadness, 3% anxiety, and 1.2% anger because of family separation. Around 14% of children, and 20% of teenagers, communicate with their migrant parents only once a week or less, with only a third expecting to see their parents during the summer and about 10% traveling abroad to visit them.
To address these issues, Save the Children Romania calls for urgent and sustainable funding for dedicated services targeting this vulnerable group. The organisation suggests systematic identification, stronger collaboration between schools and social services, ongoing psychosocial support, and increased funding, particularly from EU sources, to strengthen child protection infrastructure.
Although support programs like Tell Romania provide aid such as medical assistance, financial aid, and counseling to children affected by parental absence abroad, the main focus of Save the Children remains on the broad systemic need for sustainable support mechanisms for this invisible population. Since 2010, Save the Children Romania has provided psychological counseling, educational support, and legal advice to over 16,000 children and 10,500 adults.
Save the Children Romania is urging the Romanian government to prioritize children left behind in public policy. The organisation emphasises the urgent need for policies and funding that provide consistent protective and psychological support to these children.
The main focus of Save the Children Romania is on implementing sustainable support mechanisms for children who are affected by family-dynamics caused by parental migration, including customized home-and-garden, education-and-self-development, and relationships support. A regular video call with parents working overseas can significantly improve the emotional balance of these children, as reported by Save the Children Romania.
