For years we had been looking for a way to help the street children of Bucharest, a truly wound to the heart to know that in our beautiful Europe there are unimaginable situations of children and young people forced to live by expedients, prostitution, in the sewers or on the streets of a big city, forced to snort glue so as not to feel hungry and cold. Finally, the opportunity presented itself to us by contacting and getting to know the Parada association. Parada has been offering human and social support every day since 1996 using various intervention tools such as social art, school and health services, mobile units and a day center, which guarantee a future for street children and young people.

After some telephone contacts, Arianna and Andrea (the photographer) decided to go and meet the Parada operators and their activities in person, to understand where and how they can be of help. It was all very different from the feverish preparation of risky missions in war zones, it all seemed very easy and even the flight was short, without stopovers and with human schedules. Upon arrival, Franco, the president of Parada, was waiting for us and everything was perfectly organized both by us and by them. But we were wrong because, although the journey and stay did not present any particular risks, the situation we encountered touched our hearts deeply. Always and only children, young children defeated, abandoned, alone, desperate and without a future to whom Parada tries to give support, hope and real possibilities. Often succeeding and in any case alleviating situations of true degradation. The Parada day center is a bustle of young people who eat their meals and can take a shower, ask for support to access medical facilities and subsidies. In some cases to find a job that is not on the street. They are all practically drug addicts, born and raised on the street and in the sewers.

Andrea and I believed we had seen everything, having seen the war and refugee camps, but also those who have a manhole as their home and at 10 become prostitutes and die of AIDS after a life of violence and marginalization, leave an indissoluble sense of anger and a desire to want and be able to do more for these human beings like us, like our children. The circus activity that the association carries out saves some and gives many a reason to be something and someone, not just an invisible and outcast. The mobile unit goes out 3 times a week to physically go to the greatest number of children and families bringing them aid and basic necessities, against hunger and cold and for the care of numerous newborns who continue to be born from this second generation of desperate people. Street. Andrea and I are very emotionally tried and we bring our feelings back home, SSCh agrees with us in supporting Parada by contributing financially to the work of the Mobile Unit and by going at least every two months to offer our arms. A new challenge of the heart, this support seems invisible but allows you to help more children.