Previously we have reported on efforts made by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to help raise awareness and change regarding the plight of orphaned children in Eastern European countries. A founder of the Children’s High Level Group and active with the Children’s Voice campaign, Jo has written on her website in the past about the plight of disabled and mentally handicapped children locked in cages, and her commitment to seeing conditions improve for these orphaned children. Today, UK newspaper The Sun reports that Jo is continuing in this effort as she and the wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will meet with the wife of visiting Romanian President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu in London. The paper reports
The plan is to help tackle health care problems in the East European country that can lead to disabilities.Mr Brown also wants to support efforts to stop babies being abandoned at hospitals.A Downing Street insider said: “This is an issue which Sarah and JK are passionate about.“They’ve been grateful for the willingness of the Romanian government to engage in serious discussion about it.”
UPDATE: There is a new report online now, from the British Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, with a photo of JKR at this meeting. The press release says The participants at the meeting agreed on the impressive progress that Romania had already made and on the importance of further collaboration and exchanges of best practices… A second outcome of the meeting is that Bucharest will host a seminar gathering officials from child protection fora, NGOs and business representatives, later in the year.The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown commented: “I am delighted that this meeting has taken place today. Although there is still work to be done, Romania is helping to show the way on how to tackle the challenges faced by children with disabilities. Britain and Romania will continue to work together in this important area.”
Readers will recall Jo made a trip to Romania several years ago, and visited some of these children; photos from this previous trip are available here in our galleries.
That’s right people, serve your own agendas by being angry at Jo because she wants to help orphans from a specific country, and not your own. Amy S is right. You lot are unbelievable. At least Jo’s agenda is a decent one.
Amy S , I completely agree. I just cannot understand what’s it WITH the whole nationality question. We’re talking about someone helping out children in need. Has everyone forgotten about humanity or what? At least Jo is doing something to raise awareness and help out, and perhaps help make this world a better place to live on for some children.
And Andrei, don’t worry, I don’t think Romania’s like that, and I’m sure many people don’t. Coming from a country of which people have a lot of wrong notions about, I can understand. But every country has some bad things happening in it, that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything good or normal there.
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1 “(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
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When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites 2 do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
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But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
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so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Mary, I’m not 100% clear on what your quotation is trying to say about this situation, but I’d just like to point out that when it comes to issues like human rights, children, etc., a horn needs to be blown, and people do need ‘to see’. One billionaire alone (whether they’re performing their good deeds in secret or not) can’t change things. As many people as possible need to be aware of the injustices and cruelties done in the world.
JK Rowling shoulds say this , JK Rowling should do this …......................
You are unbelievable. In another site, the people bless her.
And they are totaly allright !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go JK U r the best
Daniela, I’m with you, I’m Romanian too and I think this is putting a good light on Romania, rather than a bad one. It is all for the good, what this people are doing, and that is all of it.
Sue, you may want to correct I think, Ioana Tariceanu is the wife of the Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, not the wife of the President. :)
Of course Romania has made an impressive progress otherwise it could not has become a EU member state. Furthermore. It has made progress because of the Romanian people and their will to rebuild and renew their own country! Not because Joanne Rowling plays Mother Theresa in designer cloths.
At least she wants to help, not be seen in designer clothes wanting to strut aroun doing nothing. Her being part of this cause helps attract attention to it,which is GOOD because it creates awareness.
No one would really care if only politicians were involved, but because Jo is involved, it creates interest in people to read about the situation, and then, once they know about the situation, to help out too.
She has absolutely nothing to gain by doing this, certainly not publicity or fans, I mean, come on, she has more than enough.
So why are people still out to find something wrong in all this?? I mean, do some people here need an EXCUSE to just say bad stuff about Jo even if it is totally completely baseless??
Are people completely forgetting the whole point about improving the conditions for youth? Who cares if the programs starts in Romania?
Possibly the donations go farther there to help more children in need. The site states they are working on expanding the program throughout other Europe.countries.
People don’t have a right to tell J.K.Rowlings what she can, or cannot do. Anyone who gives of their time, energy and finances to any organization finds that people will criticize them for not doing enough, or not doing it in the right places, or not at the right time.
This is a modern culture where Visibility can make remarkable changes within people’s lives. I do feel she is making the difference that she can, where she can. Possibly she has been helping out other youth programs in the U.K. being an unknown and generous benefactor, and wants to remain that way. Just because focus is on her support for one program, does not mean that other programs have not had assistance from her.
The news always mis-interprets the intentions, takes quotes out of context in interviews, and slants information in a way to appear more appealing to do a slam piece, instead of stating the real facts to readers. Until I hear it directly from J.K.Rowlings – I won’t believe a word that is written in the tabloids about what she supposedly says or does, or is not doing enough.
Leave the woman in peace so she can continue to contribute in the ways she choses for causes she believes in.
I would like to know if a gentleman by the name of Kelvin Dominic work for you. If not, he is trying to scam me using your orphanage. He claims that he has an orphanage in Nigeria. Let me give you his contact info:
Orphange Address…..
Fight for the orphans Contact Address….
Address :50 Fanikayode Street
City ;Ikeja Lagos
Country :Nigeria
Zip Code;23401
Phone :+2348038101048,+23417410983
U free to call me anytime here is my phone in brixton hill london …+447024079691 . Kelvin
If he is not legitimate, please help cease his activity.
"Mom?" he whispered. "Dad?" They just looked at him, smiling. And slowly, Harry looked into the faces of the other people in the mirror, and saw other pairs of green eyes like his, other noses like his, even a little old man who looked as though he had Ha
That’s right people, serve your own agendas by being angry at Jo because she wants to help orphans from a specific country, and not your own. Amy S is right. You lot are unbelievable. At least Jo’s agenda is a decent one.