the children of the colonies

During the communist regime in Romania, but mostly under Ceausescu’s presidency, several workers’ colonies have been built. They were meant to host the workforce in the mining, industrial and agricultural areas. A lot of people have been deployed in these “communities”, convinced or even forced to work in the surrounding mines, factories or farms. The story is not about the colonies during that period. Instead, it reviews what happened to them after the communism was eradicated. With the ’89 revolution taking place, the changes brought by capitalism, including the decay of the above mentioned industries, these places were left for ruin. The people living there, lacking other possibilities or opportunities, continued to reside in these settlements, despite of the continuously worsened living conditions. Many of them miss out on electricity, current water, heat.
Most of the adults are unemployed, as the jobs they were deployed for are long gone, professional reorientation not quite at hand and financial possibilities to move, non-existent. As for the children, most of them have to walk considerable distances to get to a school. The focus of this series is on the children living there because I was impressed by their spirit, generosity and kindness. By their ability to smile, even under these circumstances.