Two people, a grandfather and his grandson, struggle to survive each day in a crumbling shack on the outskirts of Bălți. Their home was destroyed in a fire, and with the tragic loss of the boy’s parents, they have no one left to turn to for help.
Now, despite his own health issues, 57-year-old Iurie Munteanu is raising his grandson by himself. They survive on a meager pension that barely covers their needs, and to earn a bit more, Iurie repairs tools in a small improvised workshop in their yard.
When a journalist from Canal 5 visited Iurie’s home, his grandson came up to her and asked, “Can you be my mom… just for an hour?” He didn’t ask for sweets or toys; he just wanted someone by his side while he colored a parrot.
“Do you have any friends at school?” – “I only have classmates, no real friends. But I did meet someone on the street, and they became my friends.”
The boy was left in his grandfather’s care after the loss of his parents.
Iurie Munteanu, grandfather: “My daughter died of cancer. She underwent surgery, I agreed to it, but her condition worsened, and after six months, she was gone. Then, two years later, my son-in-law passed away too. When parents have to bury their children, it’s an unbearable pain.”
Recently, professionals and community social workers visited them to assess their situation and discuss possible ways to support the family.
Anyone who wishes to help this family can do so from anywhere in the world.