Who is Prison Fellowship Romania - 30 years of hope

In 1993, in Cluj-Napoca, Pastor Constantin Asavoaie founded an organization with a mission many considered impossible: to help people in prisons rebuild their lives. Not with a lot of money. Not with state resources. But with people who believed that no one is defined by the worst thing they have done.

More than 30 years later, Prison Fellowship Romania (PFR) is one of the largest social reintegration organizations in Romania. It supports over 20,000 vulnerable people every year, through a network of 8 active programs, 34 partner prisons, and hundreds of volunteers.

This is its story.

Mission

PFR exists to break the vicious cycle of crime and poverty. It mobilizes the community and churches to support incarcerated individuals, their families, and vulnerable communities.

The organization's vision: communities where every person, regardless of their past, can live with dignity and contribute to the common good.

We don't punish crimes. We restore people.

International Affiliation

PFR is a member of Prison Fellowship International (PFI) - the largest global network dedicated to the social reintegration of incarcerated individuals.

PFI is present in over 120 countries, with over 50,000 active volunteers worldwide and consultative status with the UN (ECOSOC). The PFI model has demonstrated, over four decades, that rehabilitation works - when people invest in people.

PFR brings this model to Romania, adapted to the local context, with the same values and conviction.

The 8 Programs

PFR is not a single-program organization. It is an integrated ecosystem of interventions covering the entire chain of vulnerability - from prison to community, from child to adult.

1. Programs in Prisons

Present in 34 prisons nationwide, PFR conducts psychological counseling and multi-confessional spiritual counseling activities. Approximately 5,000 inmates participate annually. The core program, The Prisoner's Journey, was piloted in 2023 and implemented nationwide starting in 2024.

Result: the recidivism rate for participants is approximately 15% - three times lower than the national average of 40-50%.

2. Angel Network

A program dedicated to children with incarcerated parents. Since 2009, PFR has provided care packages and educational support.

3. Social Inclusion Center

The "buffer zone" between prison and life in freedom. With a capacity of approximately 60 places, the center offers temporary accommodation for up to 12 months, counseling, vocational training, and job placement assistance. Between 160 and 200 beneficiaries pass through the center annually, with a reintegration rate of 65-70%.

4. Kitchen of Hope

A soup kitchen that has been operating since 2001. It serves over 450 hot meals daily - over 167,000 per year. The "buy one, give one" model: anyone can eat for 30 lei, and the price includes a free meal for a beneficiary.

5. Community Assistance Service

Direct intervention in 24 vulnerable communities in 5 counties. 381 tons of goods distributed annually, 120,000+ beneficiaries supported, 300+ volunteers involved. Regular campaigns every two months, with packages adapted to the needs of each family.

6. Social Stores

The PFR social store at Expo Transilvania, Cluj-Napoca, sells products at symbolic prices. 100% of the proceeds are reinvested in PFR programs.

7. European Projects

The "From NEETs to Employed" project (ESF+, 4.9 million lei) supports young people under 30 through vocational training courses. The Erasmus+ PACT program brings good practices from Germany to Romanian prisons.

8. APAC Transit Center

The first reintegration prison in Eastern Europe, currently under development. Based on the APAC model from Brazil - a model where the community actively participates in the rehabilitation process.

Total Impact

The aggregate figures speak for themselves:

·        20,000+ vulnerable people supported annually

·        30+ million EUR in goods distributed since 1993

·        34 partner prisons nationwide

·        ~150-200 active volunteers in prisons and approximately 200 more in communities

·        Recidivism rate: ~15% — 3 times lower than the national average

·        167,000+ hot meals served annually

·        18,000+ children supported through the Angel Network since the program's inception

·        120,000+ beneficiaries of community assistance programs

Values and Principles

PFR operates on seven fundamental values:

1.      Dignity and Respect — every person has value, regardless of their past

2.      Compassion — support without judgment or discrimination

3.      Transformation — belief in the power of change

4.      Responsibility — complete financial and operational transparency

5.      Integrity — honesty in all relationships

6.      Hope — everyone deserves a second chance

7.      Collaboration — partnerships with authorities, NGOs, and communities

Accreditations and Partnerships

PFR does not work alone and does not operate without oversight:

·        AJPIS accredited provider — licensed for social services

·        Official ANP partner — National Administration of Penitentiaries

·        Recognized by the Government of Romania as a public utility organization

·        International partnerships with organizations from Germany, Sweden, and other countries

Why PFR Matters

In a country where the recidivism rate is 40-50%, where 18,000 children have parents in prison, where thousands of vulnerable people do not have access to a hot meal - PFR demonstrates that solutions exist.

Not quick solutions. Not spectacular solutions. But solutions built day by day, by people who believe that no one should be left behind.

The organization's philosophy is summarized in a single sentence:

"The solution to a community's problems is found within the community itself."

How You Can Be Part of the PFR Story

·        Donate — every contribution directly supports assistance programs

·        Redirect 3.5% of your income tax

·        Become a volunteer — in prisons, in communities, at the store, at the soup kitchen

·        Share — make known what PFR does. Visibility saves lives

Over 30 years, one question remains the same: does anyone still care about the people society has forgotten? At PFR, the answer is yes. Every day.