Cosmin at the Daniel Centre: trained and licensed to work in store security, he would like to join the armed forces

An eighteenth birthday is regarded as a milestone by most young people growing up. But for Cosmin, it was also a deadline: fostered by the same family from the age of 11 months, he knew that his living arrangements would come to an end that day and that he would be expected to move out.

His predicament explains the reason behind Blythswood’s Daniel Centre, on the outskirts of Cluj, Romania. The continued role of family relationships is taken for granted by most of us making the transition from adolescence to adulthood. And those who lack that support can be at a huge disadvantage – one which the Daniel Centre sets out to overcome. Although Cosmin had left school at 17 and had a supermarket job, he knew he wasn’t ready to go it alone.

His case manager from the social work department referred Cosmin to the Daniel Centre. Like the other young men there, he has benefitted from the centre’s basic life skills training. He says: “I have learned to cook, to clean my room, to stay healthy and to manage my finances.”

Cosmin is careful to save his wages and for 15 months has been working as a security man at a shopping centre. He completed three months of training to obtain a licence for this role. But his ambition is to join the army.

“He has applied and will hear when there is an opening,” says Daniel Centre social worker, Dani Ciupe. He explains that as the army is relatively well-paid, there is no shortage of applicants. Cosmin will have to pass psychological tests.

Dani says: “If Cosmin succeeds in his ambition, he will be the first young person from the Daniel Centre to join the armed forces.”