About us

We have been working in Rural Romania since 2008. Just after coming to Romania in 1992 I began to see a disturbing situation with the children and youth. During that time, we’ve seen the way many orphans, abandoned and disadvantaged children are exploited in Romania. We’re proud to be one of the groups helping to make positive life changes happen.

Islands4Kids and our sister program, Progress On sponsor the development of and the implementation of programs to provide the youth with a place to call home at our islands4kids and teaching programs at our town center.

Islands4kids locations are designed to bring kids together into an extended family, living and working together in a secure, nurturing and loving home.

At our town center we have free English lessons, typing lessons, health and awareness for all children in the community.

History

Islands4kids actually began unofficially in the summer of 1992 after an American businessman Robert Jacobs moved to Romania. His Romanian business partner and staff members helped expose to him the plight of the Romanian orphans, abandoned youth and the wide spread exploitation and trafficking of youth. In 2008 the first location was developed in a rural village of Romania. Here we worked with the kids and youth from several villages. In 2012 our center was opened in a small town that has 12 orphanages and 3 high schools with children from the surrounding villages.

Today, Islands4kids and ProgressOn through their NGO volunteer program are developing the first island, operating the center, mentoring youth, teach about exploitation and trafficking dangers and providing a safe haven. Our programs are focused on the disadvantaged but are open to all youth.

Team Members

All the team members for this project are volunteers, dedicating their time, effort and skills into realizing this life saving project.

Robert Jacobs

Robert is the project developer and consultant. Romania has Been HIS home for 20 + years. It all started with a mission's trip in 1992.

His Business activities are now primarily consulting and these help pay the Bills. But most of the time is spent mentoring young Romanians. Over the 24 years He has gathered and trained a dedicated team of Romanians. These are now Involved in Helping the youth of Their Country.

The oldest of 5 kids, Robert was raised on a farm near Pittsburgh, Pa. The farm expanded into a commercial nursery, greenhouses and landscaping business. He took over the landscape business and added excavation and trucking. After studying architecture he expanded into general construction.

All of this experience has been utilized since being in Romania.

Florentina Nae

Flory is an experienced accountant, financial analyst and experience in civil law. In addition to volunteering accounting and financial services for the village program she works as an accountant for a private company in Bucharest.

She and her widowed mom have helped in providing clothes to those kids in need in the villages around us.

Team member for 10 years.

Otilia Sandra

Shown with one of the village kids, Otilia shares time between our town center and the village house. Besides hugs and friendly ear she HELPS with school lessons including English and French. Tanti (aunt) OT is someone that the kids have come to count on for help with their lessons as most of their parents have a limited education or are too busy. Usually lessons are followed by a bowl of soup and some food, if they are lucky enough to be there when she bakes they enjoy some cakes or cookies.

Team member for 9 years.

Bianca Son

Ioana Son

Bianca is a founder and Vice president of the ProgressOn Foundation along with Ioana , her identical twin sister, who is the president. Established in 2007 ProgressOn works enabling civic and environmental projects with Romanian youth who work as volunteers.
Bianca also conducts craft making sessions with the youth making crafts to sell helping raise funds for various helps programs. A pleasant and super motivator.

Team member 7 years

Sorin Trif

Sorin has been part of the village program from the very beginning. He and his family have a farm in the village. Sorin conducted our weekend programs for the village kids. His knowledge of the people and kids helped us in meeting their needs and most of all to be accepted sooner.

Team member 10 years

Advisors

In order to achieve our goal of becoming self- sustaining and self- sufficient, it is important to have advisors who know Romania and those who can help implement activities that can help train the youth to expand the economic base of the island.

Jeff Gilman

An American with an extensive knowledge and experience in self-sustaining organic farming. Jeff has visited us in Romania several times at length and is familiar with the land of the village. He helps to purchases and ships seeds and other items from the US that are needed for our farming needs.
A good teacher who has a passion for sustainable, organic farming.

Elaine Jacobs Exacustides

Elaine was part of a family owned commercial greenhouse operation in Pennsylvania that spanned 50 years. Yep … my sister. She managed operations and worked in the greenhouses full time for 12 years.

We believe every kid deserves a family!

ABout US

History

Team Members

All the team members for this project are volunteers, dedicating their time, effort and skills into realizing this life saving project.

Robert is the project developer and consultant. Romania has Been HIS home for 20 + years. It all started with a mission's trip in 1992.

His Business activities are now primarily consulting and these help pay the Bills. But most of the time is spent mentoring young Romanians. Over the 24 years He has gathered and trained a dedicated team of Romanians. These are now Involved in Helping the youth of Their Country.

The oldest of 5 kids, Robert was raised on a farm near Pittsburgh, Pa. The farm expanded into a commercial nursery, greenhouses and landscaping business. He took over the landscape business and added excavation and trucking. After studying architecture he expanded into general construction.

All of this experience has been utilized since being in Romania.

Flory is an experienced accountant, financial analyst and experience in civil law. In addition to volunteering accounting and financial services for the village program she works as an accountant for a private company in Bucharest.

She and her widowed mom have helped in providing clothes to those kids in need in the villages around us.

Team member for 10 years.

Team member for 9 years.

Team member 7 years

Sorin Trif

Sorin has been part of the village program from the very beginning. He and his family have a farm in the village. Sorin conducted our weekend programs for the village kids. His knowledge of the people and kids helped us in meeting their needs and most of all to be accepted sooner.

Team member 10 years

In order to achieve our goal of becoming self- sustaining and self- sufficient, it is important to have advisors who know Romania and those who can help implement activities that can help train the youth to expand the economic base of the island.

Elaine was part of a family owned commercial greenhouse operation in Pennsylvania that spanned 50 years. Yep … my sister. She managed operations and worked in the greenhouses full time for 12 years.

Elaine’s experience will help the Islands greenhouse to be productive and enviro friendly.

ABout US

History

Team Members

All the team members for this project are volunteers, dedicating their time, effort and skills into realizing this life saving project.

Robert is the project developer and consultant. Romania has Been HIS home for 20 + years. It all started with a mission's trip in 1992.

His Business activities are now primarily consulting and these help pay the Bills. But most of the time is spent mentoring young Romanians. Over the 24 years He has gathered and trained a dedicated team of Romanians. These are now Involved in Helping the youth of Their Country.

The oldest of 5 kids, Robert was raised on a farm near Pittsburgh, Pa. The farm expanded into a commercial nursery, greenhouses and landscaping business. He took over the landscape business and added excavation and trucking. After studying architecture he expanded into general construction.

All of this experience has been utilized since being in Romania.

Flory is an experienced accountant, financial analyst and experience in civil law. In addition to volunteering accounting and financial services for the village program she works as an accountant for a private company in Bucharest.

She and her widowed mom have helped in providing clothes to those kids in need in the villages around us.

Team member for 10 years.

Team member for 9 years.

Team member 7 years

Sorin Trif

Sorin has been part of the village program from the very beginning. He and his family have a farm in the village. Sorin conducted our weekend programs for the village kids. His knowledge of the people and kids helped us in meeting their needs and most of all to be accepted sooner.

Team member 10 years

In order to achieve our goal of becoming self- sustaining and self- sufficient, it is important to have advisors who know Romania and those who can help implement activities that can help train the youth to expand the economic base of the island.

​ Elaine was part of a family owned commercial greenhouse operation in Pennsylvania that spanned 50 years. Yep … my sister. She managed operations and worked in the greenhouses full time for 12 years.

Elaine’s experience will help the Islands greenhouse to be productive and enviro friendly.

Elaine was part of a family owned commercial greenhouse operation in Pennsylvania that spanned 50 years. Yep … my sister. She managed operations and worked in the greenhouses full time for 12 years.