Press Release
Villagers in Poenile (Vrancea County) Finally Have Access to Water: A New Well Is Changing Their Lives
Poenile Village, Gura Caliței Commune – Vrancea County, Romania
After years of hardship and long journeys with barrels and horse-drawn carts to bring home just a few liters of water, the nearly 300 residents of Poenile village can finally enjoy access to a vital resource right in the heart of their community: clean water, available whenever they need it.
This major change was made possible through a joint effort between local authorities, the humanitarian organization ADRA Romania (Adventist Development and Relief Agency), and the full financial support provided by Ingka Investments. Thanks to this partnership, a 120-meter-deep well was drilled—an absolute first for the area, where no such drilling for water had ever been undertaken before. The works, carried out over a two-month period, were recently completed, and the positive impact is already visible in the daily lives of local residents.
From the very first day, villagers arrived with carts loaded with barrels to collect water. Among the first beneficiaries was Săndel Moldoveanu, a single father raising six children while living with the loss of one leg.
“Here in Poenile, we have lived without water for as long as anyone can remember. People don’t know what it means to travel more than 10 kilometers just to bring home a barrel of water that lasts only a few days. We ration water like gold. Now I can finally bring water home for my children. I come here with my cart, and it brings us great joy,” he said emotionally.
For Florica Ion, an 81-year-old woman who lives alone, the new well has also brought a life-changing improvement:
“I never thought I would see water here in our village. It is such a blessing. There is no one to bring me water. Now I can come here with a bucket and take what I need for cooking and daily life. It feels like a miracle.”
The mayor of Gura Caliței Commune, Gică Grosu, emphasized how important external support was in making this essential investment possible:
“Nearly 300 people live in this small village. Previous attempts to dig shallow wells yielded only a few drops of water—mostly mud, in fact. Yet people still came to collect it because when you have no water at all, any source seems precious. This well is a tremendous joy for the community. Before, we used to deliver water with the municipality’s tanker truck, but we could never meet all their needs—even their most basic needs such as washing and household chores.”
To ensure safe and easy access to water, the Gura Caliței Municipality also installed a water pumping system at the site. The Poenile project is a concrete example of how collaboration between public authorities, humanitarian organizations, and the private sector can generate meaningful and lasting change in isolated communities. For the residents of this small village in Vrancea County, access to water is no longer a dream—it is now a reality, and their lives have been transformed for the better.
“The Poenile project is a natural continuation of the long-standing and strong partnership between ADRA Romania and Ingka Investments. Over the years, Ingka has been actively involved in improving the lives of people in the communities where it operates. Through another joint project, we successfully implemented a similar well-drilling initiative in Poiana Cristei and renovated or equipped schools and kindergartens in areas where children lacked the necessary conditions to learn. We are pleased to see how these investments create real and lasting improvements in people’s lives,” explained Gabriela Istrate, representative of ADRA Romania.