In 1989, a dramatic epidemic of nosocomial HIV infection was discovered predominantly among orphans and hospitalized children in Romania. Under the rule of dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, Romainia had failed to take any preventative measures against HIV infection or AIDS, and in fact, doctors were often barred from discussing or diagnosing the disease.

In 1993 Landmark Education graduate Juli Kamin (now Juli Ford) was moved by the suffering of these AIDS-infected orphans in Romainia, and she founded Cherish Our Children International (COCI), which over the last 15 years has started programs which benefit thousands of children in many different countries around the word. The get more information about them, check out their website, and watch this video: