Bucharest was first mentioned in documents as early as 1459 and since then it has gone through a variety of changes, becoming the state capital of Romania in 1862. Since then it has consolidated its position as the centre of Romanian mass media, culture and arts. Its eclectic architecture is a mixture of historical, communist era and modern. In the period between the two world wars, this city of elegant architecture and sophistication, obviously elite earned Bucharest the nickname of the Little Paris of the East. Although many people and districts in this historic centre were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes and Nicolae Ceausescu, many survived, and in recent years the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom. According to the official statistics, Bucharest now has a population of 2.6 million people and growing. It is the sixth largest city in the European Union. The city is the most prosperous in Romania and one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe. As the most developed city of Romania, Bucharest also has a broad range of educational facilities.

Over a number of years, we have desired to see a community regeneration movement unwrapped in this city. Having made many visits to the city in the 1990s and in the early part of the twenty-first century, we were unable to cohesively build a plan for such a project. Several years ago, however, a former graduate of a Next Level International training program, Catalin Baciu, was appointed the Teen Challenge director several years ago, doing an outstanding job in the city, counseling, bringing holistic guidance as well as practical help to boys that are homeless and have been on drugs. He has now created a strong community of rehabilitation, inner reformation and spiritual reformation. He has a vision to see Teen Challenge as a leadership development agency with those who have been thrown to the bottom of society, to arise and become strong leaders in the country. As a result of this, late in 2008, he began to a core group meeting using his graduates as the initial nucleus. In the first six weeks, the group which meets on a Thursday night has grown to 100 plus men. This is a beacon and bright and shining light in a very dark city that is in desperate need of this kind of hope.