History

The start of Children's Aid International Relief and Development (CAIRD) was God's vision placed on the heart of CAIRD's founder Peter Mrazik in the early 1990's.

After he viewed firsthand the pain and brokenness of abandoned Romanian children in orphanages, Peter knew that he had to commit his life to make a difference in the lives of these children 'one child at a time'.

In 1996, CAIRD officially came into being and in 1997 received charitable status from Revenue Canada. That year Haley and Peter Mrazik moved to Romania for four months and began work in the city of Medias, Romania.

Initially CAIRD worked in orphanages and in December 1999, CAIRD opened its first 'Father's House' which is a term CAIRD uses for an approved home for orphans. Today, all of CAIRD's children are living in a two-parent, Christian family home.

In mid-2000, CAIRD purchased a house with a large two-storey garage which was converted into a multi-purpose room. This room has been used for neighborhood children's clubs, youth and adult bible studies and English and Romanian lessons. Recently, another property has been purchased in the center of Medias and this facility will be used for the same purpose but many other residents of Medias will be able to take part in these activities. This building is called Center of Hope.

In 2004, CAIRD started work in South Africa with a joint venture in Bhekulwandle, near Durban, South Africa.  South Africa is facing a major crisis with the number of orphans because of the AIDS epidemic and adults suffering from AIDS requiring hospice care. In this venture, we anticipate that we will be able to provide this facility.

CAIRD now has two Father's Houses in South Africa.