Dark nights conceal the shabbiness of Bucharest. Her shadows hide children sniffing glue from plastic bags; intoxicating themselves dulls hunger pangs and keeps them warm. Teenager Vali climbs down a man hole into an underground cave where he sleeps with six other children. Rubble and worn tyres litter the ground. After being beaten up in a children's home, Vali chose a life on the streets. Anca Dionese works for Save the Children and spends her nights visiting different groups of street children. She bribes them to give up glue sniffing with second hand clothes. By building up emotional relationships with them, she wins their trust. Near a metro station, she is upset to discover Maricica, a recent convert, sniffing glue with old friends. Maricica attends a day centre backed by the French where the children are encouraged to develop talents such as juggling. Official government policy is to return children to a stable family wherever possible. Report includes interviews with the Ministry of Education, Director of a State Orphanage and the Romanian Child Protection Committee. Profiles of the children prove distressing but it appears the government is renewing its efforts.

Produced by ABC Australia