Our Story

The Philippi Vision story began in the summer of 2018, when Florin Lupean and David Murza were volunteering in Ethiopia. There, they discovered a harsh reality: deep poverty, children with no access to education, and communities fighting daily for survival. The experience had a profound impact on them and changed the way they saw the world. One day, in the city of Ziway, they noticed an old foundation in a state of decay. They learned that it had once been the beginning of a school, but the project stopped after the American missionary who initiated it passed away. That’s when the thought emerged that would later become the vision of Philippi Vision: the desire to continue what had been started and transform that place into a school for children who have no chance at education. For many children in Ethiopia, school is not an option. Families can barely provide daily food, and these hardships push the little ones toward begging, dangerous work, exploitation, or other situations that steal their childhood. Florin and David understood that education can break this cycle of poverty. That is why they set out to offer access to schooling for more than 300 students, hoping to contribute to changing an entire generation. The beneficiaries of the project are street children, working children, children of prostitutes, children from families affected by HIV/AIDS, or refugees — the most vulnerable among the vulnerable. The experiences they lived in Ethiopia touched them deeply: the children’s joy for even the smallest things, their desire to learn, and their constant fight for survival. The time spent in a country marked by deep poverty and lack of resources showed them how different the reality on the ground is, and how great the need for involvement truly is. After returning to Romania, the thought that they could make a difference didn’t give them peace. This is how Philippi Vision was born: an association built on faith, responsibility, and the sincere desire to offer Ethiopian children the chance at a better future. Today, Philippi Vision continues this mission: to transform an abandoned foundation into opportunity and hope, and to give life to a generation that deserves more.