Ecaterina Manuela Capraru is an exceptional young woman, not only because she completed high school with impressive high marks, but also because of her dedication to help others in the community. As a member of Catholic Action for over five years, Ecaterina has organized various activities that have made her conscious of the desperation, poverty and loneliness that afflict many. She was particularly instrumental in creating programs that focus on the well-being of children and the elderly.

Of her experiences with Catholic Action, she states, "During this time… I had the opportunity to meet many desperate cases of lonely old people, orphans, poor, hungry families. I was happy to give them a hand, a good word, a hope or sometimes some money that our group managed to earn through different activities. It was never much, but I always tried to have an open heart and to give them all my affection, especially to the very young and the very old. But I always felt that I could do more."

Now, with the hope of one day being equipped to do more, Ecaterina attends the Catholic Institute in Iasi where she is completing a four-year joint degree in Social Work and Theology. Of her aspirations, she writes, "If I were a social worker I would be able to help them more both with my knowledge and the legal means. I also want to study theology because I strongly believe that spiritual guidance is very important for suffering people… [A] social worker must take care of both spiritual and material needs of people."

Ecaterina is one of six children and is originally from Husi, a poor town close to Romania's eastern border with the Republic of Moldova. Her father passed away in 2003, and her mother is unemployed; thus, there is no stable income for the family. Ecaterina hopes that this scholarship will allow her the opportunity to both fulfill her dream of helping others materially and spiritually - a dream that otherwise would not have been possible for her.

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