Visiting Maramures in Romania, I met many remarkable older women surviving in isolation from their families. They stand firm against adversity and carry on with quiet resilience, anchored by their faith. These women inspired me to explore the values underpinning their strength & discover whether these values have carried through to younger generations.

The people of these communities share three characteristics: a strong connection with land & animals, a rich traditional culture & a deep-rooted faith.

The older generation value tradition, work, faith and family; their life is built around the seasons & the events of the Romanian Orthodox Calendar. Practicalities are difficult; most live in traditional wooden houses with no running water, & some have no electricity. If they have children, they are probably working in Western Europe. Many receive little or no state pension & struggle to buy medicines & other essentials, but they view their difficulties within the context of more challenging times. When you meet them, they are openhearted and generous.

The middle generation of women has different challenges, the biggest being a lack of employment. Hard work is ingrained in their character, but finding a job is difficult. Although family takes priority, parents leave to work in Western Europe, often taking agricultural contracts. They save everything & most use their earnings to build a new home in their village, but these lie empty and unfinished because there is no work to support a settled life. When they are home, they will attend church and wear traditional dress, but I felt their faith was not as deeply rooted as that of their parents. The pressure to earn money & the influence of Western Europe have undermined their values. They are still warm & generous but distanced from the old way of life. They love the area they grew up in but must work away to survive.

The younger generation was noticeably more influenced by Western European culture & church attendance meant dressing up with sandals and nail art, but faith still permeated their values. Young women value their extended family & some wanted to secure professional jobs within Romania; others had older sisters already working in Western Europe & were likely to follow the same path.

Although values change between generations, the core values of this society have proved resilient. They are strong, resourceful women with open hearts & generous spirits.