It is now 15 years since the Lowton Churches Romania Appeal
began to refurbish a whole building (now known as the 'English
Pavilion') in the grounds of an orphanage in Lugoj, near Timisoara,
the city where the Romanian revolution began in December 1989.
There 450 children lived in total squalor, "cared for" by a vastly
overworked, underpaid and totally demoralised staff numbering
28. With the help of local labour, and volunteer British craftsmen
and women, a first class environment for the care and education
of learning disabled children was created. The Lowton appeal,
which now channels its funds through the Trust's Child Action
International programme, continues to support the work of the
orphanage by maintaining the 'English Pavilion' and the renovation
of other buildings on the site.
From early aid convoys across Europe to organising the first
holidays for many orphans, Romania has always encompassed a large
part of Epiphany's work. Numerous other projects include the annual
and always popular 'Camp Romania', the supplying of ambulances
to a hospital in Sinaia, and the recent construction & maintenance
of 'The Arc'. Details on all our projects in Romania can be found
by clicking on the links below:
The Arc When
young orphans from Lugoj orphanage reach 18 they have to leave
the instiution and fend for themselves, many find it difficult
to adjust to independent living and often end up on the streets
or in adult institutions. Our facility in Sinaia aims to act as
a half-way step, and to teach the life skills necessary for these
young adults to cope with the outside world. More...
Camp
Romania One
of Epiphany's longest-running and most successful projects. Every
year, groups from England make a two week visit to Romania. The
first week is spent in the Lugoj orphanage, and the second in
Sinaia taking a group of young Romanians on (often their first)
holiday. More...
Global
Hand Aims
to redress the imbalance between the opposing worlds of massive
waste and chronic need. Epiphany's Arc was recently equipped and
funished through our partnership with this non-profit organisation.
More...
Cold
Mountain Challenge If
you've seen the film 'Cold Mountain', starring Nicole Kidman and
Renee Zellwegger, then you'll have seen the setting for our fantastic
fundraising challenge, because 19th-century North Carolina was
recreated in the Transylvania region of Southern Romania.
Fancy the challenge? Read more
about the 2007 trip.
Rejoice
Gospel Choir Based
in Ballina, Ireland, the Rejoice Gospel Choir backed Epiphany
Patron Jessy Dixon during his 2005 European tour. Since then,
the choir has fully embraced the work of the Trust. In summer
2006 they travelled to Romania to perform 2 concerts and visit
some of our projects. Rejoice are hoping to fund the contruction
of our new 'half-way house' in Lugoj. More...
Completed
Projects Since
1990, massive stocks of aid have been transported to Romania,
500 people have visited the country, nearly 200 orphans have had
a holiday in the Carpathian mountains, and 2 ambulances have been
put into service in the Prahova valley through the work of Epiphany.
Read about these and our other completed
projects.
