Romania: Completed Projects
2005:
Camp Romania
2005
The aim of Camp Romania is always to provide
a new life experience for the children of Lugoj Orphanage. Due
to the popularity of our annual summer trip, two groups had
to be formed this year to cope with demand. As in previous years,
the format consisted of a group of youngsters from here in the
UK travelling to Lugoj, staying for nearly a week and then taking
a couple of dozen orphans into the Carpathian Mountains for
a holiday of a lifetime. Throughout the stay in the institution
all sorts of games and activities are organised such as football,
basketball, art & craft work and just relaxing together.
The bonds of friendship created in this period often last far
beyond the visit. Once in Sinaia many orphans are given their
first taste of a host of pastimes we all take for granted –
eating out, wandering around town, shopping in a market, having
parties and barbeques in the sun.
The feedback from the returning groups this
year, as always, was extremely positive and some amazing experiences
were had – the benefits of the trip are truly mutual, both English
and Romanians gaining much from the fortnight. Most are surprised
at how the language barrier is such a minor hindrance to communication.
Many from Lugoj speak broken English but are happy just showing
their ‘guests’ around their home, their dormitory and their
prized possessions of maybe a book, a tape or something they
have made. All they want is family, friendship, time, and love.
The two camp Romania trips this August had
a good balance of newcomers and experience. This helped in making
it such a wonderful holiday for the Romanian children. For Yvette
Hampson this was her sixth time. She commented on the trip:
“Many of us had been before and had made good friendships with
children who we’ve been able to see grow up. This is what makes
each trip so special. I feel very close to many, think about
them all the time, and look forward to going back to Romania
to see them again.”
Well over 300 people have now taken part
in Camp Romania’s 14-year history, and it shows no sign of stopping
there!
2004:
Construction
of The Arc
The
Trust's work in Romania has won many plaudits at local, regional
and national level. Now, with your support, our involvement
is set to proceed even further.
Many will remember the plight of young orphans, medicated and
abandoned in Romanian orphanages. No matter what their individual
needs, the former regime had a brutal approach that relied on
medication and sedation of all.
These
children are growing up or are already grown up. They need a
place where they can take the next step, and learn to live a
life beyond institutional care.
With the support of caring people in partnership with local
agencies and the right sort of environment, they can thrive.
The Trust hopes to make just such a "half-way" step
to independent living a reality.
The
Arc in Sinaia will provide supported accommodation for those
coming out of care. It will be one of only a very few of its
kind in the country. Working together with the Romanian charity
which will make the building available, and Crossroads International
of Hong Kong which will furnish it, Epiphany Trust will provide
expert local staff to run the programme.
This ground-breaking initiative is certain to advance the modernisation
of social care in Romania, but it can only be launched with
your support.
^^top
Half-way house update
Next December marks the 15th anniversary of the Romanian
revolution.
In
the years since the fall of Ceaucescu a great deal of coverage
has been given to the plight of the orphans of the Communist
regime. These children have now grown up but their life has
not got any easier.
After a childhood of being institutionalised, a lot of the
orphans are now finding that keeping a job in the outside world
is tough. Sadly, some will end up on the streets and others
will end up in adult institutions.
Epiphany hopes to help bridge the gap between institution and
the working world with the setting up of their half-way house,
'The Arc'.
The house, in the mountain town of Sinaia, will be completed
by December and, as previously reported in Epiphany News, will
accommodate up to nine children and support them as they make
the step from state care to living without it.
Throughout May one of the Trust's employees, Gareth Hill, a
qualified joiner, worked on the construction of the house and
is delighted with the current rate of progress.
Gareth said: "It is coming on in leaps and bounds. The
house is now watertight with all three floors having windows
fixed and floorboards laid. It's now starting to look like a
house rather than a building site!"
Gareth's dad Bob has also been involved in the project, spending
10 days on the site.
2003:
Second ambulance bound
for Romania
Carol
Jones from Lowton, Warrington was a tireless campaigner for
the abandoned children of Romania since the fall of communism.
In the early years she collected aid supplies from all around
the area - then turned her energy and resourcefulness to fund
raising for the annual camp Romania. Carol tragically died of
cancer and as a fitting memory we decided to raise the £4000
needed to send a second ambulance to the Prahova valley so her
memory will live on serving the sick and injured in the mountainous
area around Sinaia and Brasov.
Carol worked as a nurse at Warrington General Hospital and
was a life long member of Lowton Independent Methodist church
where she acted as secretary and registrar for many years.
A close friend, Gareth, said this about her: "Carol is
very much missed and all who knew her feel that the ambulance
will be a fitting tribute to her memory. She used to help out
a great deal at the youth club and all the kids knew her. Her
support for the work in Romania would never waver; she would
always put other people first.
Her daughter Amy has travelled to Romania on many occasions
and continues the good work of her much missed Mum.
^^top
Camp
Romania 2003
“Once
again a well worthwhile trip. The kindness and love towards
the children was overwhelming, they can’t wait for the
next holiday.”
Bill Hampson Director of
Camp Romania.
“A Fantastic experience, a real eye
opener and I can’t wait to go back.”
Alison Picton describing her first
time on the trip.
“I enjoyed being part of the team
and taking the children away was a lot of fun! I also made some
really good friends in the orphanage.”
Amy Jones talking about her third
trip.
“Thank you for everything!”
Ion Vlasici - Director of the Lugoj
Orphanage/Special School
These are just some of the comments from Camp Romania 2003.
As with previous trips a group mainly from the north-west of
England ventured out to Romania with the intentions of taking
orphaned children on a holiday. The Epiphany Trust has long
lasting relationships with the orphanage/ special school in
Lugoj and with the mountain resort of Sinaia, the two destinations
of the trip.
Earlier in the year Carol Jones, a dedicated campaigner for
Epiphany’s Romania Appeals, died of cancer at the age of
56. Carol’s family thought it a fitting tribute to donate
money raised in her memory to a cause that was so close to her
heart. Carol’s daughter, Amy, 17, joined the group for
her third Camp Romania.
This was the first year in which we were able to take two groups
of children away so giving opportunity for more of the disadvantaged
and disabled children to enjoy a wonderful holiday. Memories
that will stay with the children include being on local television,
water fights, visiting their nation’s capital, Bucharest
and shopping for toys.
Thinking of a particular memory that puts the “icing on
the cake” is tough. Just take it there’s a whole lot
of icing on this cake!
2002:
Hospice
Opens in Brasov
This summer saw the opening of
hospice Casa Spirantei (Romanian for Home of Hope) in the city
of Brasov, Romania. With the British Ambassador and visitors
from the UK, USA, Canada, Holland and Sweden in attendance,
the hospice was opened by Dr Mary Baines OBE (who is now the
longest serving hospice doctor in the world). The children's
wing was opened by Emily Firmin creator of the famous children's
television cat "Bagpuss" after whom the wing is named.
Casa Spirantei is Romania's first hospice charity caring for
patients of all ages with cancer and other progressive illnesses
and has been developed in partnership with the UK based, Ellenor
Foundation. Although some of the funds now come from within
Romania, the project depends for its continuation and development
on the generosity of individuals, groups and charitable bodies
who have concern for the people of Romania. We plan to continue
our small but hopefully significant support.
^^top
Camp
Romania 2002
Twenty
seven people, mostly teenagers, returned in late August from
an annual summer trip to Romania, well beating the number of
eighteen in 2001. Organised by Epiphany Trust the group spent
a week looking after and arranging activity programmesfor children
at the orphanage in Lugoj. A week later they took sixteen disabled
children on the first holiday of their lives, to Sinaia, a resort
in the Carpathian mountains, and a town with a special ten year
relationship with our work.
The
children had a wonderful holiday of first-time experiences,
riding on a train, visiting a castle, taking a cable-car ride
to the top of a mountain, and ordering their own food from a
restaurant menu. It was a great learning experience too for
everyone from England, who had travelled by coach accross Europe,
and who were continuing an annual programme started in the year
following the Romanian revolution.
Everyone raised funds to cover both the cost of their own trip
and all the expenses of the Romanian group.
Already plans are being made for a number of trips in 2003
with, hopefully, even more people joining the group. If you
would like to be involved, drop the Trust office a line or email
bill@epiphany.org.uk
for all the details.
^^top
2001:
Wigan
Metropolitan Development Company is seeking Eurocash to
back up its programme of help being offered to the Romanian
township of Sinaia. The programme involves advising Sinaia's
authorities how best to divide up a large factory in the town
into small managed work spaces, and supporting that with practical
advice on how to start up businesses successfully. Alan Evans,
a Wigan Enterprise Centre Manager, advises local business people
in Sinaia on how to identify their markets, understand the basic
skills of running a business, adage their cash flows, and thus
create local jobs.
 |
The
initiative has come about because of links already created
between the Trust's Lowton Churches group programme at
Lugoj and other orphanages in Romania. The mayor of Sinaia
and local industrialists have visited Wigan and are anxious
to pursue practical initiatives between the two towns.
Development Company secretary, Adman Hardy; "The
Romanians need all the business help and advice they can
get to regenerate their very shaky economy, create jobs
and even save lives." |
"The development
Company's whole ethos is about job creation and we believe that
this will be money well spent, especially if it can attract
further help from Europe. The sum we have put in is very small
compared to our company surplus as a whole, but we believe that
it will prime the pump and help to get things moving over there.
We are of course at the same time making good friends in Romania
and also creating markets and opportunities there for Wigan
businesses."
Wigan Metropolitan Development Company
is an independent body set up in 1981 with the help of Wigan
Council to further economic regeneration by means of loans and
grants to companies. It generates its funds by developing land
for industrial purposes.
A further delegation from Sinaia will
visit Wigan in November 2001. Whilst the business links will
continue a number of educationalists will be in the party to
further develop links with Wigan Borough schools.
Cycle or Ramble the Carpathians
Why not cycle or walk with us in the beautiful Carpathian mountains
this summer and raise money for Epiphany Trust's Child Action
International projects?
Cycle, at your own pace, or join in a walking holiday to remember
and enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery in Eastern Europe.
From
our base in Sinaia, where you will stay in a very comfortable
hotel, both holidays will be led by experienced guides with
extensive knowledge of the mountains.
At the same time sponsorship money raised will go to our projects
in Romania, some you will have the opportunity to see. We particularly
want to support our new 'half-way house' which will be the home
of young people in transition period between spending their
childhood in an orphanage and living in the community.
For further information call Bill Hampson on 01942 671581,
email bill@epiphany.org.uk
or drop us a line at the address below.
A Lowton teenager's memory will live on helping
the sick and injured in the mountains of Romania. The Lowton
Churches Romania Appeal has bought a fully equipped ambulance
to serve a remote area of the poverty stricken country. It has
been donated in memory of James Dickinson, who lost his battle
against skin cancer last year. James, 19, a black belt judo
instructor, had visited the country with teams from Lowton's
five churches, the Wigan Youth, Service, and Rainhill High School
working with children with special needs.
Whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment he also arranged a
local team to take part in a walk to raise funds for cancer
research. The group purchased the ex-British Army Ambulance
from Germany which was driven to Romania by James' father, John.
James'
mother - Gill, a teacher in Rainhill, said: "Relationships
between Romania, Lowton, and Rainhill High have been ongoing
since the revolution of 1989, when our young people were initially
involved in aid trips to the desperate country. Since then several
cultural exchanges have taken place, culminating in our sixth
skiing trip schools exchange."
Hospital and medical facilities
are extremely poor in this part of Romania, as they are in the
rest of the country, and although it is a beautiful mountainous
area affording climbing and skiing in magnificent scenery, there
are no facilities to take accident victims or the chronically
ill to hospital."
"Few people own cars, so
that transport to and from hospital is very difficult. The ambulance
will be of immeasurable benefit to the Romanians. "James enjoyed
the rigors of the mountains in both summer and winter and the
ambulance in his name will be a fitting tribute to our son."
^^top
1990's:
Children clatter noisily down a corridor towards
a classroom, smiling staff try desperately 
to
bring order to the chaos. It is a familiar scene but one that
would once hardly have seemed possible here at the Lugoj (Lugosh)
orphanage in Romania. Memories are of a cold concrete block
crammed with 600 children in conditions reminiscent of the concentration
camps. Many were unable to talk or walk at the age of five,
their unused limbs dislocated by sheeting used as nappies and
left wrapped around their under nourished bodies for days at
a time.
A whole little lifetime spent in a cot, shared
with two or three other children living out a daily nightmare
which ended each evening with a routine inj
ection
of barbiturates to force sleep and "control" them. The improvements
at the Lugoj orphanage have been achieved 
by
helping local people to help themselves. A local architect was
employed to design the special care unit and local builders
used to take on the seemingly impossible task of renovating
the derelict building. The project received a vital cash boost
from Woolworths when Exit Merchandise*
collected back from stores was donated to the aid appeal. The
merchandise is sold to a wholesaler, who then sells to a number
of small retailers in the capital city, Bucharest. There have
been five shipments to date, with 70% of the sale value being
ploughed back into the Lugoj project. The range of merchandise
has at times caused excitement - and other times sheer bewilderment.
In a country where families used to wait for up to eight years
for a fridge and the average wage is £75 a month, the appearance
of disposable barbecues proved something of a conversation stopper.
Lugoj Special
School - The English Pavillion
Converted by Child Action interntational
*Exit Merchandise
Products which despite being marked down, remain unsold, are
described as exit goods. Previously destroyed, they are now
collected from stores and sent to Romania via Child Action International.
The Romanian economy benefits from this a when the goods are
sold on, they stimulate the growth of business.
^^top
New Facilities
in Lugoj
A new wing of the school for children with special
needs has opened. The school, which we have been involved with
for nearly ten years, is now recognised throughout the country
as a centre of excellence. The staff/child ratio is now approaching
1 in 3 and around 20% of the children are going on to mainstream
schooling.
^^top
Sinaia
Youth Employment Programme
Introduction:
Together with the local council and a local Christian foundation
the Trust is embarking on a new programme to help young people,
particularly those from institutions, to train for, and obtain,
meaningful employment.
Sinaia:
Sinaia
is a town in the Prahova mountain region of Romania which is
looking to build on its growing tourist industry. The town already
boasts several top-class hotels and is increasingly attracting
investment from elsewhere. Its popularity as a winter and summer
holiday destination is growing as people from both home and
abroad begin and continue to take advantage of its natural beauty,
historical buildings and its improving facilities. Peles Castle,
home to Romania’s former royal family was built in 1862
by Romania’s first King Carol and boasts treasures unrivalled
throughout Europe. It’s casino, a replica of Monte Carlo,
was between the wars a regular venue for Europe’s rich
and famous,and in more recent times witnessed the signing of
the first Arab - Israeli peace agreement.The Orient Express
stopped in Sinaia on its journey to Istanbul.
For
those who have grown up in orphanages and spent their early
lives in special schools, the adjustment to working life is
a massive step that many young people find impossible to take.
Working closely with employers in Sinaia, we are looking to
change that.
The Trust has been involved in several projects in Sinaia in
recent years and their involvement in this scheme is another
sign of our continuing commitment to the area.
^^top
