Romania: Camp Romania:

Camp Romania has been an annual event of the Epiphany Trust since 1991 when the idea of taking a group of teenagers for a fortnight’s stay in a Romanian orphanage was brought to Epiphany by the Wigan Youth Service. We had already been involved with the Lugoj orphanage during the previous year through our aid trips but this was a pioneering approach to bring not material aid but fun, friendship, time and love which had also been so tragically denied to the children for so many years.

Since its inception, the purpose of Camp Romania has always been the happiness of the young Romanians but the benefits of the trips have turned out to be truly mutual – new life experiences for both the children of Lugoj and the volunteers who travel from England. The bonds of friendship created during the visits easily transcend the language barrier and often last far beyond the visit. Whilst in the institution, all sorts of games and activities are organised, from football to art and craft work, basketball to just relaxing around a camp fire. It was noticed during the first few years that many of the orphans had never even been outside the institution. Every effort was made to take the children out on day trips to local towns and beauty spots. In the coming years this idea would shape the format of Camp Romania. For over ten years now, the Trust has organised group to spend one week in the orphanage and then take a dozen orphans on holiday in the Carpathian mountains. For many it is their first holiday, and certainly their first trip across the country. 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 barbecues in the sun.

2009 Camp Romania volunteers report much progress in the orphanage itself, with some rooms redecorated and a new play area, although sadly the ratio of staff to children still doesn’t really allow the committed and dedicated carers to give the children all the love and attention they need.

2010 will be our twentieth Camp Romania. Nothing could better demonstrate the success of this initiative than its long-term popularity.

 

Choose an area of work:

Burma | D.R.C. | India | Pakistan | Romania | Sri Lanka | Back to Child Action main page

^^top