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Child Action International

Romania:

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.

It's a remote area where time has stayed still. You can hardly believe that you are in 21st-century Europe: it is as common to see horses and carts on the road as cars, and field labourers still use scythes. And this is a landscape of stark but incomparable beauty, especially in the autumn when the trees are bright with reds, golds and bronzes. But don't let that beauty beguile you into thinking that this challenge will be a walk in the park.

The Challenge
Starting in the historical town of Sinaia, your trek will take you through the stunning and varied terrain that is now synonymous with the area. You will take on a number of the Carpathian highest peaks including 'Caraiman'. Standing at over 2500m, you are close twice the height of Ben Nevis!

The Purpose
And, before returning home, you will visit the project for which your challenge is raising vital funds: a halfway house for teenage Romanian orphans, to enable them to adjust to independent living as adults. Our 'Arc' project is located in the heart of Sinaia.

The Date
After the success of the first Cold Mountain Challenge, back in 2004, the Trust has made the expedition an annual event. This year's trip will take place in June.

For further information call Gill Dickinson on 01925 220999, email gill@epiphany.org.uk or drop us a line at the address below. View a PDF with more information about the Challenge.

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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 stay in a Romanian orphanage was brought to Epiphany by the Wigan Youth Service. We had already been involved with 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 denied so tragically from the children for so many years.

The purpose of Camp Romania has always been the happiness of the young Romanians but the benefits of the trip 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 in this period easily transcend language barrier and often last far beyond the visit.

Whilst in the institution all sorts of games and activities were organised, from football to art & 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 the past decade the Trust has organised groups to go and spend one week in the orphanage, then take a dozen orphans on a holiday in the Carpathian Mountains. For many it is their first holiday, 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 barbeques in the sun.

Camp Romania 2007 will be the 17th of its kind. Nothing could better demonstrate the success of this project. Two groups will be making the journey, the first leaving on 29th July, the second on 5th August. There is still availability for both dates so if you would like to participate in this year's Camp Romania then please contact Gill at the office.

Read reports from previous years

Read testimonies from Camp Romania participants

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