The Romanian Aid Foundation Newsletter
Summer 2003
Orphan Child
It is hard for me to say the word 'Mother'
Because I know only too well who I am
All my dreams fly away
Like smoke in the wind.
It is hard for me to say the word 'Father'
That word would give me comfort and protection
But I have never had someone
Who can resolve my problems.
That is just the way it is
Because I have grown up with fear in my heart
Because I have never known my father
And I have never had a mother.
Bring me an abundance of flowers
So that my fate cannot be seen,
I hope that everyone forgets me
As if I never existed.
This poem was recited by one of the lunch guests at the Centre of Hope in Dorohoi, and translated by Daniel Cotae during the Supporters' visit in May 2003.
Report on the RoAF Supporters' visit to RoAF and GLIA projects, May 2003
12th May: Bernard Bellingham, Jane Inman, Moira Shanks and Clive Wright to Heathrow, courtesy of Bob Coates. Meet Anne Hughes from Lampeter, Melita Cullis from Bracknell and Sandra Armstrong and Colin Reid from Northern Ireland. All travel to Bucharest and board overnight train to Leorda.Tuesday: AM: Met at Leorda by Peter and Lesley Butcher, Steve Humphreys and Beni Mirauta and driven to the Centre of Hope in Dorohoi. After meeting to outline the week, Anne to Dumitru and Maria Condrea, Melita to George and Eugenie Mirauta, and Colin and Sandra to the hotel to settle in. Daniel Cotae, a Romanian friend of Colin and Sandra's from Brasov, arrives and is taken to the hotel.
PM: Families came for meal and children afterwards to play area. Bernard was given a poem by the uncle of Ionela - a 16-year old girl from a deprived family. Visit to the office to see the aid registration system and Laurenciu's work with Birotica, followed by a visit to the Old People's Home.
Wednesday: AM: Ladies and men split. Ladies to Botosani to see Aids hospital and children with mental or learning difficulties and men to the office and Dealu Mare warehouse to prepare aid for families. Anne Hughes went to Iasi to see the work amongst street children.
PM: Men take aid to the families specified and then all meet at the shop.
Thursday: AM: To Dorohoi School Nr.1 to drop off the class gift boxes from Sangers School in Horley. To Balinti to take teaching aids and equipment to the school. To Tataraseni to see the Farming project. To Havirna to take medical equipment to the clinic.
PM: To Darabani for a Romanian barbecue.
Friday: Ladies and men split and reverse Wednesday's timetable. Men provide play equipment to the children with learning difficulties and generally cause chaos. Anne Hughes returns from Iasi.
Saturday: AM: free time and general shopping.
PM: To Dersca to see Matthew's House, a farming project led by Delbert Gillette, and the (now-closed) orphanage that Helen worked in for 2 years.
Sunday: AM: To Dealu Mare for the service at the combined service with Delbert as preacher.
PM: To Dorohoi Baptist Church for the evening service. Then leave to go to Leorda for the return train to Bucharest.
Monday: AM: Plane to Heathrow. Goodbyes and then taxi home.
Report by Bernard Bellingham. The group flew by Tarom, with connections organised by European Travel Services in Bucharest.
Thoughts from Dorohoi
It was a hot dusty afternoon. We sat on a wall near the busiest junction in town. I looked up at the modern, yet crumbling apartment block. This was the most prestigious address in the area. I turned to speak with Sandra and found her in silent prayer. Eyes closed and hands held open. Not something you see very often these days in our town centres. But this was mid week Dorohoi and as we rested beside the only traffic lights reflecting on the events of the week so far it would have been easy to slip into "tourist mode". But instead our thoughts were with the people of the area. We had sorted and bagged clothing and bedding just received from the UK and helped deliver these to those in need. We had visited homes and witnessed at first hand the appalling living conditions. Large families living in one room, some without electricity or running water. We thought of the children with AIDS we had met and the children confined in a psychiatric hospital, some placed there by police or parents for misbehaviour rather than any medical need. The village medical centre with a caring doctor but with only basic and very limited supplies at her disposal. It would be very easy to become despondent, after all how could you help so many people in so great a need, and yet, the situation is far from hopeless.
A short walk away in a converted ground floor flat residents can find the Association Neemia office and on another street leading from the town, the Centre of Hope. The small team working in Dorohoi provides more than spiritual and practical assistance. They provide hope for a better future. The entire RoAF team and supporters are to be congratulated. It was a privilege to meet with the team. Every item packed, transported and delivered can make such a difference. Every penny raised can be used to ease suffering. I fear that there is much more work to be done.
Just watch the children play in the colourful play ground, listen to the teenagers worship in two languages, speak with the families as they enjoy a proper meal at the Centre. God is at work in Dorohoi and he hasn't finished.
Colin Reid
Contact Romania, Northern Ireland
The work goes on …
A replacement engine for the combine harvester was located by Jeff Tolson and escorted by him to Tataraseni. Nelu has been able to rig the engine for testing and he has reported that it started first time. Now he has to install the engine into the combine and prepare it for the harvest. However, there has been only about 20 hours of worthwhile rain in that area in three months and already two successive crops have failed. There may not be too much work for the combine to do, and this also means that the coming winter will be a very difficult time for many families.
Recognising this situation some people have already suggested making up family boxes instead of the individual gifts that are normally prepared. We have drawn up a list of suitable contents - these are things that will enable families to enjoy Christmas without diverting their limited resources away from the staple requirements which can be acquired locally. Of course, RoAF and Asociatia Neemia will continue to help those in need with clothing and food, as resources permit.
Link to family box contents list
The Contact Romania Group from Northern Ireland has been in existence for some 10 years. The group raises funds and provides aid to Romania and, following the "fact finding mission" carried out by Colin and Sandra in May, the group has now agreed to switch its focus to the Dorohoi area in support of RoAF and GLIA. Fund raising has already begun in Northern Ireland, with the aim of helping with transport for the Christmas gift boxes.
Opportunities to help.
RoAF continues to value the work that is being done by our growing band of supporters. However, there are still opportunities for others to get involved. More packers are needed in order to keep up with the increasing amounts of clothing and other items that were are receiving. Packers can either join in with the team at Horley Baptist Church on Friday afternoons, on Saturday mornings at the warehouse or take sacks of clothing home to pack at their leisure.
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This newsletter is published on behalf of the Romanian Aid Foundation and Asociatia Neemia. For further information or to be added to the newsletter mailing list please use our response page or write to us using the contact details below:
The Romanian Aid Foundation,
179 Albert Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 7HS, UK;
email: info_@_roaf.org
The Romanian Aid Foundation is a UK Registered Charity No. 1060828.
Asociatia Neemia,
Str Spiru Haret nr 9, Dorohoi, Botosani 6850, Romania.
Telephone 0231 610059; email: Beni_@_roaf.org
This newsletter is © Romanian Aid Foundation, July 2003. Link to previous newsletter: May 2003
