( A huge thank you to all of you who sponsored me last year for the bike ride in Romania ...all cyclists completed the ride and we raised enough money to get the hospice for terminally ill children built ... it goes without saying that without your help this would not have been possible ... as you will read below, I am going back to Romania again this year to be involved in a new project and could really do with your help again ! )

For a number of years I have been involved with a charity called Cry In The Dark.    www.cryinthedark.org

Cry in the Dark is a registered charity that has now been caring for children in the Bacau region of Romania for a decade. It has a proven track record for making a significant difference to the lives of disadvantaged children, young adults and to the communities in which it operates. The charity works closely with the Romanian authorities and in partnership with other international charities to help this former communist country improve and develop its child welfare provision.

The charity's two primary projects include Casa Lumina, a residential home for 24 young people with special needs in Comanesti and, Casa Albert, a hospice and community care programme for children suffering from life limiting illnesses in Luncani, which is currently under development. These two complimentary projects combine to deliver Cry in the Dark's mission of 'total care' for disadvantaged children and their communities, bringing light where once there was only darkness.

Cry In The Dark - Hard Hat Challenge

In July I will be going to Romania to volunteer in the Cry In The Dark Hard Hat Challenge. The idea behind the challenge is that during the months of July, August and September, 70 + volunteers will assist the Charity in some new developments at Casa Lumina.

The proposed development project includes:

- The building of two new family-sized dwellings plus some reorganisation of the existing building

The project’s primary aim is to enable:
An independent living skills programme within the new family-sized dwellings providing a less institutionalised environment in which to foster personal social development and appropriate independent living skills (eg. shopping, cooking and gardening) for eleven of the most able residents.

An enhanced special care programme within the reorganised main building providing extended facilities (eg. further sensory and medical provision) for those residents who will unfortunately always have more complex and demanding physical and psychological needs.

The proposed re-development will also incorporate a small satellite clinic of Casa Albert our hospice and community care programme for children with HIV/Aids and other life-limiting conditions.

And this is where I could do with your help !

Each volunteer has to raise a minimum of £1200

£400 of this will cover the costs of my personal involvement (flights, food accommodation etc.).  The remaining £800 will directly fund the construction costs of the houses that I will be helping to build. Any amount that I raise over the £1,200 will go towards a fund to maintain the Casa Lumina complex into the future.

I will really appreciate any amount that you can donate.
£5.00, £10.00, £20.00 ... Every penny raised will be used to great effect to help improve the lives of others in need.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cry In The Dark gets your money faster and, if you’re a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

I have listed below some further information on Cry In The Dark and a little background information on Romania.

Thank you

Rob O’Shea

 

Out of the dark and into the light

THEN: In 1989 Ceausescu’s communist regime fell revealing a child welfare crisis. It is estimated that over 180,000 children were “warehoused” in large institutions, many of them with special needs. Nearly 10 years later a group of such children were found in one of the now infamous State orphanages by a group of concerned individuals who travelled from the to Dofteana after hearing of their plight.

The children were malnourished, lonely and suffering from severe neglect. They were discovered huddled together under the stairs “crying in the dark”. The living conditions were cold, filthy and dark. They were in various states of undress and were rarely washed or taken to the toilet. Several were seriously ill and all were physically and/or mentally disabled.

NOW: The charity “Cry in the Dark” was established and over the next two years funds were raised to build a small private orphanage called Casa Lumina that was opened in 2000.

It has now been home to 24 children with special needs for the last eight years and Cry in the Dark has made a promise to care for them for their lifetime. When these children were first brought to Casa Lumina having suffered years of neglect and lack of stimulation their needs were very basic – care, attention, love and a sense of belonging. Now, each child has an individual development programme reflecting their diverse personalities and disabilities.

In the eight years since the children came to Casa Lumina there have been

significant improvements in their development with some of the children reading,writing, drawing and using computers – unthinkable just a few years ago. Perhaps most importantly the children are happy, affectionate and know love.

THE FUTURE: The children have grown up fast and are becoming young adults presenting very different challenges for their carers. Even teenagers with special needs must be kept busy, have purpose and feel they are making a contribution to their ‘family’ and it is our intention to foster their potential to do this to the full. It is now necessary for Casa Lumina to evolve to meet the needs of our young adults.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN: In 2006 a strategic review of the Casa Lumina project

identified the necessity for further development of the relatively extensive site in order to meet the multiple and diverse ongoing requirements of the individuals in our care throughout their adulthood.

CASA LUMINA
In 1998 a group of children with special needs were found in the most terrible conditions in one of the now infamous Romanian orphanages.

The children now live in a small orphanage called “Casa Lumina” (house of light) that was built and is managed by the charity Cry in the Dark. The children receive the individual care and attention that every child deserves and they themselves are a testament to what can be achieved to change the lives of children suffering from the pain and loneliness of extreme neglect.

The children are now young adults and it is necessary for Casa Lumina to evolve to meet their changing needs. A development programme will ensure that we continue to meet the needs of these very special individuals in the years to come. The development of two family-sized dwellings together with a reorganisation of the existing building will enable both an ‘independent living skills programme’ and an ‘enhanced special care programme’ that will continue to benefit every resident of Casa Lumina throughout their adulthood.

CASA ALBERT

Casa Albert is Cry in the Dark's second project.
It will provide both respite and palliative (end of life) care for children with AIDS and other life limiting conditions. In 2006 the Community Nursing Team began work from temporary offices and is already caring for children and their families within the community. 

We hope to reach out to hundreds of children who will use the facilities of Casa Albert in the future and to thousands more who will benefit from the community care team and the training programme offered to health care professionals.

CASA ALBERT

- 8 inpatient rooms

- Parent

accommodation

- Outpatient clinic

- Community nursing

offices

- Education centre

- Chapel