Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online

The aim of this Challenge is to raise funds for the work of Epiphany Trust in Romania.

It is now over ten years since Child Action International began to refurbish a whole building in the grounds of an orphanage in Lugoj, near Timisoara, the city where the Romanian revolution began in December 1989. There, 450 children lived in total squalor, "cared for" by a vastly overworked, underpaid and totally demoralised staff numbering 28. With the help of local labour, and volunteer British craftsmen and women, a first class environment for the care and education of so many learning disabled children were created.

 

 

 

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 has made just such a "half-way" step to independent living a reality.

Epiphany House in Sinaia  provides supported accommodation for those coming out of care. It is one of only a very few of its kind in the country. Working together with the Romanian charity that has made the building available, and Crossroads International of Hong Kong which has furnished it, Epiphany Trust is providing expert local staff to run the programme and volunteers to help care for the four young people.

This ground-breaking initiative is certain to advance the modernisation of social care in Romania, but it can only be continued with your support.

Recently I spent three weeks volunteering at Casa Arc, where I saw they needs of the four young adults who reside there.  They are all brought up in the above mentioned orphanage in Lugoc, and would have faced a life either in another institution or on the streets, as they were too old to stay at the orphanage yet have disibilities which would have prevented them from going on to getting a job and leading a normal life.  Thanks to Casa Arc they not only have a place to live, but also thanks to its rehibilitation programme they may, one day, go on to live alone and work along woth everyone else.  Whilst there I saw just how much support they still need, only one out of the four got any kind of education, none of them can read, write, tell the time or anything else we take for granted.  Using initiative and thinking forthemelves is an alien concept to them and they need to be told what to do in everyway, from how to shower, how much toothpaste to use, how to cut the bread, even a year on they need support in these everyday things.  It is staffed by volunteers, like myself, a cook and a house mother, the running of the house and paying of staff is costly and so financial aid is imperative.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Epiphany Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Thanks

S x