I am raising funds for CEF Moldova because this summer I went to Moldova with my family and helped at a CEF Holiday Bible Club. We stayed with CEF workers Lilia Petrov and Natasha and Nelu Ciorna and we were made really welcome.

I didn't know what to expect before we went but I had a brilliant time in Moldova. Even though I couldn't speak a work of Romanian and the kids didn't speak English, we were still able to communicate despite the language barrier through football and other universal sports.

Since coming home, I've kept in touch with some of the Moldovans and I'd love to go back again another year.

The children who came to the Holiday Bible Club live in small villages and have very little money. Most of them walked or cycled long distances to come to the club. They were given a free lunch every day and treats like ice-cream and sweets. 

At the beginning, there were games like football and volleyball and the children were especially excited by the trampoline. There were Bible stories, songs and memory verses every day. They really loved the Lego as most of them don't have toys at home. They were so happy to see the things they had made on display in the Lego village.

The majority of these boys and girls don't go to church and they had the chance to hear about God every day. CEF Moldova would like to run Lego Camps in other villages next summer, as well as running weekly Good News Clubs and giving out leaflets to all the kids of Moldova.

I have decided to fundraise for CEF to help their work because I saw for myself what a great job they're doing. I've chosen fundraising for the volunteering section of my Duke of Edinburgh award. All of the money raised will go to CEF for their work in Moldova.

I learned so much from my experience in Moldova. I learned to appreciate the things I have and to see how fortunate we are in Northern Ireland. I also learned that the children and teenagers we met, even though they don't have a lot, are just like us in many ways and I'm really glad I met them.

If you can support CEF by making a donation via my JustGiving website, I'd be very grateful. Thank you!

Daniel Coulter