Background

Members of Kilbride Presbyterian Church are gathering a Work Team to travel to Romania on 30th March 2018, to be part of the first phase of a three-year refurbishment project at the Algyogy camp site in Transylvania in support of the PCI’s mission partners in the region.

Overview of Algyógy

Since 2003, Algyógy http://algyogy.ro/ has been the camp site of IKE, an independent youth movement within the Transylvanian district of the Hungarian-speaking Reformed Church in Romania, which is also linked to the International YMCA. The camp is situated on a 1000m2 property and has in the grounds 4 dwellings, an old church (17th century) and a round tower chapel built in the late 11th century, which is the oldest of its kind in Transylvania. Over the years, Algyógy has been used for many events including English Bible camps, youth camps, guitar camps, Easter Courses and IKE leadership training. When IKE received the camp, it was in a very poor condition. With the help of partner churches, the main accommodation has been upgraded to provide basic living conditions, and currently Algyógy is a registered 2-category hostel, with 57 beds in 10 rooms, a dining room and five bathrooms.

The Project

Major renovations are now needed at Algyógy in order to make it safe and more comfortable, and also to increase the capacity. The overall cost of the 3-year renovation project is approx. £70,000. The Team from Kilbride Presbyterian Church will comprise 19 adults and young people, male and female, and will be part of the first phase of this project. The work will involve 3 main areas:

Refurbishment of bedrooms to include new bunk beds, flooring, storage and lighting

Electrical upgrades to systems and outlets, and the installation of a lightning rod (required by law)

Painting and decorating

Fundraising

This Fundraising Initiative has two goals:

1. To meet the cost of materials and tools necessary to carry out the work

2. To help with costs of travel and accommodation for the young people of the team, who are all students

The target of this Initiative is £10,000, and will be supported by various other initiatives within Kilbride Presbyterian Church, the local community, and other supporters of the work in the region.