PROGRESS

2002 PROGRESS

In summary, we’ve achieved a lot this year. The hostel was in a very bad state this time last year. We’ve been able to completely refurbish the whole of the girls’ floor, involving making and fitting double glazed windows and doors, re-plastering and decorating. The toilets, showers and washing rooms on two floors have been refurbished. There’s now a decent dining room and a comfortable room for the younger ones to play in. There’s a woodwork shop, two sewing rooms and two computer rooms. Our thanks to all who have worked so hard to achieve all this.

What follows is a blow-by-blow account of progress as it unfolded during the year – mainly progress reports from those returning from their week working in the hostel.

Team 5: 12 to 20 October 2002

Three more bedrooms completed on the girl's floor (inc windows, replastering, painting, electrics, curtains, door frame, door ...). The youngsters were SO keen to help, and are very adept at taking scrapers, paint brushes etc out of your hand!!

A playroom for the younger children - this is on the ground floor and aims to give the little ones somewhere to sit around and play in, which is actually their own - bright nursery curtains (donated by Helsby day nursery), stencilled walls to match, a huge pile of matching cushions in various shapes and sizes, and a carpet which is a road map, perfect for driving toy cars around - a stimulating, safe and cosy room where the children can be left unsupervised and an ENORMOUS improvement on the stairs and corridors where they currently hang around.

Electrical work included the wiring for new washing machines, proper light fittings instead of the more basic two wires poking out of a hole in the ceiling, and something which looks so out of place it is almost funny – and a BRAND NEW MODERN FUSE BOX.

The sewing room was a hive of activity all week including cushions, running repairs, friendship bracelets, sewing blanket squares together, making school uniform from scratch...

Much of the stuff taken over in the wagon has been sorted - with clothes put into separate rooms - sort of like a department store(!!) with menswear, coats & hats and shoe departments etc - all labeled in English and Romanian!! Distribution started, with everyone at the hostel being kitted out with underwear and warm layers for the winter. Staff from a hostel, working directly with street children, collected a heap of warm gear. It is very much hoped to also distribute warm clothes to the elderly people who come to the hostel each week for bread etc, and others in the local community.

The team spent lots of time with the residents of the hostel - really being and doing things TOGETHER - playing games, working, drawing & colouring, schoolwork, talking, choosing clothes, singing, dancing - but best of all SMILING & LAUGHING. We tried to keep the crying to ourselves. I have probably missed out loads, but at least this gives you an idea of our week.

There is a definite confidence and growing independence amongst those who have been living at the hostel for a while. We also had visits from some of the youngsters who have moved on and UP.

All in all, a wonderful experience for which we thank God.

Team 4: 21 to 30 June 2002.

Team 3: 1 to 8 June 2002.

The third team of 13 people and the fourth team of 10 people have returned from their week working in the hostel. This now completes our programme of visits for this summer. Also in June, with the help of the charity ‘Samaritan Purse’, we were able to send out a trailer load of essential materials.

There is now a fully equipped woodwork shop, a sewing room with several sewing machines and a cutting-out room. There are also two rooms with computers. The young people are already making great use of all these facilities. Curtains, bedspreads, headscarves, scrunchies, rag-rugs, necklaces, bangles and bags are being made. The computer rooms are full of children, now learning how to handle the mouse, but soon to get proper IT training.

A significant number of bedrooms have been fitted with doors and double glazed windows made in the workshop. Bedroom walls have been stripped, re-plastered and painted. We’ve equipped one lad with plastering tools and he’s now working in nearby buildings.

Ron and his workmen will continue this work, their progress limited only by the funds that we are able to raise.

Perhaps our greatest achievement is the impact that this has had on the children. Where last year they seemed to lack spirit, they are now much more lively and optimistic.

Woodwork shop

Rag rug and bedspread making

Computer room

Team 2: 18 to 25 May 2002.

Our second team, of five ladies, took out some sewing machines, bought materials and helped the children make curtains for all of their bedrooms:

Every child in the hostel got a homemade bag full of goodies:

The children also enjoyed some creative games:

Meanwhile, as Ron and his men finished a room, the children painted it and then moved in:

Team 1: 20 to 28 April 2002.

The first team has arrived back after a week working in the ‘Association Fair Play’ hostel. They confirmed that although Ron and his two Romanian workers had made much progress through the winter there is much, much more work to be done. Priority at the moment is refurbishing the toilets, showers, and washing facilities, which were in an atrocious condition.