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ROMANIAN CHALLENGE CAMP 2002 This was our twelfth year, and our tenth year as a registered charity. Again the year commenced with a Fun Casino Night, only this time it was in Blackpool at the Elgin Hotel on the 2nd September. Up to date we have raised about £90,000 for our own funds, and once again helped to raise an estimated £440,000 for other charities. Recycling brought us in about £40,000. BIG THANKS go to all the volunteers who helped with these two projects. This year "Thursdays Child" (financed by Arriva employees) raised £2157, of which £500 was given to "O Noua Viata" (A New Life) which is a Romanian Challenge Appeal Romanian Charity. £500 went to "Challenge Camp Romania" which is our Romanian Charity. £500 went to our charity and £345 was given out in grants. We now have our web site up and running and regularly upgraded, thanks to our Webmaster Paul. Well worth a look!!! www.romcamp.org.uk Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take a lot of foods etc donated by St Andrews Cleveleys and United Reformed at Marton and United Reformed at Fleetwood Harvest Festivals. However. we sorted what we were allowed to take, and the rest we donated to the homeless where it was gratefully received. Once again we had to alter the building to come up to the Health Authority ruling. We have built a medical treatment room and sick bay on the end of the building, and the old medical room is now the fridge, freezer and cutting up room. The store has had to be divided into three rooms, one for dry foods and two for stores. also a large cupboard especially for bread. We also have built a corridor so that food can be served through a serving hatch to the new dining/wet activity room when built. I must at this stage apologise for not reporting last year that the showers and toilets for leaders had been upgraded. In October I went across to organise the alterations to the building and also to visit the orphanages. I also visited "Gulliver" a home for terminally ill children with AIDS and HIV and a blind school to see if we could help. More details of these orphanages in other reports Because of the main store now being made into storerooms, with no windows, we have nowhere to accommodate the children in an emergency. It was decided, therefore, to erect a wet weather shelter, as one of the grey areas with the Health Authorities is that the children should be eating in a fully enclosed building to reduce the danger of "air borne germs". It was decided to make this into a dual- purpose building and use it as a dining room as well. Plans were drawn up and the foundations built. The new medical rooms were built. In April we had our training weekend at Fylde Scout Headquarters, when we also had our selection committee meeting, and Mike Loomes Assistant County Commissioner (Special Needs) West Lancs Scouts gave a talk on handicapped, and how to help. Helen Vladiuc came from Romania to join in with the training We were given some tents from the guides, and as we needed them urgently it was decided to send the mini bus out with them. This was done in May to tie up with the Romanian Easter, so as to avoid Helen having to miss University. It was also intended to start a cash account with Metro (a large wholesale superstore in Iasi) and purchase non-perishable food for camp and a small stand by generator. Unfortunately, owing to the problems with secure storage whilst building is going on, it was decided to leave the buying of food until later. The account was opened and a generator purchased. Whilst there Jock, Jean and myself visited the Blind School and Gulliver to arrange for the team to visit in August. The Romanian Selection committee sat and 25 Romanians were interviewed. For the first time, this year the Romanian team contributed financially to the camp and also got sponsorship from some Romanian Companies. On July 11th the first of the British team left, and on the 15th the camp started with children from Suceava Orphanage, Sasca Hospital and Falticeni Handicapped Orphanage (the children from Faltceni had to go back two days early because of the rain) and the following week by Siret handicapped. This week we had torrential rain and we could only have them out for three days, the other two days we were able to visit and work with them at the orphanage in Siret. The third week should have been the Gura Humoriliu children, but the campsite was not fit. We had no alternative accommodation owing to the building not being completed. It takes two days for the site to dry out, and because they come from so far away it would mean we could be in a situation where they no sooner got there than we would have to send them back. So it was arranged for the team to visit them for two full days. This was the most we could do through lack of money. On the Saturday we held a very enjoyable Fun Day for the local children on the site, and on the Sunday the team visited the Blind School at Iasi to take and teach special games purchased from the RNIB and then on to "Gulliver" to play with the children there. The last week was for children from the Falticeni main orphanage, and fortunately, we had good weather. A successful camp BUT with a lot of problems. Whilst at "Gulliver" we noticed a lot of renovations are required and some of the heating is not working. We have said, therefore, we will pay for a temporary repair so they will be warm for the winter. (This has now been done at a cost of £150) We have been very lucky in the past, only having two or three days rain while on camp, and only once have we had to send the children back to the orphanage. We have to re- think accommodation wise, as the idea is to get these children away from the Institutions. So we have to be able to accommodate and have a programme so we can have the children no matter what the weather is like. Now we have a Romanian lawyer, on a retainer, and so far she has been a very great help with the authorities and other legal matters. This year we also, have to install a filter system for the water, as owing to the amount of rain, the water from the wells, when checked by the Health Authorities, was not as good as they required and threatened to close us down. But after they had had discussions with the lawyer agreed that if we had this done by next year it would be OK as it was only impurities in the water. The problem is, if we cannot raise enough money to get at least the first phase done, we cannot guarantee having a camp, and as this is the highlight of year for these children it would be a pity. Once again helpers are required for the Fun Casino Evenings, Recycling and the Camp team. If you would like to help, please contact us.on 0845 345 7271 I would also once again, thanks on behalf of the children, to the team of volunteers that went to camp and those that supported over here, plus all those who helped financially. Without your help we could not carry on this much needed work David Kennington MBE Chief Executive
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