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July/August Owing to the buildings on the site being in the middle of upgrading we could not use the site this year. So instead, a smaller team went and stayed at the orphanages. Two orphanages and two hospitals for the handicapped were visited. We took games, organised theme parties and picnics amount other activities, over a period of two weeks and three days. The last three days were having the people from the hospital at Siret (300) in batches of 50 for half a day each. Reports follow. A team of post office volunteers very generously collected donations to pay for expenses to take two artics loaned by the post office with goods for us and Romanian Challenge Appeal.
The Future At this stage in the life of our charity we had to decide the best way forward. We have not been going for over 12 years and the need is still there. Things have changed over the years, and so has the attitude of the children and the authorities. In the past we have upgraded our site further than was required. Over the last few years it was becoming obvious that if we intend to keep the camp going we have to upgrade. 1. Because of the extreme bad weather at times we have to have accommodation where we can give the children activities indoors, and also sleep them in an emergency. Up to this year we had basic emergency sleeping accommodation in the store, but with having to alter the storage facilities this is no longer suitable. 2. We have already got land with a building on, which is owned by us. We need now to (a) Make it suitable for use no matter what the weather. (b) Make it attractive to the Romanian Protection for Children Dept (who are responsible for the orphanages) so that they will want to use it for holidays for the children. (c) Make it eventually self-supporting by the Romanians running fun weekends for children other than the orphanages, and paid for by their parents, and also letting it out to other organisations. “The surrounding countryside is very beautiful and adventurous, and it is anticipated that organised trips into the mountains ect can be arranged. 3. To do this, it is intended to alter the building in three stages, as and when we can afford it. 4. The intention is still the main object being camping. (a) Stage one is to build a room for activities with toilets attached, so that activities can be carried out irrespective of the weather, and to build two emergency sleeping dormitories on the end which can double up as lounges or activity rooms. Each sleeping 40 children. (b) Stage two is to alter the roof and upstairs rooms of the existing building, (the roof is at present wood, with a life expectancy of 10 years, and has now been in place for 9 of those years, it has also started leaking). Adding rooms above the activity room and store. These will accommodate 50 plus adults, in small rooms each sleeping 4 adults. It was also decided to form a charity trading company attached to Challenge Camp Romania (our Romanian Charity). This will enable us to let the site off when not in use by us, and also to generate funds so, as to be eventually self-supporting, with the priority being to benefit deprived children. So far the beginning of July 2004 will complete to-date the first stage. Unfortunately 2003 saw our generator die and it requires a full overhaul or replacing. It has stood us in good stead for 12 years, however the increase in load with the new building meant also something larger was needed. Fortunately we managed to purchase a second hand water-cooled generator, three times more powerful. At the same time we are installing a water purification system to purify the water from the wells. We had hoped the roof/floor of the first stage would be completed by the end of 2003, but we suffered a number of set backs in our fund raising, which meant the concrete roof could not be finished before the winter set in. It is now finished. (Our Fun Casino equipment and trailer was stolen while we were in Romania, which set back our fund raising for the next year, we also had to find the funds to replace the equipment and trailer). To achieve our target of stage two, we desperately need to raise funds to pay for the next stage. Your help would be appreciated. |