Salvati Copiii Moldova

Aşchiuţa Home's Renovation Project

2008-07-09T12:08:00.008+01:00

We are so very grateful to the kind people of Searsburg Community Church and First Baptist Church of Interlaken New York, who have come together to help us in this most desperate situation.

Thanks to the kindness of Rev Fred Morey, pastor of Searsburg Community Church, we are scheduled to commence the renovation of the children’s bathrooms on June 12th. He will be joining me in Chisinau Moldova and we will begin to remove the old plumbing, walls, and flooring, and take the steps to correct years of leakage that has most likely affected the wood beams of the home.

The congregation of FBC Interlaken set up a small fund to assist with the Summer Camp costs for the children during this project. Without their help this would not have been possible. The children will depart Aschiuta Home the morning of the 11th in preparation for the extensive work that needs to be completed.

Sadly, we had made plans for this project over two years ago. The work was considered essential then. However now, it’s an absolute crisis.

Recently, a minister in the states made a plethora of promises to help numerous groups and organisations in Moldova, including the rennovation project for Aschiuta Home. The Moldova prison system invested heavily in obtaining documents and details for a promised communication system. They prepared complex schematic work, in anticipation of the equipment’s arrival, when a national company in the states completed the upgrade of their security system. The old equipment was being donated to Moldova prisons, along with a large number of other items.

Also, I was promised that a blue print was being drawn up for a new home to accommodate the most vulnerable children who arrive as victims of child trafficking. There were many more promises of assistance including training programmes, help in securing uniforms, medical equipment, etc. Perhaps the saddest of all was a promise that was made to assist in the sponsoring of a Moldovan student. She set her heart on that promise, only later to find that the words were without substance.

I was invited to preach at the minister's church and present the children’s needs. Of course, I joyfully participated. I was profoundly grateful that so many needs were being addressed. When I shared the good news with so many officials in Moldova they were beyond ecstatic!

I’ve been in many churches in America, but I had never seen a church quite like this one. It was immense! My first impression was that it could have doubled for a basketball court and football field combined. Behind the lectern there was a raised stage where a small band played. What fascinated me most though were the six-foot screens on either side of the stage where a range of images could be displayed from a central electronic control station located at the back of the church. It brought to mind a sound and light show at one of London’s West End theatres.

As I returned to England I was ecstatic over all the help that was to come for so many. Over the weeks and months that followed, I received calls from the minister telling me of all the wonderful things he was in process of doing to help. But after a few months, when I began to ask simple questions about arranging dates for him to come out with me, to meet the government leaders in Moldova, the minister would tell me of accidents and tragedies that were affecting him and his family. I accepted this and never pushed, but I did repeatedly ask for some form of communication from any one of the businesses or individuals who had promised this help. He kept telling me that he’d be glad to write something himself, but he would never commit to securing any specific communication from them.

I was probably late in my decision to do this, but after six months of repeated promises I finally telephoned one of the organisations that the minister told me was connected with the help we had been promised. I was profoundly saddened to learn that they had absolutely no knowledge of the project, the church, or the minister. I can’t say how saddened I was, on two levels.

First, it was self-evident that all the hopes and aspirations of the children and principals of the Moldovan villages, prisons and children’s homes, would not receive any help. Secondly it was the fact that the Moldovans accepted what was told to me without reservation. They openly trusted my word and they worked hard to provide essential details and information to help facilitate the orderly arrival of the goods.

It is indeed a tragic event when people make promises and extol their own self-importance before people who hold lesser fortunes. Scenarios such as this can also create doubt towards people of an entire culture. And in those instances, prejudices can be formed.

Salvati Copiii Moldova, (Save The Children Moldova), Aşchiuţa Home, and I are profoundly grateful for the kindness and charity of the people of Searsburg Community Church and the Pastor and congregation of First Baptist Church Interlaken for reaching out to the children of Moldova.

Note:

Salvati Copiii Moldova has many needs for Aşchiuţa Home. Items include an industrial freezer, dining dishes and cutlery for up to forty children and house-parents, to summer and winter shoes of all sizes for the children.

Also we are most desperately in need of a large transport van for the children. (ours has rusted away!) Some organisations have told me that businesses often lease vans and then donate them to charities for a year at a time, thus taking tax credits as a result. However, we’d be more than delighted to have ANY van!! (If it’s imported into Moldova, however, it must be no more than six years old and must be a left hand drive vehicle.)

If you are able to provide financial support, the charity registration and bank details are listed below.

And finally, if you would like to come to Moldova, I would be delighted to have you as our guest! We ask that people travel in groups of two please and we are pleased to assist with transport and accommodation.

Our list of needs is constantly changing and is as diverse as the seasons. In the village we have an incredible list of needs for the school and community centre.

Several Rotary chapters have provided invaluable assistance and we hope to have more organisations and individuals come to meet the children and learn how you can make a difference in their lives.

You won't regret it!

Thank you for your care!

Ave Copiii Moldova charity registration number: 0447

Casa Aşchiuţa

Registered since: 7 April 1998

Ave Copiii Fiscal: (tax Nbr.) 793 987

Official street address for forwarding financial funds:

Casa Aşchiuţa
ONG "Ave Copiii" Moldova
str. Constantin Stere 1, MD 2009

Chişinău, Republica Moldova

Banking details. (Transfer information)

(account no.) 1011620002711 (For Pounds Sterling)

SWIFT: VICBMD2X

IBAN 1011620002711(GBP)

Beneficiary Bank: VICTORIABANK, Chişinău, Moldova

Correspondent Bank: COMMERZBANK AG

Frankfurt/Main, Germany

SWIFT:COBA DE FF

(account no.) 1011620002711 (For US Dollars)

Casa Aşchiuţa

ONG "Ave Copiii Moldova" Moldova

BC VICTORIA BANK (Beneficiary Bank)
filiala 3, str. 31 August 49, Chisinau

(bank code) 280101416

(account no.) 1011620002711 (For Euros)
Casa Aşchiuţa

ONG "Ave Copiii" Moldova

str. Constantin Stere 1, MD 2009
Chişinău, Republica Moldova

Ave Copiii Fiscal Charity: (tax Nbr.) 793 987

Child Suffering The Children's Story Exploited Children

Aschiuta Home Anglican Prayers

Autumn Needs

2007-09-29T15:24:00.000+01:00

The summer has drawn to an end. The children are back from summer camp and as with any child, they’re anxious about starting school. After the debacle over the renovation project, we’ve had to set our sights towards meeting the children’s immediate needs.

We hope and pray we’ll receive help to get the bathroom renovation completed soon, as our mutual concerns mount over the condition of the wood beam joists that serve to support the flooring of the bathrooms. And from a psychological point, it’s a dark corner where the children must bathe, which can have other consequences when dealing with traumatised children.

Veronica and Inna have been packing up school supplies; ring-binders, rucksacks, pencils, pens, paper pads, everything a child would need for school. Those items will be distributed in the villages during the next few weeks. The UNHCR provides a small grant to support refugee children in the villages, but the amount is too small to reach everyone. In Aschiuta home, we must rely upon direct support.

Shoes are at the top of the list. Winter comes fast and it’s important for the children’s young feet to have comfortable and appropriate new shoes to help their developing feet. Whilst I’ve never been opposed to ‘used’ shoes, I recognise there are several considerations; firstly, there is the physiological consideration. A growing child places extreme pressure on a small shoe. It can actually be damaging to a child’s foot to place them in a shoe that has already formed itself to a previous owner. I must be honest, I wasn’t aware of this until several years ago when a paediatric orthopaedist told me of the number of children who later in life have problems with their legs and backs as a result of adapting to hand-me-down shoes from the family.

The other issue, which is equally important, is the intense peer pressure a child faces in school and other settings involving children. Within their own confines, the children of Aschiuta easily identify with the traumas and losses that each of them has encountered. Therefore, there is seldom any taunting or arguments. In fact, quite the opposite. The children are amazingly docile and adaptive to any setting.

It’s important to a child’s development and recovery to provide as much ‘normality’ (if there is such a thing) in their lives. It would be cruel and unfair to prepare a child for school in such a way that they stood out among the other children and became targets of cruelties that only children can manifest.

Clothes for school also play an important role. Thankfully, there are no obsessions with branded clothes as there is in the west. All that's required is that the children’s clothes are neat, clean, and presentable.

I’m most thankful to the manager of Priceless Shoes in Bexhill, who has provided me a small discount on cases of new winter shoes. But the list of needs far exceeds what we can supply.

I’m often asked how people might help. As always, I encourage organisations, businesses, or civic and church groups to come out to Moldova and see what our needs are. Anywhere you turn, you’ll see a need.
Getting employees involved in social responsibility projects can have a powerful positive impact on staff morale. For young people it can educate and inspire them to understand more about our world and our social system.

For anyone who would like for me to speak with their church, business, or civic group about how you might become involved, it would be my honour to do so.

I won’t mask the fact that the work can be challenging at times. But I can promise you the rewards are priceless!

If you would like to learn more about the needs of Aschiuta Home at Salvati Copiii Moldova, please scroll to the bottom of this blog. Thank you!

The Childrens Story

Come Home

Children In Crisis

Exploited Children

Death Of A Child

Anglican Prayers Anglicans

Technorati Profile

Can You Help, Please?

2007-07-20T01:39:00.000+01:00

We’re in a crisis. Sadly, the funds we anticipated for the children’s renovation project have failed to materialise.

Aschiuta Home stands empty today. In anticipation of the renovation project, to have commenced on the 12th of June, the children have been sent to a Summer Camp.

Unfortunately, the individual(s) who were coming to assist with the project are unable to do so. Additionally, the necessary funds to finance the materials and local labour are unavailable as well.

Not only am I a hopeless optimist, I also believe in the power of miracles!

Excluding the cost of the Summer Camp, the project estimate is GBP£4000, or EUR€5800.00, or USD$6900.00

Funds may be sent to the bank details listed at the bottom of this blog page.

Verification of charity status may be confirmed through the Moldovan Ambassador to the United Kingdom: Charity Details, tax numbers and bank SWIFT codes are at the bottom of this blog.

Mariana Durleşteanu
Ambassador
Ambasada Republicii Moldova
5 Dolphin Square
Edensor Road
Chiswick
London W4 2ST

Tel:+44 (0)208 995 6818

.

Salvati Copiii Moldova
Charity Registration number: 0447
Registered since: 7 April 1998

Official street address: Salvati Copiii Moldova

(Save The Children Moldova)

Str. Constantin Stere 1, MD 2009

Chisinau, Republica Moldova

It’s humbling to have to be so direct and frank. However, due to the years of water accumulation in these already inadequate bathrooms, the necessity to repair the structure and facilities are beyond a critical point. We need your help, now, please!

In His service

Fr. Bill Haymaker
Rector
St. Paul's Parish
20 Suffolk Road
Bexhill On Sea
East Sussex TN39 5BH
England
Tel:+44 (0)1424 223693

There are so many other critical needs as well. However, the planning for this project and its funding has been in place since last year. And without immediate help the alternatives are distressing.

Big World Small Boat Moldova Children

Aschiuta Home Children In Crisis Exploited Children

Anglican Thoughts & Prayers The Children's Story

Diary of a Priest

Anglican Prayers

Anglicans