Local charities and churches combine to help orphanage

FOLLOWING two successful visits to the Village of Hope, in Romania, Capstone and Cross, a Melksham-based charity organised a further trip this autumn to create art works with and for the children. 

To help improve the environment at the orphanage the outside of one of the homes was creatively painted. A large mural was designed by Stuart Arnold and Naomi Owen, members of Melksham Churches, Queensway Chapel and Core Church.  The lower half was based on traditional Romania decorative tiled houses, with the upper half created from silhouettes of each of the children in action. Six volunteers from Melksham and the local area spent some 150 man hours to create the mural helped by friends from Oradea, the nearest city.

Each afternoon the team were able to help the children develop some artistic skills of their own. Working with art supplies donated by Wiltshire Scrap Store, each child was encouraged to express themselves and experience the fun of painting. Paintings included horses, sunrises, cars, insects, rainbows, the starry sky and much more. The highlight of the week was when each child’s final piece was mounted and hung in his or her room. Everyone involved said it was wonderful to see the pride with which the children showed off their art works. Capstone and Cross would like to thank all those individuals and local businesses who have made donations to make this possible.

Last year volunteers from Melksham built a poly tunnel greenhouse at the orphanage. This year they were able to taste the produce. The volunteers pay for their food whilst there and eat the same meals as the children, so it was good to share in what they had been able to grow this year. Capstone and Cross also supports a school in a Gypsy village and a shelter for homeless adults, both close to Oradea. During the visit this October they were able to buy a lot of disposable nappies for the mums who have no running water or electricity in their homes. Earlier this year supplies of Tena pads and medical dressings were sent to the shelter.

The visit confirmed that there is still plenty of work and fund-raising needed for the charity and groups of volunteers. Regular visits to the orphanage are planned to continue to improve the environment for these disadvantaged children and to support the hard work the Romanian partners have started.

If you would like to know more, find the volunteers on Facebook – facebook.com/Serve Romania