Romanian elderly enjoy a better life

Jun 3 2008 by Andrew Welsh

PERTHSHIRE worshippers have donated almost £14,000 towards helping improve the lot of vulnerable Eastern Europeans.

A humanitarian aid programme in Chesau, northern Romania, has taken giant strides thanks to sponsorship provided by members of Crieff’s Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Since the Gwydyr Road church first lent its backing in 2006, the project has gone from strength to strength, comfortably realising two long-term goals.

Workers gave themselves three years to increase the number of residents at a home for the aged and disabled from 23 to 50, and to bring its levels of care and hygiene up to EU standards.

John Arthur, chairman of the church’s aid projects committee, said the initiative had been a resounding success.

“I would give the project ten points out of ten,” Mr Arthur, who is a former Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) director, said yesterday.

“I am happy to say that the objectives have been realised in just two years, and the home is now on course to accommodate 70 patients by the end of this year.”

Mr Arthur, who has just returned from a visit to Romania, described the premises as “spotlessly clean”.

“Such conditions are a million light years away from the dreadful plight of orphans and senior citizens 18 years ago when the Iron Curtain collapsed,” he said.

Crieff resident Ruth Farrer, who was one of the main initiators of the project, said that with unemployment in the region still at a high level she hopes further aid can be sent across.

“The old people only receive a pension of between £40 and £60 per month,” she said.

“It is miraculous how the operators of the care home can provide such a good service for such a low payment.”

To date, the 60-member church at Crieff has collected almost £14,000 for the cause, with agencies like Blytheswood Care and Adra providing beds, kitchen equipment and other relevant supplies.

The next phase of the aid programme will involve the purchase of wheelie bins for each household in the village and provide a children’s playground.