REVA is a small Island charity, set up in memory of a dear friend Eva who died in Romania in 1997. REVA became a registered charity on 16 May 1998, the objectives of the charity being to support poor families and families with a child with a disability. The families we support live either in the town of Targu Mures or nearby villages and in the village of Lazarea.
Kati, a nurse who lives locally, continues to oversee our efforts in Romania and has been instrumental in the development of our charity. The charity originally supported families within their own homes and at that time our long term wish was to purchase a property to provide a meeting place for the families and a resource centre for the children. However, circumstances during our visit in February 2001 demanded that we establish a base in Targu Mures and the purchase of a property overnight became an urgent priority.
In association with Caritas-REVA (our Romanian registered charity) we finalised the purchase of a property in August 2001. The generosity of a number of people made the financing of this venture possible by the provision of interest free loans which we hope to repay within five years. The property is, in fact, two small houses set in their own courtyard. One house has been resourced to provide a quality play environment for the children and a meeting place for the parents. During a visit at Easter this year the interior of the house was carpeted and made ready for use. A local kindergarten teacher provides play/learning opportunities each day for the families and a local speech therapist attends twice a week to provide specialist intervention for the children. It is intended that the second house be used for administration, distribution and storage as well as providing accommodation for visitors.
During this time the charity has continued to support the families in the town and villages with regular shipments of clothing, bedding, toiletries, vitamins etc as well as specific items for individuals. Cristina, a young teenage girl who is unable to walk unaided, is now able to accompany friends and easily travel to school following the delivery of an electric scooter purchased by REVA. Hearing aids, new crutches, a Braille typewriter, financial help for medical treatment and wheelchairs have also been provided by the charity.
Although, since 1998 REVA has developed from home-based support to resource centre support, the original families have continued to benefit and we have had the privilege of seeing these children blossom. Orsi, the little girl who at three years old had no speech and was unable to walk, now joins in boisterous games and learning activities in the REVA house and Emoke, a little girl who no longer has a specific need, continues to attend with her mum because they like it so much! Our success has been tinged with sadness at the loss of Andrada and Daniel, two very poorly children, but their families continue to look forward to our visits and the charity continues with its support.
During a recent visit we were able to deliver winter clothing etc. to the families in Lazarea. All of these families are extremely poor but they each had a home made gift for us on our arrival. These rag mats and woven wall hangings are now adorning the house in Targu Mures. Contact was made with a primary school teacher in the village and it is hoped that with her involvement we will be able to help more families with young children. The gratitude of the families for the small amount we are able to do for them continues to be a very humbling experience
The way the charity has grown is brought home to us each year when we pack Christmas boxes for each of our families. From starting with four or five families in Targu Mures in 1998 we now send to 35 families at Christmas time.
Having achieved our long-term goal with the opening of the REVA house in Targu Mures and the imminent provision of a sensory room within the house (thanks to the generosity of the Ryde Rotary Club), our sights are set on establishing and improving the facilities within the property. We would also very much like to create a sensory garden and outdoor play area for the children. We will be providing a computer for the primary school teacher in Lazarea and would like, in some way, to further support Laci, the young man for whom we provided the Braille typewriter.
Over the years REVA has been able to provide for families in Romania only because families in England, and more especially on the Isle of Wight, have supported our charity by attending and contributing to the many and varied fund raising events we have organised. A number of our events have become regular enjoyable occasions – the strawberry tea garden party, lunches in the Yarmouth Methodist Church Hall at the Gaffers Festival and the annual Christmas fair. In addition we hold bazumbles and attend all the major summer fund raising events on the Island. The purchase of the property in Targu Mures has demanded that we find additional ways to raise money. The first of these was a very successful celebrity auction which raised over £4000. We also receive regular donations from individuals and very welcome donations from a friend on the mainland who provides lunches for her workmates throughout the year. Local ladies busily knit for us throughout the year providing much need beautiful blankets and jumpers for our families. Many local churches and schools regularly hold events and donate the proceeds to our charity.
Travelling to Targu Mures by road we encounter Coca Cola factories, superstores, McDonalds and many other signs of western influence but does this really make life any better for the families we support - sadly we think not. Inflation, poverty and unemployment continue to increase making everyday life difficult for many.
posted by gareth at 11/21/2002 08:20:56 PM
