Why did I volunteer?It seemed like a good idea at the time, as a family we have always donated money without really thinking too much about the effect it could have. This was an opportunity to make a difference directly & for my hard work to go to a good cause. I was fortunate that I quickly gained sufficient sponsorship to undertake the trip with support from friends, family, CSD & colleagues.
Who are TEECH?
TEECH are a small group of individuals based at BT in Martlesham who became involved in Romania orphanages & recently Moldovan orphanages’. They are local to Suffolk and the charity is sponsored by BT & they are passionate about what they do. By working with this charity I could see that every penny donated & every item given goes directly to the people who need it the most.
What did it involve?
In order to undertake the projects the charity has to take all equipment needed with them plus aid. This involved an lorry, transit van & mini bus driving for 4 days from Colchester to Moldova, including a wonderful 5 hour stop at the Romanian/Moldova boarder, but a beer in ‘no-man’s land’ is quite an experience.
We had been allocated a project in an orphanage that looks after children whose families cannot afford to keep them & also those children that have been abandoned.
What was the project?
We were based at the orphanage/school with a brief to install toilets in the school block, when we arrived they had 3 toilets for approximately 300 children & staff. We were allocated a large room were we removed the flooring & drilled a hole through the wall for the waste pipes. A false centre wall was built & the whole area needed to be treated before being painted & tiled. The toilets, wash basins & urinals were then fitted along with mirrors & coat hooks. Whilst the main project was underway we also redecorated 4 bedrooms in the accommodation block including new lino floors, treating the walls & painting all surfaces. We had also been donated new bedding so we were able to remake the beds with all new linens. The mattresses used by the children are simple blocks of foam cuts to size!
What was the highlight?
We were able to visit the orphans who have no family at their summer camp for the afternoon. To describe it as a summer camp is a not strictly true, it is simply a collection of huts in some woods & the children sleep on the floor.
When we arrived some of the children were playing football, however the football was the inner tube of an old ball. We had 10-20 brand new footballs on the bus which were greeted with loud cheers. The children have little to no personal contact with adults & it was striking & emotionally challenging how much they wanted to be picked up or cuddled or just simply to have some attention from somebody.
The TEECH v Moldovan children football match was a great success but unfortunately we lost 5-3 to a couple of hotly disputed off-side goals, we were robbed!
Would I do it again?
If I could I would definitely do the trip again but with a young family this might be difficult. I would strongly encourage anybody to get involved in this type of volunteering experience as it is emotionally rewarding. It is a physically & mentally challenging commitment but the sense of pride in the difference you can make is a wonderful feeling. I was also surprised by the strong friendships that I have made on the trip & the sense of camaraderie that developed with my fellow travellers.
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TEECH is a UK registered Charity 1074765 Registered address:- 1 Mandy Close, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 5JE
Gemma - Mobile 0779 5254946