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Last Update: 2 June, 2008 9:38 AM

19 May 2009
SMILES FROM ROMANIA

Wales News
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Last year, Madelene Shepherd, from Newport, went out to Romania with a friend for a week to support the Smiles Foundation and their work amongst the numerous projects to support the poor, Romanian and Gypsy alike.

She was moved and inspired to go back this year taking her Mum, Linda Shepherd, and they have just returned with smiles themselves and a determination to carry on supporting those they met.

Last year's group contained a strong contingent from Northern Ireland who were back this year in force, with an articulated lorry full of useful goods.

"It took three hours for up to 20 people to unload it all", said Madelene. "But on a mission trip, it's not just about the giving so much as about contributing and seeing for yourself.

The huge gratitude of the families and children is fantastic when they get given something to improve their situation. The volunteers pay to be there and, while they have a great time and are well looked after, this is no holiday.

"Every day, we are out contributing to the project of our choice", said Linda. "Sometimes the work was very practical manual labour. Other times the important thing was simply to experience contact with the hardships and realities of local lives."

Kevin Hoy is the founder and chief executive of the Smiles Foundation (www.thesmilesfoundation.org). It was registered as a charity in the UK, USA and in Romania itself. The Charity has been going since 1997 and has established a children’s centre, a School, a Nursery, emergency housing and a community centre.

Their work is much more than that, however, with a number of projects helping communities with social work, delivering food crates and providing medical and dental assistance as well as a basic square meal for the children who can now attend school and build for the future.

Linda was a teacher and was particularly impressed by "small children of seven and eight with beautiful handwriting and obviously so content to be there". The Foundation's current capital project is to build a Nursing Home and Disabled Children’s Home.

Every penny raised is used for the good of the local communities. The maintenance and support for the charity comes from the Gift Aid reclaimed from the Government as a tax refund.

Although they were looked after during their stay, Madelene and Linda feel they have contributed more than they cost the foundation.

One of the knock on effects of having volunteers for a week is, of course, that they are inspired to support and show their enthusiasm to others on their return home.

"How can you not feel something when you see what a difference the Smiles Foundation makes to the area? Some of these families are living in a dilapidated shack with a mud floor as small as the average garden shed with nothing else to their name," said Linda.

"Any donation made financially, materially or prayerfully goes to where it was intended". There are many ways to contribute, and a wish list of needs is published on the website.

The Smiles Foundation are having a UK tour to raise awareness for their work with a Children's choir from Romania. The nearest stop for them to here will be Ross-On-Wye on September 13 2009.

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