Sorry but there are a few things that I forgot to mention yesterday about our visit to the school in Congaz. As we were touring the school as well as meeting the wonderful children there, we were also shown some of the issues that the school has to endure. Firstly as we were walking around the school we were shown the dormitory’s where the children sleep, currently there are about 10 – 15 beds per room and the beds are the same beds that the school put in when it was built in the 1960 (yes the beds are 50 years old and they look it), they are in desperate need of new beds, mattresses and bedding (we took some but they still need more). The electrics throughout the school are inadequate and because of this their light bulbs only last a couple of days before they blow, this costs the school a fortune in replacing bulbs. The electrical problem also causes issues in the classrooms when they try to use say 2 or 3 of the electric sewing machines, it puts such a drain on the system that they cannot use any other electrical equipment, so they can only currently use one sewing machine at a time (I don’t know how they will get on with the computers with the electrical problem). Another issue that they have is that they have had new double glazed windows supplied and installed by a German charity but unfortunately they didn’t have enough money to seal them properly. This means that the wind and the cold blows through the gaps, so defeating the object of double glazing (the winters around Congaz are very bitter with the temperatures plummeting well below zero regularly). There is also a problem with the water supply which again is inadequate and often fails, this means that the children can only wash and shower at certain times as well as being restricted on using the toilet. These are but a few of the issues that the school has to deal with, so with the feeding of a child on 4 meals a day for just over a pound go together in failing to meet the basic needs of the children (food, warmth and shelter)
The big time critical issue is the fact that currently the school can only deal with children up to 16 but others with the right facilities can take children up to 18. As I mentioned yesterday they need the equipment to be able to offer this further schooling. The have the rooms and teachers to do this, they have the drive and determination to approach the Moldovan Government to authorise it; all they need is the money to buy the equipment and tools. Rest assured we will look into it; our aim is to try to ensure that those children that we saw today can be secured at the school for a further two years before next May.
The journey back is uneventful and quiet as all the drivers contemplate what they had seen the day before, they think about the children and the people that are doing everything that they can to try to make it a better life for these children. They think about how they can help and the new friends that they have made today and how kind they are. We were offered everything they had, water for shower facilities (the children have it restricted), beds in their medical rooms for the night because they were the best beds they have, they fed us three lovely meals (they only have over a pound per child per day), they even gave us fried eggs, chips and cheese especially because Steve said that he only eats cheese and chips. They gave what they could and it was much appreciated. We return to the hotel and say our goodbyes to our new friends, we promise to keep in touch and we will, there is a lot of work still to do.
Some of the other vehicles return and it the same story with all the other drivers, they all look shattered but pleased with themselves about the job that they had done today. No one moans, no one whinges they just have that same look on their face a look that switches from sadness to happiness and back to sadness as they remember their day.
Speak soon
Paul (one half of the big boppers)
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