Welcome

This website will hopefully give visitors an insight into what Reach Romania Lancashire is about and what it has achieved, is currently doing, and hopefully will achieve with the very generous support of its sponsors, fundraisers and helpers, without whom none of it would be possible.

HELP ALWAYS NEEDED!

  We want to offer more than just comfort

 

WHY

This year in Romania, as in many countries including our own, the financial crisis is hitting hard - but there it is far worse. 

 

  • In a population of just over 21,500,000, 4 million are pensioners
  • In a population of just over 21,500,000, just 3 million are salaried
  • VAT has gone up from 19% to 24%
  • VAT is paid on food items
  • Pensions have been cut by 15%
  • Public worker salaries have been cut by 25%
  • Many social benefits have been cut or reduced where it not only hits the hardest but targets those people already at their most vulnerable e.g. prescriptions for those with heart problems, diabetes; the handicapped
  • Increments have been stripped off salaries
  • Some public workers have at times only been paid 3 weeks out of 4
  • Where there is no money to pay staff, workers  are receiving food vouchers instead

Many people are still living in 3rd world country conditions with

 

  • NO indoor running water
  • NO bathroom facilities
  • NO washing machine and sometimes NO fridge
  • NO heating or NO electricity

I saw one of our sponsored child’s grandmother collecting her water from a tap in the street on our visit less than 2 months ago in October, 2010

 

  • Many people still collect their water from taps in their courtyard
  • Many people still use hand dug shared latrines in their courtyard
  • Many families live in just one or two small rooms

‘HOME, SWEET HOME’ FOR NICU, AGED 10

  • 1 rented room, made of mud and straw, shared with his parents and brother
  • The roof is leaking and the exposed area was crawling with flies and insects
  • The yard in front of his home is just packed earth which will turn to mud when wet.  
  • Outside latrine
  • No bathroom facilities, no indoor sink or running water
  • Out of view: cooker with bottled gas and TV (electricity supply is illegal i.e. accessing someone else’s supply line)
  • Nicu is said to sleep on the armchair; his parents and younger brother use the small double bed
  • Mum was thrilled to have a working TV
  • Mum had just been doing the washing by hand

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS FOR THE SUCCESS OF
OUR RECENT TRIP TO BRAILA

For full details, please see Update: OCTOBER 2010 TRIP REPORT

You can make a donation in the box on the left or contact us using the contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible, or ring on the number below.

Thank you

WANT TO KNOW MORE?  HERE'S HOW....

WRITE TO US AT:-

REACH ROMANIA LANCASHIRE

PO BOX 769

PRESTON

PR3 6WX

OR TELEPHONE:- 01253 790767

OR CONTACT US USING OUR MAILFORM

 

Reach Romania Lancashire