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successful Christmas shoebox trip
TEECH volunteers celebrated their second Christmas of 2019 in Moldova, having celebrated in the UK before heading off on the two week trip to Romania and Moldova, and again on the 7th January when the Moldovans celebrate. The team of 9 from England and Scotland, took over 2,200 shoebox gifts and 200 food parcels, all of which were hand delivered to families, schools and the elderly. The weather was kinder in 2019, with only small amounts of snow causing icy conditions.
Over 16 villages were visited, sometimes with the team splitting up to ensure everything could be delivered. Walking down tracks where vehicles could not go and getting pretty muddy! Volunteers therefore saw first-hand the conditions in which a lot of families live, with no running water or mains sewerage, making us realise how lucky we are and how just a small gift can lift their spirits for a short while. One older gentleman thanked the team for not forgetting the elderly whilst delivering food, and an older lady couldn’t believe she was receiving free food and thought that she would have to pay or there was a catch.
Jan and Barry Howe who joined TEECH for the first time reflected on their experience:
‘Abject poverty and misery for so very many, which rendered us speechless in so many houses. Unbelievable conditions in the 21st century. The much happier side was seeing the, so very well behaved, excited school children, wearing their Sunday best, who thought Santa had forgotten them, receiving a Xmas gift from Santa and knowing that they too could be going home to a house with little or no comfort and sanitation.
The generosity out of poverty was amazing. We felt very humbled by the giving of homemade gifts to thank us for what TEECH were doing for their community. We’re now left with the overriding feeling of “Could we have done more? And What more can we do”
The team were supported, once again, by the amazing Iulia (pictured above in snowman onesie), providing superb translation and organisational skills at each village visited. Whilst in Bolduresti volunteers were also joined and ably supported by Vlad, Sergiu and Dorina, who many of you will know from prior projects and their support over the last few years.
Thank you to all those involved. A selection of pictures from the trip can be viewed here. Hopefully the photos will provide a feel for the conditions in which people live and the joy the children felt on receiving their presents. We hope you spot your box!
Over 16 villages were visited, sometimes with the team splitting up to ensure everything could be delivered. Walking down tracks where vehicles could not go and getting pretty muddy! Volunteers therefore saw first-hand the conditions in which a lot of families live, with no running water or mains sewerage, making us realise how lucky we are and how just a small gift can lift their spirits for a short while. One older gentleman thanked the team for not forgetting the elderly whilst delivering food, and an older lady couldn’t believe she was receiving free food and thought that she would have to pay or there was a catch.
Jan and Barry Howe who joined TEECH for the first time reflected on their experience:
‘Abject poverty and misery for so very many, which rendered us speechless in so many houses. Unbelievable conditions in the 21st century. The much happier side was seeing the, so very well behaved, excited school children, wearing their Sunday best, who thought Santa had forgotten them, receiving a Xmas gift from Santa and knowing that they too could be going home to a house with little or no comfort and sanitation.
The generosity out of poverty was amazing. We felt very humbled by the giving of homemade gifts to thank us for what TEECH were doing for their community. We’re now left with the overriding feeling of “Could we have done more? And What more can we do”
The team were supported, once again, by the amazing Iulia (pictured above in snowman onesie), providing superb translation and organisational skills at each village visited. Whilst in Bolduresti volunteers were also joined and ably supported by Vlad, Sergiu and Dorina, who many of you will know from prior projects and their support over the last few years.
Thank you to all those involved. A selection of pictures from the trip can be viewed here. Hopefully the photos will provide a feel for the conditions in which people live and the joy the children felt on receiving their presents. We hope you spot your box!
