STEPS achievements in 2009

In 2009 we started an exciting new project!  The headmaster of the large Roma school in Garcin, near Sacele, Brasov, Romania, asked us to build a workshop so that the children can learn woodworking skills, and so stand a better chance of finding a job and helping their families out of poverty when they leave school.  Again we were working with our good friend Daniel Hristea, from the Romanian charity FAST, who is doing so much to help the very poor Roma families and particularly their children. 

   The school is surrounded by the poor houses of the Roma village at Garcin. 

Teams of volunteers each spend a week working in Romania. Teams are a mix of men and women with basic if any DIY skills prepared to get their hands dirty, and spend some time with the children. Volunteers need to become members (£5) and if they wish to join one of our teams are expected to make a donation to STEPS Romania of around £400.  STEPS pays for transport, food, accommodation and materials for our work.  We work hard, but it's very satisfying to be able to make a difference. The 2009 team dates were: 9-16 May, 15-22 June, 5-12 and 12-19 September and 9-16 November.

Progress November 2009

We received a generous grant from a management trust and this enabled us to complete some of the outstanding work and have central heating installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress September 2009

There were five people in the September team: Sue Dean, Lesley & Stephen Entwistle, Fiona Pearson and Meg Prowting.  They were helped by Romanians George, Avram and Peter.  They concentrated on the difficult task of fixing the heavy plaster board to the ceilings. They completed this, and finished around the windows with plaster board and metal trim.  They applied mesh tape and a first layer of plaster over the seams and screw heads.  

  

 

    Also in September, a team from Plymouth, led by Margaret Smith, completed the build of a house in one of the Roma villages near Brasov.  The build of a second house is well underway.

Two members of the team helped complete the electrics in the Garcin school workshop.

Progress June 2009

There were six people in the June team: Neil Gregory, Ted & Maureen Hawksey, Colin Skelton, Chris Smart and Steve Walker; Romanians George and Peter helped us all week. The team insulated the walls and clad them with plaster-board.  They connected the electricity supply from the school and installed power and lighting in part of the building.

     

 

Progress May 2009

The first 2009 STEPS Romania team clad the outside walls with OSD boards, fitted windows and the external door and made a start on the internal wall frames.

      

 Progress April 2009

The local Romanian company has completed the construction of the frame of the building, ready for the first STEPS Romania team in May.

 Progress 13th April 2009

The Romanian company is making good progress constructing the timber building.

    

 Progress March 2009

Through the Romanian charity FAST, we have paid for a local company to dig the foundations, lay the concrete floor and construct the timber building.