When 13 staff from Childbase visited Romania to personally deliver Christmas gift boxes to orphans and children in care, none had expected the tremendous impact it would have on them emotionally and professionally.
The trip was led by Juliana Di Niro, manager of Lavenders Day Nursery in Bedford, who is Romanian herself. More than 1,300 shoe boxes crammed with gifts were collected through the group's 38 nurseries and stored in Juliana's sister's garage, in Brasov.
Three days were spent travelling around Transylvania in driving snow. The first was spent visiting 11, mainly small state centres around Brasov. The second day took the group 60 miles outside the town to visit two large orphanages in Rupea and Dacias. On the third day a further five calls were made in Ghimbav, Codlea, Fagaras and Victoria.
With so many centres to visit, packing up the mini-bus trailer with boxes arranged by gender and age was nothing short of a military exercise. But the effort was well rewarded by the sheer delight on the faces of the children when they received them.
The group was impressed with some of the smaller centres, particularly those around Brasov. The best ones were homely and well equipped and the children seemed happy and well cared for. One of the most distressing visits for the group, however, was to the Bradet special needs centre. This was a very large, isolated institution housing over 100 older children and teenagers with wide-ranging disabilities and what appeared to be inadequate care and attention.
Zoe Wright, nursery practitioner, says, 'Romania was for me a unique experience that has allowed me to come back to work with a fresh approach. It taught me that the things we consider as necessities are in fact luxuries and we should be teaching our children to value small things. The children in Romania were very grateful for all they received and showed remarkable skills in social interactions and their ability to share what little they had with each other.'
Emma McVey, an assistant manager, says, 'A memory that sticks out for me was the family of eight children who had run away from home. When we handed out the boxes the oldest child sat watching her sisters open their boxes and had a tear, as she was so happy for herself and her family.'
The effect of the trip has got everyone in the group reflecting deeply on their practice. Area manager Sally Dunlop says, 'It has made me realise just how important interactions and stimulating environments are to the children in our care. We are the most important resource a child has.'
For nursery practitioner Sabrina Barbosa, the trip has reinforced the importance of warm interactions. 'Love, care and a cuddle can make a big difference to a child,' she says. Nursery practitioner Miranda Oliver adds, 'I constantly think about the children and how lucky our children are in comparison.'
All of the group are united in a desire to do more for the children of Romania. Nursery manager Emma Hewer now intends to send regular deliveries of blankets and clothes.
'Staff and parents are also keen to hear all about the trip and staff are realising how fortunate we all are,' she says. 'It has made a life-changing difference, and I can only thank Childbase for giving me this fantastic opportunity.'
In describing the experience as 'exciting, sometimes emotionally tiring, uplifting and sometimes scary', nursery practitioner Janice Gray sums up the general feeling.
'There were interesting people, some welcoming and others who couldn't wait for us to go,' she says.
'There were breathtaking views to run-down buildings. Always there were the shoeboxes and the children, who are the future of Romania. I hope we made a difference.'
