Dauntsey’s continues its support of Romanian orphanage

A group of Lower Sixth pupils and staff from Dauntsey’s have recently returned from a visit to the Romanian town of Cernavoda to support Nightingales Children’s Project. Over a period of ten days, the pupils worked with local street children and orphans, ranging in age from six months to 24 years, to run a week-long play scheme. On some days there were as many as 120 children attending the scheme.

The Dauntsey’s pupils provided a real treat for the local children with craft, sports, drama, dance and team-building activities as well as parties and themed days. Most of the Romanian children live in poverty and have hugely complex emotional and sometimes behavioural problems. Some are quite severely disabled and many have HIV.

To ensure the trip was a success, the pupils started fundraising in January. They raised more than £12,000, which financed the week’s activities and will fund further projects at the orphanage. The money was raised through a range of initiatives including a James Bond-themed charity auction, cake sales, crepe and chip sales, a netball tournament, the sale of candles made by the girls from the project and sponsorship of pupils who took part in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race.

Emily Wilkins, the teacher from Dauntsey’s who ran the trip, said:

‘The Nightingales Children’s Project has been a long-standing commitment for Dauntsey’s pupils and holds a special place in our annual calendar. In the past 12 years, more than 200 pupils have gained a huge amount from the cultural and emotional experience of working with children and young people who are living in far less fortunate circumstances than themselves.

‘The pupils did a wonderful job raising money for this year’s trip and it was very rewarding to get back to the orphanage, see for ourselves how our past efforts are paying off, and decide how best to spend the new funds.’

If you would like any more information about Nightingales Children’s Project, you will find it on their website: www.nightingaleschildrensproject.co.uk/index.php