Council workers have clubbed together with other local people in a mammoth effort to help children and families in Albania.
Over 80 shoeboxes have been filled to the brim with educational material such as pens, paper and pencils; toiletries including soaps, flannels and hair brushes; and fun items like dolls, games and cuddly toys. The shoeboxes and pots of paint, along with bags of clothes and shoes, were taken over to Albania by van and a group of young people from the Bury area flew out to decorate the day centre and present the children with their shoeboxes.Several of the young people from Albania also got involved and helped with the painting.
The scheme was the brain child of Jill Rood in the borough council’s Legal and Democratic Services. Jill is involved with a locally-based charity called A2B (Aid to the Balkans) which finances a day centre and family sponsorship programme in Elbasan, Albania. The project helps to feed and support children and elderly people in one of Europe’s poorest countries.
Paul Heffer, chairman of A2B, said: “The response was amazing: children queued up in the day centre to receive their boxes and the atmosphere was like Christmas morning seeing their faces light up. Most of them have very little and some had not even seen toothbrushes before. Many of our young people were very moved by what they saw and it’s made them appreciate even more what we have here. We are very grateful to the council staff and local people for all their help.”
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For more information contact Marianne Hulland, Communications Unit, on 01284 757034, marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
