TIV Issue 2 November - December 2010 - Fundatia International ...

C.A.S. - About Hope and the Future
with Mrs. Linda Barr
Mrs. Linda Barr approached our school last year representing a Scottish charity that
operates in Romania, The RAP Foundation. The aim of this organization is to provide
support for children and young orphans. Ever since I first met her I have been impressed
with her determination, enthusiasm and dedication.
In her 20 years of charity work she has inspired many people to join her cause and
bring relief and joy to the young people from the “Cămin” day care centre. Three teenagers
from the Maxwelltown Highschool in Dumfries that visited our school last year,
have become local heroes and winners of the prestigious Volunteer of the Year 2010
Award. They received this for their efforts to help the orphans with severe physical and
psychological disabilities have a holiday at the seaside, here in Romania.
Mrs. Barr, by your work you have given many the opportunity for life-changing experiences, the possibility to do
something worthwhile and to be proud of. Can you please tell us, how did you choose Romania for your mission?
I had just completed my Psychiatric nurse training in 1990 and saw in my nursing journal an appeal for help for
“Romanian Orphans” after the Romanian revolution of December 1989. I had always wanted to work voluntarily for
some charity in Africa, but with the world wide appeal showing horrific images to help children in “orphanages”, made
me change my mind to volunteer for Romania.
How did you realise this was something you wanted to get involved in?
In the beginning I thought I could help in a little way to give some of my experience, love and support to these children
in need. When I first walked into the orphanage I was shocked by the decay of the building. There were 210 children in
this institution, but there were no sounds from them. There was such a sense of hopelessness. I immediately connected
with some of the children and staff and felt I could never walk away from them. We all need hope, no matter how
small, if we have no hope, then we have no future.
I was so lucky because I could walk away at any time over the past 20 years to my comfortable lifestyle, but I chose not
to. Working as part of a team with other volunteers and Romanian staff is so rewarding. To see the children grow in
their abilities is such a buzz and I want more! Now I feel like I’ve had the luxury of working with such wonderful people
over all these years!
What gives you the energy and the drive to continue and to recruit others to support your mission?
When you work with the young people from the Institution, you can see almost immediately the results of your work.
The great friends that I have made over the years, the trust, the openness, respect but most of all, the love that comes
from the children in the orphanage is profound.
Could you share one of your biggest challenges or one of the experiences that gave you most satisfaction?
Challenging the stereotypes of people towards individuals with disabilities has always been hard. Getting them to accept
that the children/young adults we work with have abilities too, despite their obvious handicaps was hard, but it is
happening slowly. We have been taking youngsters from the “Cămin” on holiday to the seaside since 1997, it gives
them one week in the year to feel valued and praised by the staff who work with them, the public and our volunteers
from the UK. It is so exciting to see the general public interacting with the youngsters from the “Cămin,” because in
earlier years the public would ignore or avoid them.
I was so fortunate to be awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen on her Honours list of 2006, as recognition for my
work in Romania. I was so delighted to accept this award as recognition for the hard work and commitment of everyone
involved with me in our work with the “Cămin” in Bucharest and other projects we have here in Romania.
It has also been so satisfying to secure funds from the UK to allow us to buy and refurbish an apartment in Sector 2 in
Bucharest where 5 young men from the “Cămin” are now living almost independently, working in real jobs in the community
and moving forward with their lives. That’s just been fantastic to see the change in their lives and the opportunity
they have to grow and develop.
Why do you think it is good for young people in particular to become volunteers in various community projects?
I believe it helps them to understand all the different challenges that all people have in life, not everyone has the same
opportunities, so many people are trapped in disabled bodies, but their minds are sharp and they have feelings too of
sadness, happiness, fear, pain and love.
Don’t take yourself so seriously, create awareness, understanding and see that we all have something to give in this life.
Everyone CAN make a difference to better someone else’s life, no matter how small the action is… “a small stone
thrown into the water, creates a big ripple that goes far and wide.“
Visit www.rapfoundation.com for more details about Mrs Linda Barr’s work.
In the background — Narcissus flowers by Daniela Chirea, a resident of the “Cămin” Spital
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