Dave Barrett
Registered user
It's been almost a year since I returned from a brief visit to the orphanage and school for mentally handicapped children in Calarasi, and I'm almost in a position to offer some much needed help, but I need support from the UKGS'ers. You want to know how? Then read on...
One of the main things that struck me there was the poor state of the toilets (see pics below). The whole building, which currently houses about ninety children and forty staff, has a grand total of ten toilets. Of these ten, seven are in extremely poor condition and in need of complete renovation, with three already having been brought up to an acceptable standard. A complete renovation of each toilet costs about 300 Euros, which for us is not much, but for local conditions costs the earth! To put things into perspective, some 40% of the Moldovan population survive on a daily income of just $2.15. My contact in the local Calarasi goverment is well-educated and therefore well-paid in her job. Her salary? 100 Euros per month.
Starting on Friday 27th June, a number of local cyclists start off from Bühl on a charity bicycle ride to Calarasi, a distance of some 2,500 kilometres, with over 20,000 metres altitude difference. The goal - to raise money for the orphanage.
Although I'm involved in the project, I wanted to do something myself to help out, specifically, to raise enough money to renovate the toilets. To be able to raise some money, I decided to write a small book about motorcycling in Eastern Europe, which of course includes the ride from Bühl to Calarasi and back that I did last year. The book is "almost" available. I say "almost", because two-thirds of the first run are somewhere between the UK and Germany at the moment. I plan to launch the book at the first Horizons Unlimited German Meeting (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/Germany2008.php), where I will also be giving an illustrated talk.
What I'd like to know is how many here would be willing to support by buying a book. Actually, don't think of it as buying a book, but giving money to a poor orphanage and getting the book for free! I am paying all of the printing costs myself, so that every single penny earned from the GBP 12 cover price can go directly to the orphanage.
The book has 126 pages and is printed in full colour with 82 photographs and 11 maps. At present, there are 150 copies, but if demand is enough, I'll get some more printed so that even more money can be raised.
Thanks in advance!
Dave
Mods: Any chance of making this "sticky"?
One of the main things that struck me there was the poor state of the toilets (see pics below). The whole building, which currently houses about ninety children and forty staff, has a grand total of ten toilets. Of these ten, seven are in extremely poor condition and in need of complete renovation, with three already having been brought up to an acceptable standard. A complete renovation of each toilet costs about 300 Euros, which for us is not much, but for local conditions costs the earth! To put things into perspective, some 40% of the Moldovan population survive on a daily income of just $2.15. My contact in the local Calarasi goverment is well-educated and therefore well-paid in her job. Her salary? 100 Euros per month.
Starting on Friday 27th June, a number of local cyclists start off from Bühl on a charity bicycle ride to Calarasi, a distance of some 2,500 kilometres, with over 20,000 metres altitude difference. The goal - to raise money for the orphanage.
Although I'm involved in the project, I wanted to do something myself to help out, specifically, to raise enough money to renovate the toilets. To be able to raise some money, I decided to write a small book about motorcycling in Eastern Europe, which of course includes the ride from Bühl to Calarasi and back that I did last year. The book is "almost" available. I say "almost", because two-thirds of the first run are somewhere between the UK and Germany at the moment. I plan to launch the book at the first Horizons Unlimited German Meeting (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/Germany2008.php), where I will also be giving an illustrated talk.
What I'd like to know is how many here would be willing to support by buying a book. Actually, don't think of it as buying a book, but giving money to a poor orphanage and getting the book for free! I am paying all of the printing costs myself, so that every single penny earned from the GBP 12 cover price can go directly to the orphanage.
The book has 126 pages and is printed in full colour with 82 photographs and 11 maps. At present, there are 150 copies, but if demand is enough, I'll get some more printed so that even more money can be raised.
Thanks in advance!
Dave
Mods: Any chance of making this "sticky"?
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