Teenagers on charity trip to Moldova (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Teenagers on charity trip to Moldova

TEENAGERS from Cirencester Baptist Church are gearing up for a charity trip to one of Europe's poorest countries.

The group of eight youngsters will be visiting the small village of Samalia in the heart of Moldova in October.

Armed with useful gifts and cash to buy basic foods like rice and pasta, for a couple of weeks they hope to become part of the 1300-strong community.

The trip is the brainchild of Bob Morris, the minister for youth and children at the Coxwell Street church. He has been to Moldova ten times.

He said: "It's an amazing place, but it is officially Europe's poorest country and is completely baron in many places.

"On one of my trips somebody commented that it reminded them of Africa and it is true that the average wage is about $40 a month.

"It is one of those countries where there seems to be a lot of injustice - the poor seem to just get poorer."

Bob used to be a minister in Southampton and it was there that he first forged links with Moldova. Since then he has been involved in numerous charity trips.

He said: "I went back two or three months ago and I have some good contacts out there but I didn't want to go back to the same place.

"I made contact with the church in Samalia and I think we will be able to reach out to the community when the group goes out there.

"We will be supporting the local school in the village, delivering equipment and taking part in church services."

Many of the group of eight will not have experienced this sort of trip before, and Bob says they are very much looking forward to it.

They are all from the Cirencester area and each have to raise £350 to cover the cost of their travels.

He added: "Most of them have just finished exams and this is the next big thing for them.

"It will take their eyes off themselves and make them aware that even in Europe there is quite serious poverty. I think they will gain a lot from it."

But the charity trip is not just a one-off as Bob is keen to maintain the link with the rural village. "I wouldn't want to go just once and just leave it at that," he said. "It's a partnership that is just starting."

For more information about Cirencester Baptist Church call 01285 643668.