Among Romania's Handicapped Children

Several failed attempts to buy a house turned out to be a blessing in disguise when Sheila and Jasper Shotts from Humberside, England, got a strong urge to go to help in Romania. Sheila is a nurse and Jasper is a social worker. After seeing TV pictures of Romanian children's homes they felt that their skills could be of use. So they piled their belongings into neighbours' garages and set off.

On their first evening they were invited to the home of a complete stranger and were amazed to find there a hi-fi, colour TV and video. He was equally amazed to discover that these two 'Westerners' had no home, no video and no colour TV.

Incredulous

'At first no one believed that we were there to work voluntarily,' says Sheila. 'There is no tradition of ordinary people taking on the needs of their community. People looked incredulous when we suggested that voluntary work can be fun and personally fulfilling.' The Shotts were impressed by a group of Christian students they met, who were producing a monthly magazine to encourage debate and enlist participation in the country's future.

For two months the Shotts worked at a hospital with 570 handicapped children. 'They were so beautiful,' says Sheila. 'Shaved heads, shining eyes, radiant smiles, many tugging at our clothes for attention.' The hospital was clean, but some of the smaller children were confined to their cots most of the day, with little natural light. 'It was a joy to share with them their first experience of sunshine and fresh air.'

The assistant manager's plans for improvement were being blocked by bureaucracy. But the presence of the Shotts, as foreigners, helped to get things moving. 'We concluded that the hospital both needs and wants people from the West to support and work with the staff and to act as a catalyst for change through example and the exchange of ideas.' Since the Shotts' return to England a project has been launched locally to send people out on this basis.