Pictured from left: John Storm, Huw Jones and Stef Parr
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Three travellers from Zurich UK, John Storm (Head of Marketing Communications, UK Life) Huw Jones (Senior Assistant Health & Safety Officer) and Stef Parr (Policy Information Adviser) are about to head off on a 'Seeing is Believing' visit with a difference - one which involves a suitcase, a passport and a certain amount of trepidation. |
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From Tuesday 13 September to Friday 16 September 2011, our three volunteer travellers, will have the opportunity to witness first-hand the work of Hope and Homes for Children (HHC), one of Zurich Community Trust's charity partners, in Moldova.
HHC has been working in Moldova since 2001 where they have played an integral role in the creation of a national network of 53 small family homes providing a stable, caring environment for children who cannot be raised by their birth and extended families. As with the work that we have previously funded in Ukraine, HHC's work involves closing state institutions and placing the children into loving family homes.
It promises to be an informative, inspiring and, at times, challenging experience. We'll share their experience with you on their journey, with daily blogs and postings on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Thoughts before departure - Stef's story
"I'm really excited and looking forward to this visit. And also a little apprehensive I guess - I'm visiting a country I don't know much about, with people I don't know that well, but more importantly the emotional impact this will have on me, and what I can do to help when I get back.
I'm really pleased to be a part of this cause.It will be hard visiting the Sarata Noua Institution and the Institution for babies and young children in Chisinau, but very important too, as it is only through experience that you can really become enlightened. That's what will give us the drive to really raise awareness of Hope and Homes for Children when we get back. At least we know the children in these institutions will be moved into better homes - there is a light at the end of the tunnel for them. I wonder how many other institutions in the world need the help of this charity, and how Zurich can play a part in this cause.
It will also be great to visit children who have been reintegrated with their families - it's not often you go abroad and visit people in the homes that they live in, and it's important to actually see the results of the work that Hope and Homes for children do.
I'm sure I'll come back with a changed outlook - it's important for us to have a reality check sometimes, as we often don't appreciate what we have at home. It's all very well seeing or reading things in the news, but it's a completely different story when you witness things for yourself." Stef Parr, Policy Information Adviser, Cheltenham.
