The Guild PROJECT UPDATE  Lydia Project Miriam: Changing the world together February 2009 The Guild has enabled Lydia to support a number of projects in 16 countries in Eastern Europe In the 1990s, there had been no social outreach or charitable organisations for around half a century, thanks to the Soviet systems. New groups have been developing and have encouraged women to carry out their hopes for transformation in their communities with greater knowledge and confidence. A wide range of people have been helped; from children and young people; young women and men, through to elderly people on very restricted incomes. November 2008 This update reports on the expansion of the Never to Late to Learn project which has established new work with senior citizens. Projects are being run on the following: A laundry service: for those with no facilities A Folk Club: to share musical memories Viva Operatta: travelling to musical performances Stay Fit: gentle exercise My Granny’s recipes: Sharing traditional recipes, baking and sharing them with orphans, homelss etc A retirement home A Chess competition for older men. New programmes are expected to follow September 2008 This update reports that the Never to Late to Learn project has been set up in Transylvania. This programme is working with the elderly, who often have poor pensions. Questionnaires were sent out to see what the elderly might like to do and a link has been made between North Berwick and the new group’s facilitators which is giving inspiration and support on both sides. Another big programme is Children – not for sale. This aims to raise awareness about child trafficking and a seminar is planned. Training of volunteers continues in Lithuania which will ensure an education for children who have no family or state help. January 2008 In October, a core group came together in Kiev to take forward plans for joint projects. Guild support is giving them the impetus to take things forward that may floor many of us! There is concern about the increase in the trafficking of children – not only for sexual exploitation, but for begging and stealing. One project to help this is ‘Children – not for sale’ which is a programme to teach those in a position of trust (police, social workers, teachers, clergy) how to spot those at risk. The first seminar will be in summer 2008 in Romania or Moldova. Another project is ‘Never to late to learn’ which is to help empower senior citizens who are isolated because of shrunken pensions ad humiliating circumstances. They come together and learn to share their experiences helps them get out of poverty – as does the provision of drop-in centres, lunch clubs and organised activities. In the spring, two women involved in such projects will be coming to Scotland to address the Project Co-ordinators’ Conference, as well as meet other Lydia supporters. Contact Lydia for further information. November 2007 The summer camp for street children and abandoned children has taken place in Georgia. Maia planned the programme for this with colleagues who are now learning how to launch projects for others in need. As this team showed what they can do, another British venture working in Georgia has expressed interest in supporting this aspect of the work in future. The ‘Children on the Edge’ project enabled deprived children to start school: Vasily, who was abandoned is being supported in education in Moscow, that neither his family not the state would support. Children in Transylvania have started school with books shoes and bus fares. Vira in kiev has a small support fund for the children of 300 poor families who cannot pay for the their children’s education. Lydia Project is inviting those interested to support individual children – contact them for profiles. Planning teams for the small projects for the next few years are under way, including ones working with refugee children and their families escaping war zones; another to keep orphans and abandoned children in small residences and day programmes, one to train people to help children being trafficked, another with older people and one to train volunteers. September 2007 This update reports on how Lydia is now able to fund five new projects starting with two that support children in greatest need. The others will be phased in shortly. The first is a summer camp for street children in Georgia. Children are driven to the cities by poverty and are in danger from crime or sexual exploitation. This camp takes 25 children for 2 weeks to the Black Sea, for activities. The children benefit from a holiday, and it is hoped to expand this to long term project offering help. The other is an education fund. In Moscow, Vasilly, who had a stroke when a baby, is being helped to become independent. In Romania, a village children are attending school with help to pay for shoes books and fares. Others in Latvia are being helped where there is no other form of support. February 2007 This update includes details of a group called ‘Useful to Albanian Women’ – they care for street children who are heading for petty crime, for refugee families and gypsies. This group help women with legal, dental and health care. Plans are being made elsewhere – for example, a summer school for Georgian street children. It is good to see the women doing this organise everything and involve others to make sure that these children have lots of opportunities. November 2006 The latest update reports on the meeting in Poland which took place mid-September. 45 participants from 13 countries met in Poznan, Poland and was a unique opportunity to gather women from previous training sessions and allow them to share their experiences and offer mutual support. Each told of their experiences and problems; discussing strengths and weaknesses, problems and solutions. None of their countries had a tradition of volunteer work or self help groups, and it has taken time to change the mindsets of those taking part Some of the woman have creative projects – others want to improve things for the local gypsy children. Others taking care of those with mental illness, taking them into their own homes. September 2006 The project reported that 40 women working in new church and community projects, from across central east Europe will meet in Poland. This will provide and opportunity to share experiences and lessons learned, as well as plan for the future. Fundraising to cover the costs of this has taken place: tea parties, candlelit suppers and plenty of coffee mornings. Two large grants also helped reach the target. Those attending were keen to maximise the use of funds by getting deals on travel and insurance, though visas to Poland proved difficult. While there, they will see round a project where a ruined building is being renovated for homeless people, and various co-operatives teaching vocational skills.