White Cross Mission
http://www.whitecross.org.uk/background.shtml
Firstly, let me begin by stating what the White Cross Mission is not. It is not, in any way, shape or form, a Christian Charity Organisation. It is a simply a Cornish-based charity which takes its name from the white cross of the Cornish flag.
Since
the One Percent Scheme began, I have been overjoyed with the progress
we have made with the White Cross Mission, and with what we've
achieved whilst working in partnership with them. For those of
you who may be unaware, some years ago the White Cross Mission
bought five farm homes near old Romanian orphanages and opened
them up as permanent residences for those children who needed
them. These homes not only provide accommodation, but also employment
for their inhabitants. The children work the farms themselves
and exist - to some extent - on what they themselves produce.
All of these homes have official sponsors - the One Percent Scheme
being the official sponsor for Casa Sfintul Nicolae (The House
of Saint Nicholas), which sits in the village of Suncuius in west
Romania.
As
the sponsor of Casa St Nicholas, we have been afforded a unique
opportunity. Not only do we know exactly where and to whom our
money is going, but we also know how it is making a difference.
Just a few months ago, for example, Jenny Townsend - the founder
of the White Cross Mission - went to Romania and visited all five
Farm Homes, including Casa St Nicholas. She has reported that,
now that St Nicholas finally has an Official Sponsor in the form
of the One Percent Scheme (for a few years, it was the only Farm
Home not to have its own Official Sponsor, leaving it as slightly
more deprived than its sister-habitations), it has made real,
tangible improvements.
I sincerely hope that you use one of your International
votes on the White Cross Mission, so that we may continue to help
the seven orphans of Casa St Nicholas: Ramona Kallai, Elemer Orgovan,
Claudia Varga, Gabor Lakatos, Eva Zambor, Adam Erdai and Cornelia
Lacatos.
Ross Dickinson - Jan, 2006