Chairman's Report 2007

From EEFC Chairman Donald Matheson

I have to report that the past year has been quite a busy one for EEFC with six camps being run in three countries - Hungary, Romania and the Ukraine - and support given, in the impressive person of Sam Thomson, for a special camp in Surduc for children who have a terminal illness. There was a very late appeal for a new camp planned at short notice for Debrecen, Hungary but the national organisers decided at the last minute to cancel the plan for this year.

We are thankful to God that, despite some early concerns, sufficient staff materialised eventually for all UK teams and that they all travelled safely to and from the camps. Not all the camps were fully staffed with national teams and the Ukrainian camp was only rescued from serious difficulty by the spontaneous volunteering of two translators from Hejce. The Camps Coordinator and the UK team leaders are asked to try and mobilise the national teams in the host countries a bit earlier this year and to call on the Convener and Vice-Convener if contact with the respective national denominations at this level would be helpful.

In order to familiarise himself with all camp locations the Convener ( accompanied by Alice ) travelled by car round them all, starting at Hejce and visiting Rat, Hodmezovasarhely, Mahanaim,Bucsin and Tivadar, a journey of 3,5000 miles from leaving Dover and returning. He is very grateful for the hospitality received at all the camps and to Magdi McAlister for acting as " tour guide " in Tirgu Mures and Bucsin. The visit to all camps served to emphasise the need to upgrade the facilities at Hejce and Mahanaim and to finish the excellent accommodation and activity areas at Bucsin.

In early 2006 your Council commissioned a special appraisal and assessment of the Lidia Children`s Home in Tirgu Mures which had been a source of increasing concern over several years regarding the Christian care and personal development of the children. The appraisal was undertaken by Mr Charlie Macleod of Blythswood, a recognised expert on Children`s Homes. In essence it identified several major deficiencies in the organisation and management of the Home which, amongst other things had led to criminal indiscipline by a number of the children, and serious relational problems within the staff.

The Convener then arranged for a special meeting in Tirgu Mures with the LazarenumFoundation ( who are the executive management board for the Home ) which he attended along with Charlie Macleod, Sam Thomson and three members of Action Concern Europe, a major sponsor of the Home for over 12 years. The sponsors, including EEFC, stipulated that all further financial support for the Home would be conditional on the management structure being reorganised and residential House Parents being appointed to replace the existing, non-residential director post. A meeting was also arranged with the Director of the Child Protection Services (CPS) in Tirgu Mures to confirm that as Romania was due to become a member of the EU, its CPS would henceforth be subject to EU regulations. However the Lidia Home would continue to be recognised as an essential part of private organisational contribution to children`s services in the country and not strictly under the national scheme. Nevertheless EEFC would endeavour to ensure that every effort is made to comply with EU law.

As a result of these meetings and subsequent correspondence a new management committee has been set up for the Home, with the explicit remit to reorganise as requested by EEFC and other sponsors. It was also agreed that the re-organised Home would be renamed New Families Initiative (NFI) The Committee`s plans are not yet finalised but will probably involve the separation of the current 17 inmates into three age groups to be re-located under the internal management of house-parents. Some of the previous sponsors have reduced or set a time limit to their continuing financial support but Blythswood have agreed to take on sponsorship with effect from this year. Please pray that God will open the hearts of all sponsors to continue supporting this very worthwhile enterprise until the Home (or Homes) become self-supporting.

Turning to plans for this year we are preparing for two camps at Hejce and one each at Bucsin , Hodmezovasarhely and Mahanaim. The Tivadar camp has been cancelled by the Hungarian team because of the horrifying accident to Pastor Tamas and Mrs Irenka Czucs. Irenka is now home but still not fully recovered while Tamas`s injuries have not yet healed sufficiently for him to leave hospital. We thank God for the considerable recovery of this family to date and pray that they will be restored to full health in His time, and in His will be able to re-establish the essential link with the Hungarian Reformed Church in that area.

I also have to report that we have had the services of two Secretaries during the year though unfortunately not at the same time. We are very grateful to both of them: to Kerrie for taking over from John Johnstone until her hospital duties in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary forced her to resign , and to Janet who nobly took over " on a temporary basis" and is still holding the fort admirably. I should also like to register my appreciation of the retiring Vice Convener`s worthwhile though time-limited contribution. He is also Clerk to one of the busiest committees and I particularly value his standing in for me tonight. As I have already informed Council I have at last found someone willing to take over as Vice Convener... Rev Chris MacRae , a man with lots of experience of camps and youth work and one I will be delighted to work with. I commend him to you and ask that you formally agree his appointment to take effect immediately.

Lastly may I thank you and all our supporters for whatever you have done for EEFC in the past year.Your labour in the Lord is not in vain