Six Halton residents from disadvantaged backgrounds have returned from India after an inspiring and emotive trip to an orphanage for children affected by HIV/AIDS.  The children at the orphanage have not only lost their parents to the virus but contracted it themselves. 

Aged between 16 and 34, the delegates were part of a group of 12 staff and residents from Halton YMCA Foyer in Runcorn, Cheshire and Cosmopolitan Housing Association.  The two organisations have jointly raised around £2,500 each year for the last two years to provide essential medical supplies for the children, to enhance their quality of life expectancy.

The group returned last month having spent ten days at the orphanage which is managed by the Mangalore YMCA and were able to experience first-hand, the day-to-day life of the children they help to support.  Rob Price, aged 19, was one of the residents from Halton YMCA Foyer who went on the trip.  He said: "I found it very hard and challenging but at the same time it was nice to finally meet the children at the orphanage and see the good work that's being carried out there after raising money for the project.  The level of deprivation we saw really helped to put things into perspective about our own lives here in the UK"

Kristene Karaski, Regeneration Officer at Cosmopolitan Housing Association, said: "This was a very challenging, and at times difficult trip but presented an amazing and rewarding opportunity to see first hand how fundraising efforts here, benefit the innovative and invaluable work carried out by Mangalore YMCA.  It has made all of us in the group more determined than ever to raise funds and awareness of the problems faced by residents in Mangalore, India"

Cosmopolitan Housing Association and Halton YMCA worked in partnership to raise funds for the trip and Lorraine Butcher, Operational Director for Preventative Services at Halton Borough Council, gave the young people a number of gifts from the council to give out to the children at the orphanage.

John Mackie Executive Director at Halton YMCA said: "This project fulfils one of the main aims of the YMCA which is 'To give young people the opportunity of gaining a better understanding of themselves, their community and the wider world in which they live'.

The delegation also included a member of staff from Y Care International.

Additional funding for the trip was received from Northwest Regional YMCAs (£1,000), The YMCA Movement Trust Fund (£1,500), The Church of the Foundry (£1,000) and Halton Housing Trust (£600).

 

 

Working in partnership with Halton Borough Council, Cosmopolitan provided funding to run a one day scheme to recycle and get rid of bulky items such as TV's, fridge freezers and sofa's, that could have the potential of being fly tipped on waste or green land throughout Halton Lodge.  The event was a great success for the local community, Cosmopolitan and Halton Borough Council and even better for the environment.  Positive results from this event include a reduction in fly tipping and residents are now more aware of recycling their unwanted larger items.