How much fun can 120 kids have? Well, the group currently over in Moldova certainly found out yesterday, when they completed the reconstruction of the second activity playground. It was located at an orphanage, 40 minutes drive from the main city, Tiraspol, in the quasi independent region, Transnistria. This brings to a conclusion the Oliver Rotary club international project, headed by Russell Work, but the start of the distribution of the sports equipment that was also loaded into the container back in June.
Some of the 120 orphans gather at the foot of the playground structure for a photo op before being allowed to explore their new environment. It was an appropriate time to distribute some of the sports balls that had been dropped off at Valley First Credit Union as part of their initiative to assist those less fortunate, as well as other businesses and individuals who contributed money and supplies. The adults in the picture are from left to right, Bob Dyck, Jeff Crowley, George Peters, the teacher of this physical education class, Susan Dyck and Russell Work
The tire swing proved to be extremely popular with the youngest of the residents . It was just as well that the Rotarian design team of Russell Work, Ernie Dumais and Ron Worth overbuilt the structure to accommodate the constant and heavy use.
After an excruciating two day wait to see a structure emerge from ground level up, the green light was given and the picture tells the rest of the story. The design by Bob Ellis has a balance beam, hand over hand apparatus, a climbing wall, tire swing, slide and chain ladder. Both sets had a tremendous amount of use in the first couple of days so they already have that well used look.
The team will spend a day or two in Odessa on the Black Sea before returning to Tiraspol to lend a hand at the sorting warehouse, where the clothing donated to the charity, For the Least of These, in Oliver, is unbundled and prepared for distribution to one of the ten thrift stores started by the charity, Help the Children over here in Transnitstria.