Huddersfield teenagers raise money for trip to help Russian orphans

Jan 29 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Huddersfield teenagers raise money for trip to help Russian orphans

EIGHT teenagers from Huddersfield are raising money for a trip to help orphans in Russia.

The youngsters, all musicians, are putting on two concerts to gather funds for the visit this summer.

Chloe Hall, from Bolster Moor, is organising the visit after visiting the orphanage in the village of Yelatma three times with parents Ann and Simon.

Chloe’s family have been involved with the charity Love Russia since a representative, Alex Cook, gave a talk at Oakes Baptist Church in 2001.

Chloe, 16, said: “The conditions there are pretty bad. It’s very basic, they don’t have proper cleaning supplies. The orphanage doesn’t always have electricity or running water.”

Chloe worked at the state-run orphanage for 60 children aged three to eight in the rural village of Yelatma near Ryazan.

She said: “Some of the children have Down’s Syndrome and there are eight children sleeping and eating in each small room.”

After returning from last year’s trip, Chloe decided to recruit friends to return this year.

A group of eight young people will go to Russia in August where they will put on holiday clubs for children in the orphanages, including craft activities and music. Two will stay for two weeks and six for one week.