Kind donors throw in kitchen sink to help equip orphanage

MEMBERS of a Bridgend charity have helped to donate 26 tonnes of equipment to an orphanage in Belarus – including a kitchen sink.

Pupils at Ysgol Cwm Brombil in Port Talbot have joined forces with a Glamorgan-based Chernobyl children’s charity to help orphans more than 1,500 miles away.

Earlier this year Ysgol Dyffryn in Port Talbot closed for the last time to make way for a co-educational school based on Bertha Road.

But instead of throwing its contents away, its lost property, unused uniforms, tables, chairs and learning equipment have been sent via a lorry to an orphanage in Gorodets to help the 100 children in its care.

Rachel Stead, Welsh teacher at Ysgol Cwm Brombil, said inspiration for the school aid lorry appeal came after 12 members of the Belarus orphanage visited the school during an annual respite trip to Blaengarw.

Rachel, 48, said: “It started with a couple of cardboard boxes and parcels and then people were bringing box after box and donation after donation.

“The lorry is absolutely packed to capacity: there’s clothes, food, lots of school equipment. We’ve even got a kitchen sink!”

Founded more than 20 years ago, the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Mid Glamorgan Link charity organises trips for children from the disaster zone to spend a month with host families in the Garw Valley.

The lorry began the five-day journey to Belarus last Saturday where it will be met by organisers.

Rachel said: “We just want to thank absolutely everyone, we’ve had donations from all over.

“We had another community in Merthyr get together to send a big donation across. We have host parents who are fundraising in the background and the children in the school have been amazing. One 12-year-old has raised £800.”

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