In summer 2004, a group from Kelston and Westpark spent two weeks on a work camp in the village of Ilva Mica in Transylvania, northern Romania.  The work included a major operation to damp-proof a hostel in the village, used for youth groups.  The groups also painted the parish church with a weatherproof varnish and started building a light shelter next to a children's playground for which we laid the foundations.

A working relationship with an Italian centre for young people has now been established. An Italian group continued the work in the village during the summer of 2005. In future years the plan is for groups from Britain and Italy to continue working in this poor rural area, completing projects from previous summers.  This will include a new medical centre. Apart from covering the expenses of their own trips, each young person from London tries to raise a target figure of funds to help provide materials for that summer's project.

The group flew to Budapest in Hungary, and then travelled on overland to Ilva Mica. The area is mountainous and very beautiful, with the hostel and church built on the slopes just above the valley floor.  But it is a poor area and the project has the aim of making a significant contribution to local needs. The standard of living is much lower than the one to which the volunteers are accustomed: an eye-opening experience.  Despite the discomfort, the groups were cheered by the cooking of the family running the hostel who ensured they were well-nourished during their days of physical toil.

Apart form the works undertaken; the group from London were able to explore some of Transylvania, a part of Europe hardly known to many except in fantastic stories. The interchange with the young people in the Italian group also figures as an important part of the experience of the work camp.