It all started in 1994, when Rotary Clubs in District 1280 (north and west of Manchester plus the Isle of Man) started collecting shoeboxes full of gifts for the people of Iasi in Romania.

Children in the orphanage.

Rotarian Malcolm McCarthy was the initial catalyst for this and made links with Spurgeons Child Care Organisation who already had children's homes in Romania.

It was obvious that there was a great need for basic items which we take for granted in our daily lives and for toys for the children.

Initial help from Rotary also included building a Kindergarten in Iasi (pronounced Yash – a large city of in the north-east of Romania). The scheme became a national RIBI scheme in 1997.

In 1998 the Trustees tied in with International Aid Trust, having use at their warehouse, transport and contacts. In 1999 we became involved with 'Hope and Homes' distributing boxes in Romania and Ukraine.By the year 2000, some 50,000 boxes each year were being sent to countries including Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, Albania, Moldova, Kosovo, Poland.

Rotarians helping locals to paint the hospital.