City Airport Funds Romanian Project

George Best Belfast City Airport is supporting orphaned children in one of Europe's most impoverished regions.

Belfast's city-based portal is sponsoring a life changing Romanian exchange programme

The East Belfast Area Youth Project is set to benefit from £4,000 of funding from City Airport's Community Fund. The sponsorship saw 18 young people aged 15-18 from east and west Belfast fly to Romania today to work with the local community in the rural area of Baraolt in central Romania.

Shown here is Ruth Morgan, Communications Executive at the airport as she points volunteers Victoria Young, Joshua Harper and Mark Irvine in the right direction as they fly out to Romania as part of an exchange programme.

During the eight-day exchange the group will visit a local orphanage and children's hospital, where they will develop a play-area and build a community garden.

The exchange continues when 20 Romanian teenagers will spend a week in Belfast in December.

The teenagers flying to Romania have been involved in a cross-community development programme for the last year during which they have been developing their understanding of various cultures and traditions.

East Belfast Youth Project Coordinator Scott Boyd said: "Our teenagers met in their free time to determine a way in which they could mark the completion of the programme.

"They decided an exchange would be the perfect opportunity to help young people of a different culture and from a less privileged background.

"Several locations were considered before Baraolt was identified as the area where the team would most like to put their experience to use and the exchange will be a life changing experience for the young people involved.

"Throughout the project the team will enhance their team skills, broaden their horizons and become more independent.

"We hope our local team feels a great sense of achievement at the end of their stay in Romania when they can see the difference they have made to the local community.

"The financial backing and support from the airport Community Fund has really made this exchange possible, and will be a significant reason why the project will be an immense success."

Michelle Hatfield, Corporate Social Responsibility Director at George Best Belfast City Airport said: "The airport is very happy that our Community Fund can help make such an exciting project happen.

"It is very encouraging to see our local young people reaching out and doing what they can to support those less fortunate than themselves.

"We wish all those involved with the project the best of luck and hope the exchange excites and inspires the local community," she said, noting that, to date the Community Fund has contributed £40,000 to 13 local projects.

(BMcC/GK)