St Luke's Church has teamed up with a Christian charity in Romania called "The Children of the Promise" set up to help Roma Gypsy Children who are often treated as outcasts because of their ethnicity.

Some of the children helped are also homeless orphans and the charity assists them by providing food, clothing and a chance of an education and the opportunity to develop music and I.T. skills.

In 2009 the vicar of St Luke's, Moray Thomas, went on a fact finding trip to Romania, accompanied by Vivien and Derek Alder, to see how St Luke's Church could help this struggling charity.

As a result this year St Luke's Church will be bringing 25 year old Lorena over from Oradea in Romania to Grayshott for three months in order to teach her English, and other subjects that will assist her in gaining a recognised qualification once she returns to Romania at the end of her time spent in our community.

It is hoped that Lorena will be the first of many Romanian young people who will come to Grayshott and St Luke's Church is now raising funds to provide them with learning resources such as a laptop and educational software.

A Facebook group called Roma Children of the Promise has also been set up which it is hoped will be increasingly used in the future to support the charity's work.

If you would like to make a donaton to this project please contact Derek Alder derekalder.1@btinternet.com