A retired couple from Vange are flying off to Romania next month to teach underprivileged youngsters how to make stained glass crafts.
Romania-bound - Betty and Martin Picture: ROB BROWNE 2TG7J3
Betty and Martin Read, of the Vale, learnt the skill of making the crafts at adult education colleges in Basildon and Southend and have decided to put their knowledge to good use.
After visiting Romania for a holiday in 1995, they fell in love with the country and now sponsor a child there through the organisation Romanian Challenge Appeal. They are now planning to spend ten weeks out there to teach young people the art of painting stained glass.
The youngsters, who are all aged about 17, but have a mental age much younger, all grew up in an orphanage.
Martin, 63, said: "We figured that if we can learn how to do it at our age, we can teach the children to do it. They have little chance of getting employment and so we hope that this will give them a skill that they can use to set up their own businesses."
Published Wednesday July 14, 2004
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