Castletown couple to help Roma children

Doug and Rosa Drown are raising funds to set up a homework and nurture centre for those most in need of social and emotional help.

A couple from Castletown are heading out to Romania later this month to help deprived children.

Doug and Rosa Drown are raising funds to set up a homework and nurture centre for those most in need of social and emotional help.

Castletown formed an official friendship with a village in Romania last year so the charity is close to Doug and his wife Rosa's hearts.

Many Roma children never go to school and only about 30% complete Primary Education. Island charity Ro-man-aid have been asked for help by two village communities and in addition they are also carrying out a long term research project because the problems are so widespread.

The village of Girisu de Cris have recently increased the enrolment of Roma, or Gypsy children, but they are experiencing many difficulties in the classroom. Ro-man-aid has agreed to help develop a strategy to combat some of the problems.

Doug and Rosa will be helping refurbish and oversee the project and hope it will eventually be rolled out across more schools there.

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