Bradet school takes both boys and girls aged between six and sixteen years of age. Children can stay in the school during the term time and then return home at the holidays wherever possible. For some children this is not an option and they remain at the orphanage permanently. Although a special needs school, the level of disability ranges from those with obvious learning problems to those who seem to require no special attention.

Being equipped with only a brief background and rough guidance about what to bring with us, our first trip was to Bradet orphanage on the Saturday morning. As we walked up the driveway the surroundings where the last thing on our minds; we would discover later its wooded location and scenery.

Approaching the front doors all we could hear was the noise from inside, our arrival caused chaos among the children, screams and shouts filled the air. On stepping inside everybody felt slightly overwhelmed, but within seconds several children had approached you asking for 'bonbons'. Soon the place was littered with sweet wrappers, balloons and bubbles!! There was no order to the morning, you where simply grabbed by a child who got what he wanted from you. Once toys and sweets had been given out, and our bags were slightly emptier than they where at first the real fun began. We were able to spend time with the children, fumbling around with whatever language we thought we could get on best with, and eventually resorting to mime. Painting faces was brilliant, because the kids had to stay still long enough for you to get their name and age, it also meant they scribbled on your face!

Seeing that the boys where content to play on the floor, I started making bracelets with the girls, and suddenly found myself swamped by both sexes, demanding jewellery. This was great, I got a queue going and soon found I wasn't given any time to think, but was keep busy all morning. In fact I was quite shocked when we had to go! However we where coming back on Thursday, so we would see all the kids that we were getting to know again later in the week. Amidst all the fun and joviality of the day, we didn't have time to think about the deprivation that we where encountering. However as soon as we had left people began to realise what the real story was, that we where walking out, but that these children where orphans who would be here always and they had to live here, they couldn't just walk out like we had just done!

I feel that going back on the last day we all got a slightly different feel for Bradet, this time we saw round the school buildings, and met more kids who weren't there on the Saturday. We also spent more individual time with the kids, staying with the same two or three for the afternoon so there was a chance to build relationships. One thing that really impressed me about Bradet was that the children I spoke with got excited when I mentioned God. They even taught me the key figures in Romanian. I left some picture bible stuff with several of the children and am glad I know that these children will be brought up with the Lord. We can only do so much when we are out there, but one day things will change for the better and there are people trying their best to make changes happen.

We are very privileged to be able to visit such a friendly and homely place and we hope that the links that are already in place will continue to strengthen over the coming years.