BERE Alston charity worker Trevor Paddon-Hall has recently returned from a trip to provide aid for Palestinian children. Trevor and two friends were assisting orphanages under threat from the current crisis in the Middle East. He travelled extensively throughout Israel, the West Bank and Palestine and said that at times he was reminded of Northern Ireland: ?The great steel wall with observation turrets between Israel and Palestine loomed, a grey sinister threat to peace. ?The nearer you got to the wall ? and constantly in Palestine ? you became conscious of the security risk to yourself. Many watchful eyes carrying guns were everywhere. ?While at the West Bank wall a suicide bomber approached carrying Semtex, clearly with the intention of killing as many as he could.? Although there were many very poor people in Palestine, the children seemed happy. Trevor said the small percentage of Christian people there had to live quietly and in poverty to avoid becoming targets. Many have emigrated to the USA and Europe to escape the poverty. ?Israel was a country I was not sure of until I spent time there; I found them to be wonderful people. We could learn a lot from them. Even though they are under constant threat, they are a peaceful nation, their children well dressed, groomed and cared for.? Trevor and his friends passed more than £2,000 to help with the orphanages, which are being set up outside Jerusalem so the children can play and grow up without the threat of abuse or conflict. He is planning to return later in the year to assist with special needs children and a programme for poor children in Palestine. Trevor thanked those who supported the Bere Alston charity auction on April 8, which raised £1,400 to be used on two new orphanages in Addis Ababa for children with leprosy and one existing TB home in Romania. Two fire engines have recently been sent to Croatia and Macedonia together with two firemen to train local firemen there. This year has also seen the renovation of one orphanage in Romania.
