CHRISTMAS will be a little brighter for children in Romania this year thanks to Stourbridge youngsters.

Children at Pedmore CE Primary School have been working with members of Amblecote Christian Centre to provide presents for orphaned and abandoned children in Eastern Europe.

As part of the school’s work towards the rights respecting school award, the pupils have also been thinking about the rights some children do not have and how they can help to ensure these rights are afforded to as many people as possible.

Through donations from parents and pupils, the school has managed to fill more than 160 shoeboxes with gifts such as toiletries, stationery, toys and clothes to give to those in need.

Each year a small group from the Amblecote centre work tirelessly to raise funds to pay for a lorry to travel from Romania to the West Midlands where it is filled with gifts to be delivered directly to the children living in Caminul Felix, in Oradea.

Caminul Felix, an independent Christian organization, has been nurturing orphaned and abandoned children in Romania since 1990, relying on private and corporate financial support to sustain its work in two villages across the country.

Ray Gibbs, member of Amblecote Christian Centre, said: “We have been delighted with the response from everyone at Pedmore CE.

“The shoeboxes will help us reach every child in the village with a gift for Christmas.”

Along with the shoeboxes, the Pedmore school has also donated around 100 pieces of computer equipment, including printers and projectors, which will be used by both the orphanage and other nearby villages to support the education and development of many of the poorest children.

Ray added: “The ICT equipment will really make a difference as they have people with the know-how but often don’t have the equipment to use.”

All donations of shoeboxes and other equipment will soon head back to Romania where the gifts will be distributed throughout this month.