by Anne McNair

UNISON activist Jim Mullarkey was recently invited to Birmingham to be presented by the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority with their Humanitarian Award.

Jim currently works as an Asbestos Surveyor in Glasgow Council's Environmental Protection Services. The award Jim received was in recognition for all that he has achieved over the last twelve years in working, alongside comrades from Glasgow and from the West Midlands Fire Service, to improve living conditions for children in orphanages in Romania.

The project began following the overthrow of the Ceaucescu regime in December 1989 and Jim became involved in working with Bucharest's Institution No.6. The orphanage was one of the many children's homes in Romania where children survived in appalling conditions.

Institution No. 6 housed 150 girls aged 7 to 18, none of whom had a family home and a large number of whom were orphans. It was located in a poor part of Bucharest where poverty, disease and social deprivation is high. Working through the charity To Romania with Aid the project was set up to tackle the horrendous conditions found in the orphanage.

Bucharest took up the early years of the visits to Romania. From the start Jim was involved in ensuring the basic amenities such as water and heating. Wiring was renewed, sewers unblocked, toilets and washrooms refurbished, windows reglazed and the whole building redecorated.

As well as rolling his sleeves up, Jim made much of the work possible through his fundraising efforts and in ensuring support through the Charities Club of Glasgow City Council Parks and Recreation department.

On completion of the work in Bucharest Jim headed up north and a second project which was completed earlier this year saw a new purpose built orphanage constructed at Siret in Northern Romania.

Siret houses the orphanage first discovered on the Aneka Rice Romanian Challenge programme. Initial attempts to upgrade the orphanage proved impractical and the decision was taken to build a series of new build houses.

The new facility provides warm, modern accommodation with packages now in place to ensure continuing support. The project has been a great success. The children have been supported by the people of Siret and are now an integral part of life in this town.

Jim commented "The difference since the start of the project is immense. The children have responded with warmth and an infectious enthusiasm and we made many friends.

"Our hope is that from the most deplorable conditions these children will now have some chance of a safe and secure future."

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