Casa Helen

Vera and Angelica enjoying the sunshine, on their special bench, outside Casa Helen.

I (Sharon Blyth) lived in a small village in rural Moldova from 2007 and was asked by the Mayor’s office to help some of the elderly people in the village. I began a domiciliary round, cleaning, cooking and more importantly being a companion to the elderly.

They were gathering wood, lighting fires to even make a hot drink and their food was generally homemade cheese and bread.  They had plastic drinks bottles filled with hot water to keep them warm and they were all desperately lonely.

One lady, Lisa was 84 years old and lived alone. She was blind and yet was lighting her own fire. Subsequently she had set fire to herself twice! A young boy brought her water and occasionally she had a visitor but because she was blind they took advantage of her and stole the nice warm cardigans I had provided for her in the winter.

Something had to change…

With the help of my church back home in Hitchin, we launched a fundraising campaign which enabled us to refurbish a derelict building and turn it into a beautiful home for the lonely, elderly who had no family.

Lisa thrived in Casa Helen, she had no family, no children, no relatives in the village but found a home in Casa Helen. I was privileged to supervise the first shower she had ever had in her life, it was a joyous occasion.

 We now provide a home for 17 residents who are loved and cared for.