Imagine living in a place where there’s no running water, sanitation or electricity, and your home is made from crumbling mud-brick and infested with rats. Living in the 21st century it’s a quite unimaginable situation, but for those living in a small village called Rapa in Romania this is a reality. I was shocked when I visited Rapa in July to learn that the mothers have to use sticks to keep the rats off the children at night when they are sleeping.

I am an ambassador for the Smiles Foundation, a Christian charity that aims to bring hope and smiles to families who are disadvantaged living in Romania. The Smiles Foundation has committed to building ten family homes in Rapa - the first two are complete and house number 3 is being built now. They have also recently finished building a hygiene unit for the village, where local people can use a proper toilet and have clean running water. One resident was so overjoyed that she told me she would be in there forever! 

Could you help me in my mission to be part of this major programme to rejuvenate the village of Rapa? We can’t change the world but we will make the world of difference to the people of Rapa.

My plan is to raise  £5000 to enable Smiles to build the 4th family home in Rapa. The great thing about Smiles is that you know every single penny raised will go directly to the project.