From the valley to the mountain
A
Rhondda man has answered a call from the other side of the world - he'll be
working for a year at a remote Chilean mountain community to help rebuild
a village. The community exists in abject poverty with shanty housing offering
little or no protection against the severe winters of the region.
Steven Jones, who worships at St John's Church, Cymmer, Porth, and is a housing officer for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, will work for the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel on a project in the Concepcion area of Chile. The people of the Carnicu village, 200km away from the nearest city and approximately the same altitude as Ben Nevis, exist in poverty, living in shanty housing that offers little or no protection against the severe winters of the region.
The community has requested financial assistance from the Chilean Government for housing, but has been told that finance would only be forthcoming when the individual housing has been completed. This means that USPG essentially acts as a loan board. "As a voluntary worker, I'll be helping with the construction process within the Ben community and commuting back and fore the nearest city, Concepcion," said twenty-nine year old Steven. "The placement will be challenging in different ways, as I'll have to adjust to another culture and learn Spanish as very few, if any, of the population speak English. "Nevertheless, it's a challenge that I am looking forward to.
"However, a challenge I've got to face before I leave is to raise enough money for my flight, accommodation and to generally support myself when I'm away."
"I'm looking for individual or businesses who can help in any way, maybe by making a donation of either money or of a product that can be used for a raffle, or by helping to find specific sources of funding that I can investigate, I would be very grateful," added Steven.
If you would like support this venture by making a donation or sponsoring one of his fund-raising activities, contact Steven on 07956 491623 or e-mail Dudek4@hotmail.com
On 24th of April 2005 a Special service was held with the Commissioning of Steve Jones. Click HERE to read all about it.
After
a short break in communications after Steve left the UK we have started receiving
updates on his travels. You can read them HERE
