Page 23 - Real Rochdale Issue 20 Winter 2023

Miles turned into smiles for Incredibly, the play area was installed in just
over a day, with the team working from first
orphaned Ukrainian children light until dark.

Jamie said: “The installation couldn’t have gone
better. The ground conditions were ideal and
Michael Buczman and Jamie White from Rochdale Borough Council’s helped considerably. The team all put in a great
environmental management team recently travelled over 1,400 miles to the effort and even had help from the children.

Ostoya Roztocze orphanage near the Polish-Ukrainian border to install a play area “We got to show them how the play equipment
for orphaned Ukrainian children. went together and how to install it. It was such
a great experience and something I will never
forget.”
Michael has been involved in charity work for After speaking to his colleague Jamie, an idea
Ukraine since the war started over 18 months quickly began to come together to use their
ago, due to his close family links: both his skills in play area design and installation to The team was able to install a roundabout,
grandfathers were from L’viv in western bring some joy to the children. seesaw, rocker, swing set, balance rope,
Ukraine, a city which is twinned with Rochdale. spinning ring, digger for their sandpit, and even
Working closely with the charity ‘Giving to an outdoor cross trainer.
Ukraine’, they managed to collect eight pieces
of preloved and surplus play equipment from Michael added: “It was testament to the
the council, play equipment providers and teamwork and planning that we were able to
landscape specialists, plus the materials and achieve something in such a short space of time.
tools required to bring the idea to fruition.
“On the way back home we were already
They - and the volunteers from Giving to talking about what we could do on the next
Ukraine - arrived at the Ostoya Roztocze convoy. It would be brilliant if we could build
orphanage near Szczebrzeszyn in the early another play area at another orphanage.
hours of 10 October and set straight to work
creating the play area. “Hopefully, the next one will be in Ukraine itself.”

Giving to Ukraine continues to support those
The team was also at work delivering solar
panels and kitchen appliances to a new affected by the war in Ukraine.
satellite orphanage in the same city, along with
a donation of bikes from the Re-use Hub in For more information about the charity and how
Manchester. you can help please visit
www.givingtoukraine.com.

Michael said: “We were so happy to repurpose
this play equipment that otherwise would not
Jamie White and Michael Buczman
have been utilised in the UK and are really
thankful for the huge amount of support from
colleagues and friends, who donated clothing,
shoes, toiletries, and other essential items for
the children that filled a truck.

“We also approached a number of businesses
for help in and around Rochdale who jumped at
the chance to be involved. Groundwork
Landscapes and H Bell & Sons have been
incredibly supportive providing all the
materials needed to make this possible and it
really did make a difference.”

REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2023 22 23 REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2023