About

What do we do?

We are a small charity, and a very personal one. Below are a couple of letters to us from the kids in Berkovitsa - one translated into English for us, the other, from a girl suffering from a brain tumour, written by herself in English. We pledged money towards her treatments, and are very pleased that she is presently in remission.

What is the Marble Project?

To start with the bare facts: the Marble Project was set up in 2005 by a group of like-minded friends in Essex. Some of us had previously visited Berkovitsa in Bulgaria with another charity and knew of the challenges faced by the people there, and particularly at the local orphanage, home for mentally-handicapped and old people’s home. What brought us together was a desire to provide practical assistance while pursuing no external agenda of our own. Our members come from various backgrounds, and are of different faiths and of none. Our aim is simply to improve the quality of life of the children and old folks in material ways but also, and importantly, through human contact.

We raise money throughout the year and channel it to deserving projects in Berkovitsa via the friends we have made in the town. Some are elected officials,including the Mayor of the Municipality, while others like us, are volunteers. Several times a year a number of us will go out to see how the money is being spent and to look at potential new projects. Please see the ‘Projects’ tab for details of projects past, future and ongoing.

Once a year the main visit takes place, around 12 to 15 of our members travel to Bulgaria to try to make a practical difference. They fund all their own travel and accommodation costs and other expenses; it is a point of pride for the Marble Project that administrative costs are as near to zero as it is possible to get them so that the money we raise goes where it should. In 2009 the volunteers built a shelter for the old folk, ran handicraft classes for the Orphanage and Mental Institution and bought much needed equipment for the Old Peoples Home and Orphanage. They also ran a Fun Day for the Orphanage, school and mental home. Please see the ‘Projects’ tab for details of the exciting plans for this year’s visit.

In recent times we have teamed up with Shoebury School, some of whose pupils have also been volunteering to spend a week each year in Berkovitsa. Their projects have included organising a sports day for the local schools, including the children from the orphanage. They have also been involved in passing on more inclusive sports-teaching techniques and in helping to decorate part of the orphanage. By their own accounts they have enjoyed their time in Bulgaria, and returned with a sense of achievement as well as the memory of an experience that has given them a new perspective on their own lives. We raise funds from a number of sources including donations (please see ‘Donations’ tab for further details), sponsored events, concerts and quiz nights. Please see ‘Events tab’ for details of future fundraisers.

Why the name?

Well, a lot of the purely descriptive alternatives were rather long and unwieldy, as well as potentially limiting to our future scope. Marbles suggest the innocence of a childhood game. Marble is strong, resilient and long-lasting. In a world in which so many media are simultaneously clamouring for everyone’s attention, a name that is memorable and arouses curiosity is no bad thing.

This, then, is the Marble Project. ‘Marbles’ to its friends. The sum total of the efforts of its volunteers and supporters, both here and in Bulgaria. Anyone – maybe soon to include you, reading this now – willing to leave their egos behind and provide some practical assistance to people who need it. That is what makes us unique.

Welcome to the Marble Project.

The Team

Chairman – Richard Rae. A Chartered Surveyor, Richard spent the last 20 years as Head of Property with a private bank in the City of London, retiring some 4 years ago. Richard enjoys cycling, kayaking, clay shooting and golf, and uses up the rest of his time as Trustee of a number of charities and social associations. He lives in Great Wakering with his wife and two sons.

Treasurer – Paula Foster

Committee – Heather Barnes; Paul Crawley; Naomi Bowman; Richard Coe; Paul Evans