In November 1999, a unique partnership was formed between the Madison Central Lions Club of Madison, Wisconsin, and Rotary, when the Lions agreed to become the Orphan Train Project's "Conductor for Vision Screening."  Unlike other conductors on the Orphan Train Project, the Madison Central Lions Club did not adopt an orphanage.  Instead, they made themselves available to travel to Orphan Train Project orphanages and children's homes to screen youngsters for amblyopia (sometimes called lazy eye). The first Lions team to pack their bags for travel included Lion James Schutz, his wife Jacque, and daughter Leah (a high school senior). Their assignment was Vidin, Bulgaria, where the Orphan Train works with several orphanages, all within reasonable traveling distance of each other.

Upon arrival in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Schutz family was met by Orphan Train Intermediary Mariela Valkova and others.  After visiting the Sophia Lions Club, the group drove several hours to Vidin, where the first screening was to take place. In a little over one week's time, the team screened children at five orphanages, several kindergartens, plus other local people in the Vidin area.  In all, representatives of the Madison Central Lions Club screened more than 1000 people.  Approximately eight to nine percent of the children screened were referred for follow-up examination by Bulgarian doctors. All team members had training and experience operating the equipment prior to going to Bulgaria.  Funding for the effort came from the Lions, with some assistance from the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton. The Madison Central Lions were assisted in Bulgaria by the Rotary Club of Vidin, the Sofia Lions Club, and Doverie (a Vidin Non-Government Organization). Special thanks were offered to Orphan Train Project Intermediary Mariela Valkova, who was instrumental in organizing the effort. The team also enjoyed meeting Alison Fry, a Peace Corps Volunteer from Menasha, Wisconsin, working in the Vidin area.  Alison also assisted with the project.

According to Lion James Schutz, one of the most compelling things the Mayor of Vidin told the team, was that no large scale screening of any type had occurred in Vidin for twenty three years, prior to the arrival of the Lions team. This was a wonderful first effort. As expected, the screening revealed cases of glaucoma, ptosis (drooping eyelid), cataracts, strabismus (misaligned eyes), some of the same conditions found in Madison youngsters undergoing the screening process. While the Madison Central Lions Clubs and other Lions clubs regularly screen pre-schoolers in Madison and elsewhere in the State of Wisconsin, this was the first time a Madison Lions group utilized the equipment in another country.

One of the special memories of the vision team was of a young mother, grateful they had screened her youngster, a child with an obvious problem of some magnitude. Faxed material was exchanged with a Madison eye specialist about this youngster. The day after all of this occurred, the woman returned with a small gift of Coca Cola and chocolates.

 The team felt good about their experience. They enjoyed the Bulgarian people and the glimpse of their rich culture. The Schutz family hopes their work has a positive impact on the visual health of the people they met, and will encourage other Lions to get involved. According to Jacque Schutz, "the Bulgarian people were welcoming, kind and extremely excited about the project, and they seemed especially pleased that we brought our daughter Leah. They also seemed to appreciate the fact we worked hard the entire week, and didn't just bring a check (although checks are certainly useful as well)." Ms. Schutz went on to say that "the experience was so dramatic that Leah, who hopes one day to attend medical school, is seriously considering the University of Iowa, the major factor being that they developed the camera we used." The cooperative undertaking by Lions and Rotary, also strengthens the Rotary concept of "peace and understanding" amongst peoples of different cultures. The concept of different service clubs working together, encouraged at Rotary International's Annual Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, a few years ago, has been made real by this joint undertaking.   

The screening process involves a special camera that takes a Polaroid photograph of each child's eyes. Photographs taken during the day were reviewed by the team at night. It was a busy and intense schedule. All of the data from the trip is now being compiled in Madison and will be sent back to Bulgaria for action. Where appropriate, the Rotary Club of Vidin and the Lions Club of Sofia will make certain an eye doctor sees those children believed to have vision problems. Prevention of blindness is a big reason for screening. If eye problems are discovered early enough, it is often possible to avoid surgery with simple patching. A special emphasis of Lions International is eyesight, and Lions clubs everywhere are involved in projects related to sight, including its most well known project of collecting old glasses and distributing them to the needy.

Congratulations to the Madison Central Lions Club and all who made this project a success!

     St. Maria Goretti School, a Catholic elementary school, K-8, located on the west side of Madison, Wisconsin (USA), has been a great supporter of the Orphan Train Project over the last couple years. St. Maria Goretti, a community of 225 students, is the conductor for the Hostel for Children and Teenagers in the Village of Alekovo, Lovech District, Bulgaria. The Hostel for Children and Teenagers has 120 children in residence between the ages of 7-15 years of age.

St. Maria Goretti climbed aboard the Orphan Train in 1998, when they embraced the opportunity to be of service. They decorated their school with a large Orphan Train, with different cars representing each class, and that group's goal for the project. Individual classes began working toward goals of furnishing shoes, school supplies, a computer, etc., when it came to the attention of children, faculty and staff that the greatest need was for shower facilities for a new girls' bathroom. The focus changed, and $2625.21 was raised to construct a girls' bathroom. This year the students raised $1951.24 to address other needs of the children in the Hostel for Children and Teenagers.

Some of the fundraisers the St. Maria Goretti children participated in were bake sales, popcorn sales, donations to guess the number of candy pieces in a jar and a Beanie Baby raffle. Several students raised money by donating portions of their own income from shoveling snow, raking leaves, babysitting and other chores.

In addition to the children, faculty, staff and parents of St. Maria Goretti, the Orphan Train Project is grateful to key supporters of this connection, a link where children help children. Key people have been Jill Dove, Mary McGuire, Jane Wilson and Nora Reynolds of St. Maria Goretti and Orphan Train Intermediary Mitko Nenkov and the supportive Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Svishtov, Bulgaria.

When the director of the orphanage learned about St. Maria Goretti's adoption of his orphanage, he wrote: "I am deeply touched of the good news…Your decision makes me to believe that there are good people in our world that are ready to give joy to such children, children that are thrown out of life without parents…I believe in good people. God sends them to me to help in the hardest days, stretching hands to these orphanages that have not mother care or father support. As their guardian, I also want to give them warmth and love because I love them and I am ready to restore their belief in good. We shall make them even happy together with you…"

The Rotary Club of Madison South, Madison, Wisconsin (USA), has been a big part of the Orphan Train Success. Their efforts have been spearheaded by Past President Louise Googins, whose concern for children and love of the Orphan Train Project inspires us all.

After hearing a presentation on the Orphan Train Project, Madison South became the conductor for Hristo Botev Social Home in Novo Selo, Bulgaria (near Vidin), about three years ago. Recently closed by the government, and the children transferred elsewhere, the Novo Selo home housed 72 children, ages 6-18. For many children, this was the only home they ever knew. Conditions, however, were far less than ideal. The first profile of this orphanage described it as "not in the best repair." Indeed bathroom fixtures were broken, soap and cleaning supplies were badly needed, and children went without many of the things our children take for granted. The children were reported as "being behind the general population in school." Clothes were washed by hand. Community support, when originally reported to us, was lacking. According to one source, community involvement was not encouraged under the old communist system. These children were the government's responsibility, and they didn't want the population thinking about the orphanages. The children of the orphanages were kept out of sight and out of mind. Their plight didn't fit in with the perfect society. Madison South and Louise Googins were moved to action. Over time, they purchased a washing machine, linoleum, blankets, books and Christmas gifts. They paid for the repair of sinks and showers. A special education activity to Vidin, for ten of the children, was paid for through the efforts of Madison South. In all, about $2850 was spent by the Rotarians, a generous portion of it coming from Louise herself. In Bulgaria, a non-government organization known as Doverie was helpful to the Rotary Club of Madison South. In particular, Mariela Valkova and Peace Corps Volunteer Karen Becker made the purchases and accounted to Madison South.

On the closing of their orphanage at Novo Selo, the focus of the Rotary Club of Madison South has turned to a children's home in the Central Balkans at Gabrovo, Bulgaria. This facility is home to 64 children. Madison South's first contribution of $500 to their "new" orphanage will be used for an oven and a clothes dryer. Other needs of Gabrovo include food and shoes. Peace Corps Volunteer Michelle Alexander is the intermediary working with Madison South.

Louise Googins, the person designated by the Rotary Club of Madison South to lead their efforts in Bulgaria, traveled there in October, 1998, visiting the orphanage at Novo Selo and many others. She wanted to see for herself the condition of the children. A former special education teacher in the Madison Public School System, Louise is President of Googins & Co. Inc., financial planners and investment brokers in Madison, Wisconsin. Louise has not always limited herself to her club's orphanage. Recently, Peace Corps Volunteer Barry Feno in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria, told us of the need for food at an orphanage there. Learning of the need, Louise sent her own check for $500. More recently, she helped inspire one of the people working for her, and a Jaycee, to get involved. Now, thanks to a nudge from Louise, the Madison Jaycees are also conductors on the Orphan Train. Thank you Louise and Rotary South!

Louise Googins visits with toddler at Mother and Child in Vidin.