Mustard Seed Jersey is sometimes referred to as “the shoebox charity”. Founder Rose Helie introduced the idea of Christmas shoeboxes in the early 1990s during the Bosnian war. Mustard Seed Jersey was formally set up in 1998.
Since then the charity has transported hundreds of tonnes of aid from Jersey to a number of different Eastern European countries, including Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Albania, Ujkraine, Bulgaria and most of all to Romania. In Romania Mustard Seed Jersey works with 7 small Romanian trusts all with various outreaches. They now have a daughter charity Mustard Seed Romania.
The main focus of their efforts and fund-raising is now concentrated on the Bihor county of western Romania and especially at the village of Cefa, where in the last twelve years they have set up a kindergarten, homework clubs, and a sponsorship programme to enable intelligent disadvantaged gypsy children to attend high school.
Also in Cefa in 2008 the charity have set up a small farm and built Casa Mabel which is a home for needy female pensioners and other vulnerable women.
The major project for 2010 was Welcome Boxes for the repatriated Romanian victims of people trafficking.
The charity’s motto is “Your help makes a difference” and countless times it has been proved that the help from Jersey does (with God’s help) make a good and positive difference to those who need
Contact Rose Helie Tel.482637
E-mail: mustardseedjersey@yahoo.co.uk