Orphans Aid International in the Press

Photo – Proudly flying the Romanian flag in Queenstown are the faces behind Orphans Aid International from left Carl van Schreven, Lisa Deasy and Sue van Schreven.

As rugby fever takes hold in the Queenstown Lakes, a couple with a special Romanian connection await the arrival of their favourite team at the weekend. 

A Queenstown couple will proudly fly Romanian flags when the team arrive in the resort during the Rugby World Cup.  Sue van Schreven and her husband Carl have a strong connection with Romania, having set up a New Zealand charity organisation seven years ago.

Orphans Aid International was established in Ivercargill in 2004 and at the same time they set up the Casa Kiwi Orphanage in Transylvania, Romania.  The couple visit the Romanian orphanage, where there are 12 children and three in foster care, about twice a year.

Because of that connection and their love for Romania, the couple will fly Romanian flags when the rugby team hit the resort this weekend and will watch all of their games, Mrs van Schreven said.  “We hope that they do really well, we will be singing their praises and cheering for them in all their matches.”

She loved the culture and said the people of Romania were vibrant and a lot of fun.  “They’ve come through a rough history so we really want to support them” she said.

Although still supporting the All Blacks, Mrs van Schreven said in the unlikely event of the teams coming face to face she would be torn.  They had adopted the Romanian colours in their workplace and hoped that when the team arrived they would see their flags to welcome them to Queenstown and make it feel like a second home, she said.

She wanted to connect with the team while they were here and get something from them that they could use to fundraise for the orphanage back home.  The couple Skype the orphanage a few times every month and had emailed to let them all know the family would be waving their flags.

Mrs van Schreven admits she did not have much interest in rugby before, but the excitement surrounding the Rugby World cup and all the countries coming together here in the resort had created it for her.  “I’m really excited about it.”