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 Orla Guerin reports from Tandarei"England is literally the word on the streets"  real 28k |
Where the promised land is �200 away
Girls on the street chant "England"
By Orla Guerin in Tandarei
As controversy continues over Romanian gypsies begging in Britain, in the southern Romanian village of Tandarei, England is literally the word on the streets.
It is what the children are chanting.
In one of the village's muddy streets, we met Constanza, a 14-year-old girl who was soon to be married.
Her nickname is Anglia, or England and she told us that is where she is heading
Those left behind live on what is earned outside.
Nine adult children living abroad finance a comfortable house, one of the best in the village.
Village elder Niculaie Dumitru said one of his daughters is begging in London with her five children.
"She went because she heard they were giving them money to live on there.
"But the money isn't enough, so she begs. She went illegally. She almost drowned with her children. Only God knows how she got there.
Begging here is no shame, quite the reverse.
We were told 80 families had already left this small village for England. The price to go west can be less than �200.
Most in the village are dirt poor and for many a life of benefits and begging in Britain is the best escape on offer.
Borders, it seems, are no obstacle.
As controversy continues over Romanian gypsies begging in Britain, in the southern Romanian village of Tandarei, England is literally the word on the streets.
 Dirt poor: Most in the village scrape a living |
In one of the village's muddy streets, we met Constanza, a 14-year-old girl who was soon to be married.
Her nickname is Anglia, or England and she told us that is where she is heading
Those left behind live on what is earned outside.
Nine adult children living abroad finance a comfortable house, one of the best in the village.
 Village elder Niculaie Dumitru's daughter is begging in London |
"She went because she heard they were giving them money to live on there.
"But the money isn't enough, so she begs. She went illegally. She almost drowned with her children. Only God knows how she got there.
Begging here is no shame, quite the reverse.
We were told 80 families had already left this small village for England. The price to go west can be less than �200.
Most in the village are dirt poor and for many a life of benefits and begging in Britain is the best escape on offer.
Borders, it seems, are no obstacle.
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