Eastern Europe gets second hand guitars

A WEST COUNTRY initiative is getting second hand guitars into Eastern Europe. Guitar Aid is run by Exeter toolmaker and Christian Dave Sumner and already trips have been made to Hungary, Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic taking guitars to churches. The work began after a trip to Romania where Sumner discovered that many churches were without instruments. At one of the churches he gave his own guitar and saw the difference it made to the worship. "There were about 50 people gathered around this guitar. The youth leader's face lit up and that's what inspired me."

Since then Dave has been on a dozen aid missions. "We aim to supply guitars to people who are unable to afford or obtain them. Our vision started out small but soon increased as we saw the reaction of worship leaders who, after praying for many years, received the necessary equipment they needed."

Dave has just returned from his 5th visit to Albania. On that trip Guitar Aid took 82 guitars as well as other musical instruments. Altogether over 600 instruments have been provided to over 35 countries.

Dave buys damaged guitars from manufacturers, including Washburn and Fender, and repairs them in his specially adapted workshop. He has also just received news of a gift of over £4,000 worth of guitars from a leading guitar manufacturer. But Dave is also keen to receive donations of second hand guitars. "There are many people who have unused guitars lying around in their homes. We would urge everyone who has one to donate it to Guitar Aid so that their old instrument can build up Christians throughout Eastern Europe."