Therapy for 30 disabled children in rural Moldova

At the moment, our centre is helping 18 children, two thirds of them from villages where children with disabilities have a particularly hard time reaching services.  When a child comes to us, the first thing we do is to assess them across 5 areas of their learning and development: communication skills, practical skills, cognitive, physical and socio-emotional development.  We can then put an individual plan together for them and track their progress.

We teach practical skills in a group with an occupational therapist in the lead.  Recently, the children have been working on doing up buttons and zips and tying shoe laces.  Two thirds of them have made great progress, either managing indpenedently, or with a little help.  The other children have got better at asking for help, which is also a useful skill.

Since many of our children are either not in school, or are only able to attend part-time, it is also important that we offer some general education, delivered in a way that our children can access.  Samuel is a really good example of the effect this extra help can have.  Samuel is eight and has Down Syndrome and associated heart problems.  The picture of him here is typical - he is always to be found with a book.  And yet, his mother, Viorica says, 

“For years, we searched for a kindergarten and school where Samuel would be treated like any other child. Yet,we were constantly told 'your child can't' and 'isn't capable,' facing negative attitudes at schools. Accepting his diagnosis was also a long struggle. However, after visiting specialists at The Wish and undergoing several therapy sessions, Samuel began to recognise colours and pronounce words. His love for reading and playing has grown, and with it, his confidence. 

I have faith that we will persevere, I believe in my son's progress, and I cannot imagine our future without this Centre.” 

Viorica is not just one of our parents, she is also a valued volunteer at our centre.

Sadly, our centre is not able to work at full capacity, but we are hopeful that in the future we will be able to provide these services to thirty children or more.  The progress Samuel and his peers are making encourages us.