ORM & WHFC - Better Together Programme

Better TogetherProgramme

Looking backCollaboration between the 2 international aid organizations Outreach Moldova (ORM) – Ireland & Wide Horizons for Children WHFC – USA began in June 2012 in an attempt to address the educational and emotional needs of children with disability at Hincesti Orphanage in the Republic of Moldova.

"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas".

George Bernard Shaw

It was initially envisaged to provide 3 special needs teachers for the programme; this was expanded to include 5 special needs teachers, one in each of the following areas:

Each child at Hincesti orphanage was assessed and then allocated to one or more of the above areas. The programme was run by Tatiana Papanaga (ORM). Activity reports were provided on a weekly basis, management review occured on a monthly basis and there was biannual reporting between partners.

The USA partners made an on site visit to the programme to see where their investment had impacted on the children's lives.

It was the first collaboration of it’s kind between these two aid organizations who together have over 20 years experience in providing services in Moldova.

Children living in institutions in Moldova were formally excluded from formal education and little was done to encourage a child to reach their potential in any sphere. These two organizations worked together to ensure that not only are their human rights being addressed & met but that each child in the programme would have an opportunity to actively explore areas such as education, arts & crafts, music & dance & take part in team building sporting activities. The total budget being allocated to the Better Together programme was $29, 357.

WHFC provided $8,000 towards the project with the remaining budget $21,357 being provided by ORM.

4. Arts & Crafts5. Sewing and dressmaking

1. Dance & Music2. Sport3. Education

It was envisioned that this school program would allow 73 children and young adults to actively participate in an adapted national school curriculum that would be run over the period of 12 months. There were the recommended periods of rest during the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. Each child has been evaluated and allocated to a particular class according to the pretesting evaluations. Each child initially completed 1 hour of arithmetic and 1 hour of Romanian (national language) per day, every day, for 5 days; Monday to Friday. They were taught literacy and numeracy skills and given all the assistance required as per their special need. For too long residents in State orphanages have been denied their basic human rights to a formal education, unfortunately those with special needs becoming the most neglected. This is not only a high priority but a vital program in assisting the children reach their potential.

Education

A huge part of their enjoyment was derived from Arts & Crafts and Home Economics which was added to these programmes to enhance a real development.

c) Social sciences d) Arts and crafts

Activities include:a) Languageb) Mathematics

Activity plan = 12 months, 5 days per week, each child involved in 2 hours per week (1) + (2) and 1 hour a day (3) & (4)

Both projects engaged with the beneficiaries for a period of 12 months from start date and were run by the project team manager Tatiana Papanaga, specialist manager in social work under the direct supervisions of the head doctor and Moldova field manager.

ORM applied for sponsorship from WHFC to engage our beneficiaries in active movement and sporting activities. Unfortunately the State provides no such services and the daily routine at these institutions include children sitting passively, exhibiting repetitive rocking motion and becoming generally more introvert. The cumulative outcome following multiple years of such neglect has such a damaging effect on the psychological wellbeing of the children from which they rarely recover leading to a lifetime of institutionalisation.

In an attempt to counteract such negative stressors from the child’s lives, we proposed a wellness program that actively engaged each child in regular group activities and team sports, stimulating body and mind, promoting self esteem and impacting directly on health.

Activities included:1) Team sports2) Gymnastics3) Movement to music4) Dance & expression

Health and Wellbeing

Activity plan = 12 months, 5 days per week, 2 hours a day.

School TeacherEugenia Agachi

Sewing TeacherMaria Brinzeanu

Dance / Music TeacherSvetlana Constantinov

Programme ManagerTatiana Papanaga

Sport TeacherLiuda Cojocaru

Art & Crafts TeacherNatalia Popescu

Having assessed each child at the orphanage we have the

following programmes running at present:

School: 34 Children Arts & Crafts:: 77 ChildrenSewing and dressmaking:

40 ChildrenDance & Movement:

252 ChildrenSport: 55 Children

Meet the teachers who made the difference

The total number of educational hours that were invested in this programme over the period 01/06/2012 - 01/052013:

1) Education - 2088 hrs2) Dance & Music - 1827 hrs3) Sport - 1827 hrs4) Art & Crafts - 1827 hrs5) Sewing & Dressmaking - 1044 hrs

The overall global development within the children themselves was extraordinary; there was a notable global increase in self-esteem and satisfaction when they participated at national level in concerts and exhibitions. One child fulfilled her life long dream of singing live on national T.V. at the Opera & Ballet house.

The routine provided by daily structured activities impacted greatly on the overall behaviour and psychological well being of the children with a reduction in challenging behaviours

The difficulties we encountered continue to be the cultural attitude towards children in care or children with special needs. There is a deep rooted belief that these children should not participate in mainstream schooling or join the wider public.

Successes:

Difficulties:

Annex 1: Educational items provided by WHFC in 2012 - 2013

Annex 2: Contribution towards teaching staff, salaries by WHFC in 2012 - 2013

EUROLEIITEMSOBJECT

Sport

26.2542012big balls18.7530020small balls

9.3815030cones14.0622515ropes21.883501football ball90.311445

EUROLEIITEMSOBJECTDance/Music

46.887509pahonograme melodies

EUROLEIITEMSOBJECT

Education

60.00960320notebooks16.56265265pens

7.5012010coloring pencils11.251804white paper

4.697515folders34.3855022bags26.2542028books16.882706small folders

1.25202thumbtack4.69755coloring cardboard1.88303white cardboard3.75604felt-tip pens1.56255sharpners5.00808glue

195.633130

EUROLEIITEMSOBJECT

Sewing

28.0044828biser-beads15.002406glue28.1345010mmaterial16.5026422elastic18.7530012thread

8.751404journals12.520010embroidery hoops3.75604needles

28.5045635wool12.50200reparation of sewing machine11.2518010paints for glass

2.50404scissors1.25202chalk

187.382998

EUROLEIITEMSOBJECT

Art

7.5012012scissors25.8841427glue30.6349014playdough

4.88786wool26.2542035coloring pencils78.75126042coloring books

8.751408set for activities7.501206biser-beads9.3815015sharpners6.2510010erasers

27.0043236coloring paper14.0622545coloring cardboard

2.25361knife for paper249.063985

EUROLEICharge

130020800Teacher100016000Art100016000Sewing100016000Sport113418144Dance/Music543486944

Outreach Moldova (ORM)received $8,000 (€6,308.34) on the 9th of July 2012 from Wide Horizons for Children (WHFC).

Finances

TOTALEUROLEI

874.5812308

It was a very successful year in colaboration with Wide Horizons for Children (WHFC). Much progress has been made in the children's lives and we look forward to future collaboration.

Deep respect,ORM team

In conclusion

For more details please contact us at:

Tel: +353 – 1 – 219 0268e-mail: [email protected]: www.outreachmoldova.org

Suite 104, DMG House, Deansgrange

Business Park, Deansgrange, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Charity Number: CHY 14229Company Number: 336502