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"I said in a Facebook posting earlier this week that this would be a trip of extremes. Today has proven that beyond doubt. I ended a long and, at times anger invoking day, sat in an auditorium with in excess of 300 Moldovans watching the story of 'Don Quixote', a Spaniard performed as a ballet. Now those who know me would realise this is not a normal evening, but the thing that struck me was the audience was made up of young and old, and the youngsters were all well fed and obviously very happy individuals.
This was in stark contrast to the rest of the day. The day began with trepidation as we headed for an institution that "cared" for children who had mental or physical conditions that required specialist assistance (later in the day we learnt this included not being as quick as your peers in a classroom.)
On arrival, we were met by local government officials, the deputy chief and the head of social care. Part of the reason they were present is that they are working with Hope and Homes for Children to close the facility by end of 2012. We were also met by the Principal and her deputy. During a lively Q&A session the principal made it very clear she did not support the institutions closure as it impacted on jobs for the staff in an already economically damaged country.
Hope and Homes for Children representative and our host Lilliana was excellent and it was apparent a very good rapport with local government exists as they were obviously supporting the charity. We were then given what is best described as a carefully structured tour showing two classrooms with a 1:3 teacher pupil ratio and a very clean, tidy and manufactured dormitory with a toy on each bed. We were not shown the other 43 residents but we did get to use the facilities (less said the better).
In discussion with Hope and Homes for Children we learnt where previous closures had taken place they worked with staff to retrain them for roles in the social care structure which was required post closure, somewhat countering the debate of earlier. We had travelled half way across Moldova to be shown what they wanted us to see not as I or my fellow travellers had anticipated. Frustration at the system in place begins to grow.
Our next port of call was a remote village - in fact all villages are remote, requiring travel along tracks with pot holes and Moldovan drivers as dangers.
The family we were meeting had in the past few weeks taken a 12 year old girl from the institute. She is the niece of the man we met along with his wife and her sister. The girl had been institutionalised when her mother's drinking had left her fending for herself. Now since her mother's death the extended family were able to agree to care for her. The family home was exceptionally friendly but was exceptionally sparsely populated and - in temperatures of -20 in winter - I imagine very cold. But the girl was happy, chatty and bright eyed and obviously this was somewhere she was going to be cared for properly. A short visit but one that showed HHC was making a difference in very difficult circumstances.
The one thing though that concerned me was how small and slight the young girl was - something I saw again in the next child visited. I was advised that many children from institutions are smaller than average often because of poor nutrition when cared for there.
The boy had been institutionalised when his mother was bullied by the local school to send him away due to his difficulties. His mother, a very cheerful soul, was obviously upset that she had given into the pressure but with Hope and Homes for Children's help had recovered the situation and a very smiley, bright child greeted us. Support was ongoing to the family through field workers who obviously have respect for and from the families they support to ensure the young man is able to fully develop physically, mentally and emotionally at home.
We were invited back any time and am sure if we were in the area the welcome would be as honest and generous as today. Hope and Homes for Children have 13 field workers to act as support for reintegration cases pre and post institute closure.
The next 2 we met had the case that caused the biggest impact emotionally of the day. This youngster was, due to learning difficulties, taken to an institute but his mother - who is an intelligent individual - was not fully convinced she was doing the right thing. Hope and Homes for Children supported her and she now has her boy back home. The tears were genuine and her full story impacted.
Children are entering institutions across Moldova for many reasons; poverty, educational achievement or perceived lack of, alcoholic parents, drug abuse in parents, behavioural issues, mental health... the list is endless. It is, from today's visits, obvious that HHC as an organisation are moving social care forward, targetting carefully their battles, the locations and - through support of the children and families - gaining results that are to us easy answers. But in the environment here it's a whole new ball game." Huw | 