Occupational therapy in Moldova
Charlotte Graham shares her experience of volunteering with an overseas project in Moldova , one of the poorest countries in Europe , to support disabled children and their families and help develop the occupational therapy profession .
Ihave worked with children with complex needs since I was a teenager . What began as volunteering at a playscheme , led me into occupational therapy as a career , which I continue to love . When my nephew , who has multiple disabilities and medical needs , joined the family , I started to really understand what life is like to love and want the best for someone with complex needs .
I realised my ambition of working at Chailey Heritage Clinical Services from 2012 , where I was able to work holistically with children and young people with complex neurodisabilities . I then went into private practice , specialising in children ’ s services .
I have , over the course of my career , taken part in numerous postural management courses and gained a wealth of clinical experience in this specialism .
Working in independent practice I saw a lot of privately purchased and now outgrown and unused equipment sitting in clients ’ houses , gathering dust and getting in the way . Families were often asking me if I knew of any worthy causes to which they could donate it .
Remembering the images and documentaries about children living in very difficult conditions in Eastern European orphanages in the 1990s , I contacted the organisation Child Aid to Eastern Europe , to see if it had any ideas about using the equipment .
Several years later , Child Aid have sent out multiple shipments of equipment kindly donated by children and their families .