Volunteering
Volunteering
Feature
Child Aid works across Eastern Europe providing support to disadvantaged children . Its mission is to turn children ’ s lives around and it works to prevent families breaking down , to support abandoned or vulnerable children , to encourage education and play , and to change attitudes to disability .
The charity ’ s Director , Martin Wilcox , told me about the lack of inclusivity in Moldova and how desperately those with disabilities need access to mobility equipment in order to increase their participation in the community around them .
Often , disabled people are kept at home as the community and environment simply isn ’ t accessible . Disabled children don ’ t typically go to school . This means that their predominantly female caregivers are unable to work and are struggling to live off around US $ 5 a day .
During our discussions , I mentioned postural management , which led Martin to tell me about an ongoing project he was working on in Moldova .
At present there is no university qualification for occupational therapy in the country . Dr Diana Covalciuc , a pioneer of children ’ s rehabilitation in Moldova , had recognised the need and was implementing a training package to introduce the concept of occupational therapy to therapists , the university and government health officials .
She hopes that this is the starting point to developing a university course for occupational therapy in Moldova . The project is funded by the Rotary Club , in collaboration with Child Aid to Eastern Europe .
Martin was looking for someone to provide peer-topeer training in the role of occupational therapy in postural management and I was lucky enough to be in the right place , at the right time .
The pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine delayed us delivering the course as quickly as we had wanted to . But eventually we were able to start planning our trip to Moldova .
We sent questionnaires to the delegates , to explore their current roles and their level of knowledge and experience of postural management . From this it was possible to plan and deliver our training content .
The course went by in a heartbeat . Our Moldovan colleagues were very receptive to discussions about function and engagement and how this needs to be balanced with all the other aspects of postural care .
Their dedication and determination to provide the best for their clients blew me away . The disparity between what is available in Moldova and what we have in the UK is huge . Our colleagues spoke of the lack of equipment , limited community acceptance and absence of support systems for children and their families .
There is much work to be done , but Diana and her fellow pioneers are doing their best to bring about change in Moldova .
After the course , we were lucky enough to visit a school in Valcinet and its attached after school club , Esther House . Times are hard in Moldovan villages , with young people leaving to study and work in the cities . Families are reliant
Above : The delegates , trainers and organisers at the end of the course , who are all now new friends and colleagues
on low agricultural wages and sometimes a very small benefits payment .
Alcohol dependence is a problem , leaving the children needing external support . The headteacher lovingly cares for all of her pupils , while also running Esther House . Both establishments are safe havens .
We were also lucky enough to visit the Tony Hawks Centre in Chisinau , where Diana runs her children ’ s ’ rehabilitation service . We were able to meet some of the young people they serve and spent time supporting some of the therapists there to provide clinical interventions to address their postural management .
The lack of equipment available to offer children and families was really brought home to us during these sessions . We learned quickly that Moldovans are ‘ can do ’ people . Parents are willing to adapt what they have to the best of their ability , for example re-sewing buggy straps , extending footplates and creating wedges from pool noodles .
As I ’ m sure you can imagine though , there is a limit to what can be achieved if the equipment doesn ’ t meet the need . More equipment is desperately needed out in Moldova and Ukraine .
The Occupational Therapy in Moldova project is ongoing , with other occupational therapists around the world lending their expertise . Personally , having been to Moldova and met the people there my aspiration is to return and support Child Aid ’ s project as much as possible .
I encourage any interested occupational therapists to get in touch if they think they can offer their support . The teaching project continues to need volunteers to impart their knowledge on the subjects of feeding , handwriting , visual perception , self-care , adaptations and assistive technology .
Words CHARLOTTE GRAHAM , Independent Occupational Therapist , CKG OT Ltd . Find out more about Child Aid to Eastern Europe at www . childaidee . org . uk / moldova /
April 2024 OTnews 27