Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Esther House Update

ChildAid’s other new Moldovan project partner is Esther House in the village of Valcinet. A day centre for children aged 5-15 who are at risk. They are from poor families, often left with relatives or neighbours as parents work abroad, or are in single parent families, or from families where there is alcohol abuse and violence. Some parents do turn up at the Centre demanding that the child should be home looking after younger siblings, or working around the house or in the fields.

The Centre is open five days a week and children arrive after school from 1pm onwards. It is also opens during school holidays. It supports 70 children - with 20-25 attending each day.

The activities are varied and effective:

Homework:

The children
have tutoring
classes in
groups. The
tutor offers
expertise and encouragement and it is notable that school results are better than those children not attending the Centre.

Practical:

The children love being at the Centre and are proud of it, so take it in turns to clean and maintain it.

Cooking:

A whole range of skills are taught together with an understanding of food and where it comes from. It’s fun, therapeutic and a great bonding activity. 

Personal Hygiene: 
Receiving little parental guidance, the children are taught the importance of everyday hygiene. Attention is given to hair, skin, teeth, hands, nails, feet and menstrual hygiene. 

Well-Being:
The staff seek to ensure that the child’s well-being is paramount. A positive
environment helps support the physical, social, intellectual and emotional development of every child. There is mutual trust and respect and strong links are built with the school and community.

All of these courses aim to make the children more responsible and prepare them for a life ahead in a more positive and developed way. 

You can support our work with Esther House via the link below:

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - The Phoenix Centre Update

ChildAid’s most recent project partner is the Phoenix Centre. The centre opened in September 2015, and is the first centre for children with disabilities in north Moldova. The staff provide treatment, social and educational inclusion for children with disabilities, and much-needed respite for their parents and carers. 


The local community are fully behind the project. It is open 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday from 8 am till 5 pm. At present the day centre has 31 beneficiaries, 15 children attend every day for 5 days a week, others are at the centre 2-4 days weekly.


Every fortnight there is a 10-day Assessment Programme for 20 children. The aim of the programme is to assess children’s needs early in their lives and to support parents to care for them safely and in a way appropriate to their individual level of disability.

ChildAid were pleased to arrange training for the physiotherapists with the Tony Hawks Centre. Therapy started straight away as so eagerly awaited by children and their parents. 


You can support the work of the Phoenix Centre by clicking the link below.

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Vadim's Story

Vadim is 16 years old, with Downs syndrome. When he first came to the Phoenix Centre he could not dress or wash himself. He soon learnt.

Now Vadim has become the older brother to other children in wheel- chairs, as he can help them. He does not leave the Centre until everyone is wheeled outside. When visitors arrive Vadim will run to take their coats and try to get them to play tennis.

Vadim never had any education, but as he liked to draw, the Centre staff asked him to start drawing some letters. In just 5 months he has already learnt the letters up to “o”.

His passion is drawing, tennis and dancing. At the recent Spring Festival he was given the important place of playing the guitar. He would love to stay at the Centre and not go home at all. 

You can support the work we do at the Phoenix Centre by clicking the link below. 

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Natasha's Story, Phoenix Centre

Natasha, 17, came to the Phoenix Centre with her hands permanently affixed together and her head hung low. She did not interact with others and if she did it was through strained and halting speech. She struggled to sit up by herself and participate with teachers, assistants, and other children. Only six months have passed, and the difference seen in Natasha today is incredible.

Through daily physical activity with the Phoenix Centre team, Natasha can now sit by herself. She claps along to songs, motions to people and objects, and can even grasp small items and move them with limited difficulty.

Natasha will immediately light up a room when she enters with her big smile. Whilst her speech can be slightly difficult to understand, she can make her needs known as well as convey her thoughts and opinions. She loves to chat with anyone who is close to her.

The most amazing change is in the development of a clever and playful personality. She will tell jokes and tease, and has quickly become an avid draughts player! When a visitor comes to the Centre, she will gladly challenge them to a quick match and will probably beat them within a few moves.

It would be hard to imagine her as such a wonderful and joy-filled person without the interactions with staff and visitors, and the one-on-one physical care she receives at the Centre. 

You can support our work with the Phoenix Centre and our other projects by clicking below. 

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Transforming Lives and Communities

Vova and his family are typical of the many families helped by LoveWithout Borders. He is 5 years old and lives with his mum, dad and two older brothers. They live in the no-man's-land between the fighting factions in the Luhansk area of Ukraine.

His dad was a mechanic and his mum a nurse - they were a very contended family. In 2013 Vova was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Whilst the chemo worked, it caused the bones in his legs to bend and so he needed specialist help. But, then the war started. His dad lost his job and there was, and still is, no stable authority in place to arrange the treatment that Vova needs.

To receive the specialist help meant going through 15 check-points and this would take all day, if they could get through them all. But, the family continued to be brave and positive.

Love Without Borders arranged for Vova to be taken to Kiev where he has now had the operation he needed.

As refugees begin to return to their homes they are confronted with destruction and squalor. Trying to rebuild their houses, their families, their lives ... with nothing but their hands, their drive, their faith.

But, the volunteers from LoveWithout Borders are responding and rebuilding lives, families and communities.

Re-equipping, even rebuilding homes. The needs are endless, but so are the prayers and the desire to make a difference. 

You can support the incredible work Love Without Borders do by clicking the link below. 

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 213 Spring 2016 - Love Without Borders

Since ChildAid supporters began their faithful giving for the children and families of Eastern Ukraine affected by the war, nearly £46,000 has been provided for emergency and restorative aid.

Both our EUREKA (Eastern Ukraine Relief & Emergency Kids Aid) appeal, and our partner, Love Without Borders, have already achieved much, including:

• 150 children have, on a regular basis for a year, received life-saving insulin and medical supplies until a local supply was established

• 100 families regularly receive emergency food packages (in fact with aid from all its international support Love Without Borders has distributed over 3 tons of aid per month during the last 12 months alone).

There is now a great need for the provision of psychological care. Children are crying all night long. Many people are taking sleeping and anti-psychotic drugs - there is already concern over addiction.

A large number of churches have disappeared. Many church leaders who were forced to leave in the early days of the conflict cannot return as they are on an “embargoed” list at the so-called border.

Where the non-Moscow Patriarch churches do meet, there are often unknown people just sitting and watching ... certainly not worshipping!

In response, Love Without Borders have built a spiritual base to fully transform lives, and at the border near Luhansk they have set up a temporary tent where:

•   Food and 2,000 Bibles have been handed to refugees and local people

•   1,000 children and 4,000 adults have received Christian literature to encourage and support them. 

The current urgency is to operate a “seeds & chicks programme”.

Last spring and summer huge areas of agricultural land, gardens and allotments were abandoned due to fighting. Although continuing, the fighting is not as fierce as September, but most people could not return to their homes during the winter due to the cold and damaged housing. Consequently, there are no seed stocks for this years crop.

Love Without Borders aim to supply 4,000 vulnerable families with seeds and chicks, as well as carry out house repairs following shelling and extensive looting.

Your help is vital to ensure families will be able to tend their land. Support us by clicking the link below.

Make a donation on BT MyDonate

Issue 212 Lent 2016 - A Time for Encouragement

Ruslana has been alone since 18 - her mother imprisoned for killing her step-father, her father sold their house and walked away. 

She ended up on the streets, forced into prostitution. She lived with a businessman, who soon abused her, especially after the birth of her daughter, Dasha. 

Escaping, she lived in rubbish bins. She met a decent man, but he began to drink heavily and she had to leave - now with Vanya as well! 

She lives on just £50 per month in a flat borrowed from a friend who is in prison, but will soon be released. Ruslana is very kind, a good mother, but overly trusting of people. The Children’s Hearts shelter could be her only refuge. 

This work has been achieved solely through ChildAid’s funds, so it is thanks to you that we can provide this essential facility - thank you!