SKIP Edinburgh - Moldova

SKIP Edinburgh has set up a project in the Orhei Institute in Chisinau, Moldova. This government-run institution is home to 320 boys aged from 4-20 with a whole range of physical and mental disabilities. SKIP Edinburgh volunteers spend time during the summer providing much needed attention and stimulation to the children through basic interventions.

History

Born in 2007, SKIP Edinburgh chose to focus on Eastern Europe following the media attention depicting the horrific conditions in some of the institutions there. After participating in SKIP Cardiff’s successful project in Belarus, we have been careful to take our time in choosing where our help is most needed. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe, but has a very forward-thinking attitude and an ultimate aim of deinstitutionalisation.

During our needs assessment trip in 2008 we visited 13 potential projects within Moldova. We chose the Orhei institute because it has many existing facilities such as a sports hall, arts room and swimming pool that are just not used currently. There has been no volunteer input at the orphanage for 5 years and it is massively understaffed, particularly during the summer when many of the staff take holidays.

In 2009 we spent 3 weeks at the orphanage interacting with the children and staff and piloted some interventions that make use of the facilities at the orphanage, whilst conducting further research into the specific needs of the institution. We have since made links with an NGO working across Eastern Europe, The Children’s’ High Level Group, and are also working closely with Moldovan medical students in order to make our project as sustainable as possible.

In 2010 we sent out 2 groups of 10 volunteers, each of which spent 3 weeks at the orphanage. While we were there a scheme was initiated in collaboration with the Moldovan medical students whereby these students now regularly visit and spend time with the children and take them on trips outside of the orphanage. SKIP Edinburgh financially supports this scheme.

What will our project do?

This summer we sent out 2 groups of volunteers who each spent 3 weeks in the orphanage to further develop the relationship with orphanage children and staff. Next year we will hopefully be sending out 3 groups for 3 weeks. Our interventions include:

• Educational games and activities
• Music, movement and dance
• Arts
• Sports
• Day trips out of the orphanage

But most of all, simply spending time with the children to give them the individual care and attention they might not otherwise receive.

Additionally, this year we will be investigating the possibility of including a passive movement intervention with the help of a local NGO as well as continuing to support a scheme whereby Moldovan medical students regularly visit Orhei and take the children out on day trips.

What are our goals?

Our long-term goals are to improve the wellbeing of children in Orhei orphanage by providing care and stimulation and support the Moldovan government in their long-term plans for deinstitutionalisation, so that ultimately we won’t be needed.

How do we raise money?

We have organised a wide variety of successful fundraising events throughout the year, including:

• Jazz bar open mic night
• Running a half marathon
• Sponsored Loch swim
• Bag packing
• Medics vs Vets pub crawl

Contact us

For more information about SKIP Edinburgh or our project please contact us at skipedinburgh@googlemail.com.