1. Students' Practicum

                                                              

In January we hosted 15 students from social work program (college of Economics and Law).

We conduct a training "Me + others." The main objectives of the training: training in communicative competence, the development of interpersonal relationships and team building.

Already held two training sessions during which students learned to work in a team and learned more about each other. Guys were actively involved in the work,  opened and interested in what’s going on during training sessions.

Also in January, we have developed a program of practicum for students majoring in social work and social pedagogy at the Zaporizhzhya National University. Practicum will start in February. 

Our plans include the maximum involvement of students in the Centre's work to achieve mutually beneficial goals: providing students with practical skills and assistance in our work. For example, important tasks will be to help  "Kangaroo" program to work with kids and to participate in  "Healthy Lifestyle" program, to do some methodical work with the staff, etc.

2. "Healthy Lifestyle" (work with teens at schools on prevention of smoking, drinking, drug use, on communication, decision making, etc.).

After winter break continued our work in schools. In particular,  trainings on team building. Guys enthusiastically participated in the exercises, we observed noticeable improvement in the relationship between the children.

Also this month, we received a request to conduct lectures for parents on "Aggressive behavior of children" at the general parent’s meeting in one of the city's schools. Session scheduled for February 2014.  

We also actively continued our work on the project "FASD." The project is nearly completed and we see the improvement of  knowledge and understanding of the subject.

3. Work on grants application

In January, our Centre was actively involved in the work on the two grant projects: finishing the work on FASD Project and developing a new project on  HIV / AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS project was decided to start due to frequent requests from different schools. Survey helped us to find out that most students have a low level of knowledge about HIV / AIDS, which shows the need to work in this direction. We also found that the Zaporizhzhya region is one of the leading places in Ukraine by the spread of HIV among the population.

The project will cover 50 schools in the city of Zaporizhzhya (a total of 2,500 students aged 14-16). Upon completion of the project will be distributed instructional materials to help teachers to continue this work by themselves.

Work on the new project will begin in April 2014 immediately after the completion of the project on the prevention of FASD.

 

4. "Kangaroo" (work with disable children)

The "Kangaroo" provides early social rehabilitation of children with special needs from 0 to 6 years.

During the month, 16 people attended  the "Kangaroo" program.

For each child summed results, adjusted for development for the next month and ways to achieve them were planned.

Five families raising a child with special needs got consultations.

Group began to attend three newcomers: Eugene (4.5 years old) with mental retardation, Artem (3.5 years old) with psychoverbal development delay, Daria (3.5 years old) with Down syndrome. Children stay a full day.

This month we continue to attend a swimming pool. Children who attend the pool, showed positive dynamics in the development of (good mood, sleep improvement, the development of communication skills.).

Approved a new schedule of the day, where special attention is paid to individual studies (the study of basic mathematical concepts (color, shape, size) and grammatical concepts ("catch the sound"), correction of thinking, memory and attention.

Daily exercise classes: Monday-design, Tuesday - colours, Wednesday - modeling, Thursday - handcrafts, Friday - puppet theater.

Actively conducted daily sports activities. Children get massage and gymnastics. Children work  with a speech therapist and a music therapist. Particular attention is paid to teaching children self-help skills (dressing, undressing, washing hands, toileting, eating, cleaning toys).

 Since October, using various techniques we taught Maxim to use a pot. To the delight of all program staff and parents Maxim experiencing difficulties with lavatory, overcome all fears and is now freely sits on the potty and use it properly.

Some children had problems to sleep during the day, but using fairy tales therapy we help them all to sleep.

We are very glad that Nikita, one of our  pupils, formed the psychological readiness and skills necessary to enter kindergarten with regular children.

One of the problems we face it's a daily play outside. Playground is 200 meters from the Centre. To get to the playground we have to cross very busy street with lots of cars. More than 50% of children attending our program have a diagnosis of autism, some have difficulty in moving (cerebral palsy), so  all children need ongoing support and supervision. Great care is provided by volunteers who help organize a walk, but even with the help of volunteer we are not able to bring all children to the playground at the same time. This problem could be solved if we organize a small playground near our Centre.

 

6. PR

In January, the "Florence Centre" prepared an article about the organization. This article is planned to be published in international journal.