Program "Volunteer"/ Student’s Practicum

In May the volunteering  practicum of students - social workers from Zaporizhzhya National Technical University was finished. The experience of work with students became the basis of methodological materials for the course "Theory and practice of volunteerism". Practice has shown that involvement of students in volunteer activities not only helps to gain professional skills but also brings a significant contribution to the provision of social services by  Florence Center.

Program "We are just  like you!"

In May volunteers of Zaporizhzhya National Technical University (Institute of Management and Law, International Tourism Department) organized sports events for children from Kamyshevahskaya rehabilitation school. This time school students together with volunteers studied the basics of orienteering. The guys are happy to have such events and looking forward to meet with volunteers again.  Next visit to the school of social rehabilitation is planned for July.

Program "Kangaroo"

In May, the group work with children with special needs was continued. 14 children are visiting the group sessions. The sessions are conducted to develop productive activities (modeling of salty dough, painting), to develop communication skills (singing, logorhythmik, conversations), also include presentations, role-playing games that help children to be actively involved in work.

 Group sessions continue to give positive results: children develop communication skills, learn to communicate in a group and interact with each other.

Individual work is carried out with two categories of children: children with autism and children with cerebral palsy (age 2 years old). The priority of work is to provide the associative learning and to develop the sensory-motor intelligence and cognitive processes (attention, memory, expanding of active and passive vocabulary, development of visual-practical thinking). Also fine motor skills are being developed; productive activity is formed by means of geometric shapes made of natural wood and natural material (such as beans of different kinds, pasta).

The work has such topics as "I am a child" - studying the body; "Me and others" - my family; "Me and the world around" - pictures of animals etc.

In May the meeting was held with parents of children who attend group sessions. The main purpose was to meet with psychologist, clarify the expectations of parents from the program. The main achievements of children as the result of group work have been discussed. Parents indicated a high level of services provided by professionals of Kangaroo program ("We have been to other places, there are all very good, nice, and have a lot of different equipment… here the size is smaller but the work is not formal"). Also the vision of children’s future by parents was discussed.

 As the results of the meeting it was decided to hold the meeting with parents in late June.

Work with foreign experts

In May ZNU had lectures of Family Department Professor Jason Hans (University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA). The meeting was held with the staff of Florence center with Professor Hans to discuss issues related to cooperation of University and Family Center. Professor Hans told about experience of Kentucky University: the students have practice (counseling and personal therapy) on the basis of the family center (it take place not during school hours, but is obligatory).  Thus, the Family Center can be the part of the educational process of departments of social field and the base of students’ professional training.

Social actions

In celebration of Family Day, which was organized by Zaporizhzhya regional center of social services for families, children and young people, the Florence Centre took part in the fair of social organizations and had the opportunity to inform residents of Zaporizhzhya city and guests about activities of  the Family Center  and about services we offer.

Also by the invitation of the Association of Parents of Children with Special Needs "Nadiya" representatives of the Florence Center participated in the event dedicated to Children’s Day and presented gifts to children.

Counseling

Psychologist of the Florence Center hold group counseling of parents on raising children with special needs.

Also the individual online counseling of parents on child development and education is provided.

Participation in conferences and seminars

The Florence Center took part in a roundtable discussion on issues of European integration. The event was organized by the Renaissance Foundation.

"Welcome to Ukraine"

 In May within the program the trip of Canadian colleagues to Mennonite historical places in Ukraine (Zaporizhzhya region) and Russia (Orenburg, Samara and regions) was organized.