PR

In October  "Florence Center" participated in a festive event "White Cane" which was dedicated to visually impaired childrenю. The event was organized by the Central City Library for children. Boys and girls sang, recited poetry, played the scene and presented their artistic masterpieces. The concert was held under the theme "Talent can not be blind."

In-service training of practitioners in social field 

The organizational counseling session was conducted for the employees of the orphanage.

Participation in seminars, conferences

The staff of the "Florence Center" participated in the seminar of the Mennonite charitable organizations which work in Zaporizhzhya area.

The program "Healthy Generation"

For social work students of Zaporizhzhya National Technical University our specialist made a presentation on prevention of tobacco use. The main outcome is that two students quit smoking. Students noted that this method was a new and very interesting. Students by themselves held an action to prevent smoking among college students exchanging candies to cigarettes. 

5. Work with foreign experts

In October we have organized the teaching sessions of Professor Florence Driedger (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada). Professors delivered lectures on the problems of homelessness, HIV/AIDS, the structure and specifics of high education system in Canada. Seven lectures were conducted to students of the Department of Social Work, International Tourism and Recreation. Students enjoyed the presentations very much.

We also hosted in our center an entrepreneur from the US who would like to help homeless children, a teacher of German language who is interested to open German cinema club, teachers and students of pedagogical background from Sweden. Local community is aware of our work and brings people to us to show what we do.

The program "We are just like you" (Detention center)

In October two trips were held to the detention center. Each time children meet the guests with joy. October became the month of football, and everyone –

children and students – enthusiastically showed their skills. In order to make the game fair, the guys had mixed teams. Especially memorable was the football game with a score 13:1. Until the final whistle, fans were hoping for a miracle – to change 13:0! To protect the losing team one of the tutors joined the team and bravely defended the gate. And the team changed the score!

We especially want to mention volunteers of the Institute of Management and Law, who come there with great enthusiasm. Here are just some of the statements of students: "I will not miss any other trips this year! I like to play with these kids! " Everybody enjoys the tradition of a farewell handshake. Children feel respect from students which is very important to them.

Student’s practicum

The staff of the Florence Center took 25 students to the rehabilitation center for homeless kids Republic "Pilgrim" (Mariypol).

The program "Kangaroo"

Group is attended by 20 children. We play with them, develop motor skills, fine motor skills, perception, speech. In the form of a game conducted classes in adaptive physical education, which included: breathing exercises, motor orientation in space, sensory-motor development, learning  topic "I am a child."

We continue to work individually as well.

This month we had three undergraduate volunteers who conducted physical rehabilitation with each child in the group: massage, passive and active development of the joints, stretching spastic muscles, muscular form the spine - all methods aimed at improving the skills of movement.

 Work with autistic children aimed at the development of communicative skills, self-development of cognitive processes.

In October  the specialists of the program visited a training seminar  "Watch and learn," which was conducted by the  Professor Sue Buckley, University of Oxford. They learned new methods  how to work with Down syndrome children.