1.
Program "Kangaroo”
The program provides an early
social rehabilitation of children with special needs from 0 to 6 years.
Specialists of the program hold
initial consultations and worked on getting new children to the group. 10
people attended the "Kangaroo" group this month. For beginners, The
diagnostics (Strassmeier program) was done on the development and
validation of achievements for children who just joined the program. Assessment
of the level of development is reflected in the registration form for each
child. Thanks to this diagnostics we determine the level of development of each
child, set out the aims and methods of achieving them.
Classes are held on five major
functional components: development of self, social development, fine and
general motor skills, language (speech), thinking and perception.
The main objective of the
program - the socialization of children with special needs is successfully
achieved. Staying of each child in the
group and participation in the work of the group of children-volunteers from 4
to 9 years old (Vasjya, Vanja, Andrey, Maxim) contribute to this.
Work with children is done in
three ways: group, individual and subgroup (2-3 persons).
It should be noted that the
newly arrived children are left without parents for the first time in their
lives. The adaptation process is successful. "Oldies" help
"newcomers" to feel comfortable and
get acquainted with the rules of the group. We would like to note some
changes and progress in work.
Daniel could hardly let her
mother go away from him (as so as mother was not ready to leave.) Pattern of
behavior fits the manifestation of fear
of separation from his mother. Corrective measures have been planned. He broke
his hand and have not attended the group for two weeks. Our volunteer was
visiting him at home.
Alina came back after medical
treatment and can easy stay without her mother. She was delighted to receive
the wall newspaper with pictures to congratulate with her 4th-year birthday. At home her
parents pay attention mostly to physical development, based on a diagnosis
(cerebral palsy, spastic tetraparesis, mental retardation). So in group she
loves to perform all new things for her: modeling, application, drawing with
fingers, brush, sponge, stringing, etc.
Katya has further expanded her
vocabulary from 10-15 words of a passive vocabulary she has switched to an
active vocabulary. She shows a lot of interaction with other children and
pedagogues. She has learned how to string beads, to collect the pyramid by the
method of selection, to graft "rays" (clips) to the sun, prefers red
colour.
Max successfully mastered how
to count from 1 to 3, learned some letters (A, B, C and O). He learned to run a
step to the right and to the left, to go down the vertical ladder (before he
just jumped down), to walk "bear-like", and to get the ball in the
big ring.
Maxim enjoys visiting the
group, talking a lot and stimulates others to talk, likes to paint with fingers
and using shaving foam. He has learned the letters A, B, O.
All children get physical
rehabilitation in the form of a game. It includes: motor spatial orientation,
sensory-motor development. We have organized a walk on the street with a visit
to the playground and collection of autumn leaves.
This month two volunteers
(specialists in physical rehabilitation) helped us.
14 individual psychological and
educational consultations were hold for parents.
Once a week, the kids have a
session with a music therapist. In class the children learn new songs and movements,
as they are preparing for the fall celebration of the harvesting holiday.
A lecture was done at the
parent's club in the community by one of our specialists. Due to the low
attendance of club meetings by parents, it was decided to temporarily stop
lecturing by the staff of the "Kangaroo" program.
2.
"Training Workshop"
In October, we started training sessions for
six first-year students from Social work program from Zaporizhzhya National
University. Classes focus on the study of self, development of communication
skills, group cohesion. Trainings takes place twice a week at the "Florence centre”. Sessions
help young people to know themselves better, to understand others and build
constructive relationships. Nice to hear from the students: "We wait with
impatience ever session," "It's so exciting!". Sessions will
take place until November 9.
3.
"We
are just like you!" (work at the detention centre)
This month, the boys of the
detention centre participated in two events: sports in school and a trip to the
island of Chortytsya.
Sport event in the school
consisted of games and most loved football. As always volunteers were the
students, who are happy to have participated in all the events. At the end of
the football all the children were presented with pictures from the last event
with a personal signature of their coach Bulatov Sergey. Teens were very happy.
Also the event was attended by the Canadian experts on restorative justice.
A day at the island of
Chortytsya was a great event for schoolchildren. For the first time in 4 years
the children were taken outside of the establishment. All were looking forward
to this opportunity to climb on the rocks. Teens did not miss a minute standing
in the line waiting for their turn. Student volunteers were taught to put on
their gear, show how up and down the rocks, provided insurance when climbing a
mountain. Participants said they would like to go more often from school to participate
in such events.
4.
Work
with Foreign specialists on projects
In October the Florence Centre hosted foreign experts from Canada. During the
visiting period the Canadian experts gave lectures for student from
International Tourism Department and Social Work Department at the Zaporizhzhya
National Technical University. The covered topics were system of high education
in Canada and restorative justice. Besides lectures Canadian experts met with
the professors of the University. Our colleagues also visited various Mennonite
organizations providing charitable assistance in Zaporizhzhya and Zaporizhzhya
region. Guests were warmly received by the local Rotary club. There are
intentions to cooperate with Canadian Rotary clubs. Canadian colleagues acquainted
with the activities of the programs and projects of the Florence Center and provided advice and
assistance.
5.
Social
actions
In October we actively worked
on our new project "Calendar” devoted to senior people. We have already
finished to make portraits of the main characters of a calendar.
6.
Program
"Volunteers"
In October, the volunteers were
preparing training materials on how to work with children with special
needs.
7.
"Family
Club"
In October in the Family club
"Just a miracle" classes of a family group started. | 
