Our partnership with the For Our Children Foundation dates back to the end of December 2014, when a learning space was created at the Community Support Center under the “Element of Play” program.
About the partner: For Our Children Foundation is a Bulgarian non-government organization that has been supporting vulnerable children and their families since 1992. For Our Children is an inheritor of the British human rights organizations European Children’s Trust, Christian Children’s Fund, and Every Child. For more than 27 years now, the Foundation has been devoted to improving policies for children and families, developing sustainable programs and services for the prevention of children abandonment at the maternity hospital level, as well as intensive support for parents and relatives. It develops the field of foster care in Bulgaria, participates in the closure of children’s institutions, and creates the first municipal teams of social workers for child protection (new models of short-term residential care and early intervention services).
For Our Children Foundation provides professional social services for the most vulnerable children at an early age by promoting permanent, secure, and nurturing family relationships. Exactly these values and professional goals have led to our teamwork within the “Element of Play” program. The program continues to be implemented in the Center for Public Support, where hundreds of children and families are beneficiaries each year. The WWO Foundation has provided musical instruments, toys, books, and other resources for working with children worth over BGN 5,000, as well as training for the professionals. They are integrated into the daily individual and group work with children with different needs.
Today we present Raya Tsvetanova, Senior specialist “Early Intervention” at For Our Children Foundation. We present her through a case she told us taking into consideration the personal data protection of the child and his family.[vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1597930250362{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;background-color: #2dbcb3 !important;}”]“T. was 3 years old when his family connected with “Early Intervention” program team at the Centre for Community Support “St. Sofia”. He was diagnosed with Sotos Syndrome, generalized developmental disorder, autism. His parents were worried that he was not interested in the world around him, did not want to hold an object in his hand, did not play with toys, had unstable motor skills, did not talk, did not interact with other people. The mother said they needed guidance on how to help him develop. Behind this was her need to talk about her child and her feelings, the challenges of taking care of him, her experiences, and worries. Early childhood development experts say that the beginning of life is not limited to the biological birth, but also the birth of the subject, the way the baby will be welcomed and taken care of by adults. It is often difficult for parents to accept the fact that their child has special needs. They must be supported so that they can see his uniqueness and give him all their love.
I drew the family’s attention to T.’s strengths – an affectionate and calm child who likes to listen to music. I explained that the diagnosis exists, but we would work to develop his potential despite it. I gave the mother and the father the necessary time and space to ask their questions, to express their fears and worries, to share their doubts. The parent needs not only to be given the knowledge, but he also has the right to know. I always look at parents as the best experts at understanding their child and if they don’t already feel that way, I help them become more confident. I support them to improve their capacity to understand and foster the development of their children, to overcome the challenges they face in everyday life.
In partnership with T.’s parents, we prepared an individual program for him, according to his needs and abilities. The child started attending the “Music in Action” groups and with the help of a music therapist the development of fine motor skills in the game with maracas, triangle, horse, metallophone, hammer, as well as the development of eye-hand coordination, was improved. We use various sensory stimuli to enrich his sensory experience. In the group activities with other children, T. develops his social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Over time, he began to like the exercises with the physiotherapy ball which stimulates general motor skills. The mother is actively involved in all activities with the child. The father also participates in the activities when he can.
We have been working with T. and his family for a year now. These days he is trying to play musical instruments, as well as holding an object in his hand for a short time. He looks at toys – he touches them, takes the ones he likes, and makes sounds of joy. He imitates stomping with feet. He shakes hands when asked. He puts on his father’s shoes. Lately, his eye contact has improved. His mother and I are glad that T. sometimes takes a spoon, tries to scoop up food, and directs it to his mouth. Very soon the child will start attending a mass kindergarten for socialization with peers, which has a very important role in the development of each child.
Our goal is for T. to develop his potential, to begin showing greater interest in the environment around him, to become more independent in everyday life activities, to develop his social and communication skills, and most importantly – to have a better quality of life.
The mother says, “I see how we are one step closer to our goals each week”.
T. is a happy child because every day he hears from his mother, “I love you and I believe you will succeed!”. He still can’t answer her, but his eyes show that he understands the message.We are thankful to Raya Tsvetanova for sharing this story. This is a story about the strong belief in the power of family and play. Raya tells how toys and music help T. to develop skills and progress in his development. And these are really great successes of T., his family, and the exceptional professionalist who stood by them at the right moment.
We thank everyone who is part of the team at the Center for Community Support (For Our Children Foundation) for their work.