issue two: may 2009 - Halcrow

Transformingchildren s livesA brighter future for Romania’s orphanselping to drive forward a complete culturalHchange in how Romanian orphans are treatedis a key goal of the Foundation for the Relief ofDisabled Orphans (F.R.O.D.O).And it is a step closer to reality, thanks to a £27,500 cashinjection from the Halcrow Foundation, organised byproject sponsor Elena Staicu.More specifically, the funding will directly impact on retrainingstaff at Crinul Alb – a Bucharest placement centrefor children with physical and learning disabilities. CrinulAlb was the subject of a 2008 undercover television exposéabout a visit by the Duchess of York – now a F.R.O.D.Opatron. Viewers were shocked by images of traumatisedchildren tied to their beds for hours on end.With the full support of the Romanian authorities, UKcharity F.R.O.D.O has been working with the children andstaff to improve the quality of care. It aims to create anew concept of residential care that combines education,including practical vocational skills for older children, witha therapeutic approach.The charity will implement its ‘institutionaltransformation’programme todeliver dramatic improvements to the children’s lives. Itaims to accelerate the children’s development in the hopethat it will shorten their time in the institution throughplacement with family members or foster carers.F.R.O.D.O’s team has been chosen for its expertisein working with children with learning or physicaldisabilities. The group will visit the orphanage on aregular basis over the next 12 months, and has alreadystarted to form the policies and procedures that willunderpin the new approach.The Halcrow Foundation donation will pay for a full-time,Crinul Alb-based programme co-ordinator. Not only willhe or she help care for the children, they will ensure thatthe lessons learned during F.R.O.D.O’s visits are not onlymaintained, but developed even further.Vanessa Cummings, F.R.O.D.O chief executive, said:“We are committed to do whatever we can to stop thedamage that typically occurs to a child from long-terminstitutionalisation.”Despite the Romanian government’s commitment to deinstitutionalisationas a priority in its child-care policies,this cannot be achieved overnight, says Vanessa. “Morethan 20,000 children continue to be institutionalisedin Romania,” she says. “By working with us, we canhelp ensure that they receive loving care, where theirpersonalities and talents can be developed, where theirdisabilities can be managed properly and where they canlook forward to a future of hope.”A better life: many ofRomania’s disabledorphans have thepotential to live full andhappy livesF.R.O.D.O hopes to roll outthe scheme as standardpractice across Romaniaand believes the programmehas the potential to changehow orphaned and disabledchildren are cared for acrossEastern Europe.Find out more at www.frodokids.org