|  In
1990 the Romanian Association for Mentally Handicapped Persons
(ARPEHAM), a humanitarian, non-governmental, independent organization
that promotes the rights of people with special needs was
formed. One of the Associations greatest accomplishments is
the creation of a day & residential facility for the education,
training and care of some of the countries most challenged
individuals.
The
facility, which opened in Bucharest in 1991, is a valuable
community resource that strives to achieve the following goals:
- Eliminate
the isolation of young people with special needs by providing
an opportunity for daily interaction with peers and trained
professionals.
- Provide
an opportunity for social development through social and
work training groups.
- Instill
a positive sense of self-worth through productive work.
- Provide
an alternative to institutionalization.
- Provide
an opportunity for de-institutionalization of individuals
presently in State care.
-
Provide social and moral support to the family members of
children and young adults with special needs.
- Serve
as a model for the development of other special needs programs
throughout Romania.
In
1996 a pilot program was launched to provide additional opportunities
in area of vocational therapy and education. Known as "SORC"
(Socialization and Rehabilitation through Work) the program
was able to establish three supervised workshops serving 24
people. The program functioned successfully through mid-1997
at which time funding ran out.
After
a year of seeking alternative sponsorship, The Daelzicht Foundation
of the Netherlands, which strives to improve the quality of
life of handicapped people, agreed to provide ongoing funding
for SORC. |
