SPECIALIST LEARNING CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX NEEDS - a lifeline for families.

In Romania there are thousands of children with disabilities who have no access to schooling.

FARA aims to give these invisible and forgotten children an opportunity for integrated into main stream schooling.

The Samuel Centre has been open for a year offering an individual education programme, socialising opportunities and therapies for fourteen children from age three years.

Teachers/psychologists trained in UK teaching methods work with children and their families not only to offer a special needs education programme but are also helping to change social attitudes in Romania towards children with complex needs.

The Centre also provides medical expertise and a range of therapies. Parents are encouraged to participate in the education of their children and on going family support is given.

The Samuel Centre is considered a centre of excellence for children with complex needs and FARA has been approached by the Department of Child Protection to enlarge the centre and offer their expertise to many more children so desperately in need of education.

NEW HOME SCHOOLING PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX NEEDS

In order to offer immediate help to the many pre school children on our waiting list, FARA has appointed two experienced teachers with knowledge of UK education methods.

Since the beginning of 2008, these teachers are visiting children in their homes twice a week and working with the families have prepared an education programme and provided specialist equipment to suit the needs of each child. Parents are able to attend monthly meetings at the Samuel Centre – this is providing invaluable support for parents socially isolated in their homes caring for a child with disabilities.

FARA is now reaching out to many more young children and enabling them to receive an education – their only hope for a brighter future.