Alexandru came to The Wish, our partners in Călărași, Moldova, because his parents were concerned about his behaviour. He was five and his parents were desperate because they didn’t know what to do when he had an emotional outburst or how to control his challenging behaviour. Alexandru is autistic, and his behaviour flowed from the challenges he was facing. In the last year our colleagues have worked on his difficulties communicating (at the start he was mainly using gestures), following simple instructions, concentrating and interacting with other children.
He has made great progress in this time. His words are more understandable so he is able to communicate what he wants or needs better. He enjoys joining in simple activities and can cope better with being around other children. He even sometimes initiates contact – perhaps sharing a toy. He is also becoming more independent, something his family have been very supportive with. Our colleagues have advised them on how to get him involved in doing more simple tasks for himself.
His family are extremely happy! They have started to see his potential and to feel more confident in supporting him. There is, however, a limit to what they can manage, since they have to work long hours. We would love to be able to give him more time at the Wish, but at the moment, one day a week is all they can afford to give him. When we see what progress Alexandru can make in a safe space with patient support and the right therapy, we want to be able to give this to the many children who would also benefit. Your donations can help us do more for children with special needs in our community who have no-where else to turn.
