Adelina (on the left in the picture) is 9 years old and has Down Syndrome. She struggles with language and communication, but these difficulties don’t stop her from being eager to express herself and trying to make herself understood. She loves music and will arrange the other children in a circle while she pretends to play the guitar or claps along with her favourite songs. The children watch her and even applaud at the end of the song.
This year our Christmas appeal aims to raise £5,000 to pay for a speech therapist and a special needs teacher to support children like Adelina. Read on and you will find out how the team at The Wish Centre are helping Adelina flourish.
Adelina grew up in Sipoteni village in the Calarasi district of Moldova, one of the poorest countries of Europe. She lives with her mother, Natalia, who is her round-the-clock carer, and her sister, Bianca. Adelina’s father had to seek work abroad as the family was struggling financially, and the money he sends home is a critical source of household income.
Natalia worked hard to give Adelina a home education and help her daughter’s development, but she also had great fears that Adelina wouldn’t be able to fully integrate into a mainstream kindergarten and later a public school. She learned about the Wish Centre in Calarasi by word of mouth and Adelina started attending the Centre.
Now Adelina comes to the centre twice a week. Our colleagues at the Centre have helped her improve her understanding and her speech. She can now greet people with “hello” and respond with “yes” or “no” to simple questions. She can also follow simple instructions. Just as importantly, she and her family have a safe space where they are valued, and where Adelina can express herself, make friends, and grow in confidence.
Adelina successfully enrolled in the public school in her native village and is now a 2nd-grade student. She has enormous help from her older sister, Bianca, as well as encouragement from her parents and grandparents.
Her mother says, “I am very satisfied with the centre’s services. Whenever I call for advice, the specialists are willing to give me solutions. Adelina attends the centre’s activities with great pleasure. I am interested and trying to do everything possible for Adelina to be involved as much as possible in educational activities in order to obtain as many results as possible.”
