Our world can change so quickly. Sometimes we need to make a special effort to make sure none are left behind.
Political upheaval, economic ups and downs, and scientific breakthroughs can change our world suddenly, overnight even. Human attitudes and behaviour are often less easily changed though. Like all the countries that were part of the old Soviet sphere, Moldova has been through many rapid and confusing changes in the 35 years since the collapse of communism in the east of Europe.
These changes have affected every facet of life. One of the major challenges in Moldova is the lack of qualified educators, an issue that has been exacerbated by the mass closure of boarding schools that previously provided specialised support for children with special educational needs. The shift towards inclusion, integrating these children into mainstream schools, was implemented without adequate teacher training. This lack of preparation has led to increased cases of bullying from both teachers and peers, who were neither informed properly about the changes, nor trained to support children with special educational needs or mental health concerns.
House of Opportunity’s partner organisation in Moldova, Beginning of Life (BoL), has been working to adapt the educational materials we helped them develop, so they meet the needs of children and adults with special needs.
Kristina is almost 30 years old and has Down’s Syndrome. As a child, she was an active participant in life; singing, reciting poetry, and engaging in games. However, when Kristina was five, her mother passed away, and she was raised by her father.
At 20, Kristina stopped attending community events and classes. When she and her father returned years later to a community for parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, Kristina had become withdrawn. She suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, and compulsive self-harm, scratching her hands until they bled. She had also stopped speaking and was deeply afraid of people.
When Kristina joined in special lessons run by BoL, she was assigned a personal tutor to help her engage in the learning process. During her first class, Kristina observed but did not actively participate. She could only complete tasks when her tutor physically guided her hands. However, by the second lesson, Kristina independently reached for a ball from the teacher’s basket and participated in a simple exercise.
There is still a long road ahead, but the BoL team are delighted to see Kristina’s progress and determined to ensure that its educational programme is adaptable, accessible, and effective. The goal is to ensure that inclusive education can thrive even without expensive teaching materials, making it possible for everyone to learn and grow in a supportive environment.