- Чернігівський реабілітаційний центр "Відродження"
At the Center worked students volunteers from Anglia Ruskin University
An outstanding event in the Centre from March 26 to April 7, was the arrival of students - volunteers from the UK,
their team consisted of the University Chaplain Tony Cant, teachers Jen Hancock and Alison Fist and future teachers of primary school for children with special needs (Victoria, Sulima, Fiona , Danny, Chris and Nicole) had an opportunity meaningfully to work at the Center for two weeks.
The project was launched last year during a working trip of director of Center Pasichnyk V I in England. The visit was at the invitation of Charity " Felsted Aid for deprived children", headed by husband and wife Pauline Craven and Alan Hilliar.
They are old good friends of our Center. Program of the visit had provided a presentation about the activities of the Centre in Ruskin University. By the way, Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in East of England and is one of the twenty best universities in the UK, it has more than 30,000 students. Within fifteen years this educational institution was performing charitable mission in Croatia.
However, it was decided - the next object for the mission - Ukraine. It was then agreed that a group of students of the institution in March 2013 will visit Centre "Revival" as volunteers in order to obtain practical experience with the "special" children. During their stay students at the Centre tried not to waste precious time. They did not avoid any work: together with teachers cleaned the snow, which in a large number "flunked" our region, washing windows and floors in the new building, balls for ball bathes, cleaning carpets. This assistance has been very significant, because the staff was able at this time to focus on more urgent matters.
Together with specialists of the Center volunteers worked in workshops, attended a master classes for working with paper the technique "kviling", were making picture with buttons.
In addition, students prepared a surprise - in the hall next to one of the game rooms of the new building, in memory of their visit, drew a great painting of a summer landscape and forest dwellers.
During the stay the students visited the "universities" of our cities, in particular, talked with students of Technological University. They are - future social workers who will soon take part in a similar project in Ukraine. Leaders of Ruskin University actively shared experiences with teachers of Technological University on the organization and operation of such volunteer missions in England.
Meaningful in terms of a teaching experience was visiting the school number 12, where future teachers tried themselves at English classes for senior pupils and primary school children.
Students visited secondary school of Kovchyn of l- II levels named after L.P.Depolovych which is in Kulikov area (between this institution and the Centre "Revival" there are long friendly relations), and bording-home for disabled in Nezhyn.
Unforgettable experiences and important direction of work in the implementation of charitable mission of students was a visit to families of seriously ill children who are constantly cared by and get help from philanthropists from the UK. This is where young people saw with their own eyes the life of the poor people in the way it really is. These visits were very mooving.
One of the memorable events for Children of the Center and the students was jointly organized concert dedicated to the volunteers's departure back home. It also was not without surprises: children were entertaining all with the fun songs, games, and British - impressed everybody by the inflammatory Ukrainian hopak!
Each of the patients of the Center wanted to meet and make friends with guests from the UK.
Cooperation was full of cheerful smiles, jokes, enjoyable and memorable experiences, which is particularly important for young patients of the Center, as high spirits, pleasant emotions - are the key to wellness that will positively affect the results rehabilitation.