Dear Members,
While waiting for applications for 2011, the Charity Committee went on two site visits in January to follow up on donations from 2010. The first visit went to Children's Diagnostic Center in Bratislava which is a temporary home for children aged 4-16 who have been removed or run away from home or who need special care and support for 3-6 months before it is decided where to place them on a permanent basis. The children go to school at the center and receive psychologic and social support together with their families. Around 200 children pass through the center yearly. We followed up on a donation in 2010 for refurbishing of 6 bedrooms. Last year the institution was infested with bed-bugs and after several fumigations to no avail, they decided to strip the rooms from their wall coverings and most of the furniture and carpets. We found that all rooms had been nicely furnished and the Director and Supervisors were very pleased with the donation and reported that the bug-infestation is now under control and that they have taken preventive measures to avoid similar problems in the future. See also their website at http://www.dcpredeti.sk/
Site Visit to Children's Diagnostic Center Bratislava
The second visit went to the Social Home for the Disabled on Sibirska street in Bratislava where we made a donation for a Snoezelen therapy room which is a multisensory stimulation/relaxation methodology that has shown to be effective in assisting individuals with a range of handicaps. We were very pleased with what we saw. A room had been completely transformed into a Snoezelen therapy room with10 different activities of light, sound, aromatherapy, soap bubbles, sensory board, water bed and leaf chair hanging from the ceiling. The therapists reported that the effect was very visible when the clients were in the room. The therapy calmed their condition and helped them get in touch with their body which is otherwise one of the difficulties among their clients. In addition to our donation of equipment, 6 therapists from the institution had been trained in the UK and were taking turns treating clients in the room throughout the day. The room is being used by all the clients who are severely disabled adults and children aged 8 to 60. There are 20 in full time care and 18 in day care. The Director and therapists are very grateful for our donation and they had already added to the room with self made sensory equipment.
See also their website at http://www.dsssibirska.sk/
The new Charity Committee had its first meeting in February where we reviewed 10 new applications. We are now in the process of visiting the applicants to get more information and insight into the institutions and the reason for the applications. We will be back next month with more information on the approvals.
Kirsten
