The Phoenix Centre is in Rîșcani, northern Moldova and opened in September 2015. It is the only centre for children with disabilities in north Moldova and is the result of the vision and dedication of Moldovan born Victoria Dunford BEM of UK charity, MAD-Aid.
The building adopted was a former kindergarten and given free to the program on a 49-year lease from the local authorities. The Centre provides both rehabilitation therapy and a day care facility with staff providing treatment, social and educational inclusion for children with disabilities, and much-needed respite for their parents and carers.
The Centre is open 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday from 8 am till 5 pm. Some 15 children attend every day for 5 days a week, others are at the centre 2-4 days weekly.
Every fortnight there is a 10-day Assessment Programme for 20 children. The aim of the programme is to assess children’s needs early in their lives and to support parents to care for them safely and in a way appropriate to their individual level of disability.
ChildAid were pleased to arrange training for the physiotherapists by the Tony Hawks Centre team.
