PETRUSHKA - day and temporary placement center for children in Tiraspol

The project contributes annually to the well-being of up to 90 children from vulnerable families, ensuring children's rights to safety, health, decent living standards and ensuring intellectual, social and spiritual growth.

Since 2006, the Petrushka Center is a child protection service that aims to prevent the abandonment and institutionalization of children by providing care, education, recreation - socialization, counseling, independent living skills development, after-school and professional activities for children, as well as and support, counseling, education for parents or legal representatives and other caregivers.

Petrushka provides day care and temporary placement for children in the risk group, social apartments and allowance for vulnerable young people to enable them to continue their studies, and social assistance for families at risk of abandonment / institutionalization of children, improving the quality of life at home for children.

Period of activity: 2006 – present

Partner: Roman Catholic Parish "Holy Trinity", Tiraspol;

Purpose: Family reintegration and social integration of children from socially vulnerable families.

Beneficiaries: 65 children from socially vulnerable families, aged between 7-18 years; 25 children at risk, in need of temporary placement; 6 students from socially vulnerable families;

Donor: Caritas Viena

Activities:

• Temporary placement for children from the risk group; Social assistance and psycho-social counseling for children and their families; providing food for children, as well as school supplies, clothing, footwear; social and financial assistance to families;
• Day activities: Pedagogical assistance in completing homework; individual / group consultation and psychological support for children and parents; "SUN" sessions; information sessions in child protection and development of life skills; English lessons; social theater circle; tailoring workshop / manual work; excursions, summer camps, sports competitions; trainings for parents, to improve the parent-child relationship and their communication; lunch for children;
• Social apartments for young people; scholarships; individual / group consultation and psychological support; information sessions in adult protection and the development of independent living skills;

"In 2001, the Bishop of Chisinau appointed Father Petru abbot of the parish of Tiraspol. Despite the need to build the Church and the many problems associated with it, Father Peter began his work with the organization of charitable projects - looking for sponsors with whom to give life to these projects. And in a short time for about 40 children, a hot lunch was bought every day. And for some lonely old men, food packages were delivered.

Since 2004, 2 residential apartments (separately for boys and girls) have been rented for students from disadvantaged families in villages and some graduates of a boarding school in Popenki, and monthly food assistance has been provided, as well as travel tickets for public transport.

Throughout 2006, dairy products were offered daily for 50 children at the neuro-psychiatric dispensary in Tiraspol.

In winter of 2003-2004, after several street children were found living in the sewers or garbage cans, the idea and desire to help them arose. The search period for funds for the purchase of at least one small house, in which they could find their own corner.

In 2004, was purchased a house and a complete reconstruction was carried out to provide the basic support for the children mentioned above. The aim of the project was to distract children from the streets and to support minors and their families who are in difficult situations and need help and support.

The Petrushka Children's Center was opened in 2006.

The center has 25 places for temporary placement and 40 places for day activities. Children are offered three full meals a day, medical examination, psychological counseling and homework assistance. The social worker maintains relationships with parents and schools, and if necessary, helps in finding a job, in completing documents, etc. In crisis situations, families receive material assistance and counseling in the correct address to the local public administration and other public and private institutions. "

Center coordinator, Vera Nashko

During discussions, trainings and informative sessions with children, they developed their skills to resolve conflict situations; they became more communicable and tolerant of themselves and others; they learned to interact in a positive way, to improve their cooperation skills and to build strong relationships with their peers, parents and others in the community.

Children / Young people tend to change their attitude towards the educational process, learn to face daily challenges, expand their horizons and demonstrate civic involvement. Many of them volunteer to support and help others in need.

Parents, due to the training offered at the center about the education and protection of children, as well as interpersonal relationships, demonstrate positive changes in communication and behavior not only with children, but also with the whole family.

"The Zaitsev family consists of 7 people: the father and six children. The father works as a guard at the children's camp in Chițcani village. The family lived in a private house without facilities, with wood heating. The children are raised by their father, while their mother left them and went to Chisinau, where she married. The mother does not participate in the life and upbringing of the children, does not provide material assistance and does not visit them.

From the words of a teacher from the school attended by the children, they were often dirty, dressed in rags and hungry. Younger children were often seen in the village cemetery begging for food. Knowing about the family's difficult financial situation, the neighbors helped as much as possible with food, clothes and medicine. The family urgently needed material support.

In January 2019, after a visit by the guardianship authorities, the father was threatened with deprivation of parental rights, due to the fact that living conditions did not comply with the minimum living standards. There is no necessary furniture in the rooms. Bed linen and children's clothes were not washed, the children had pediculosis.

This family was included in the Petrushka project, and the children had the opportunity to receive a service complex at the center on weekends and holidays: first, they received treatment with pediculosis, clothes and bedding were washed once a week. Was provided financial assistance to the family for the purchase of 2 bunk beds. The father and older daughters cleaned the house. The guardianship authorities visited this family several times to monitor the living conditions, and, as a result, it was decided that the children should stay to live with their father.

The teachers from the center worked and work intensely with the children for their adaptation and socialization in the society and they obtained very good results. The children are very talented, actively participate in the theater circle, and have improved their school performance.

At this time, the family is in a time of maximum difficulty, because in March 2020, it burned the roof of their house, so the house is uninhabitable and irreparable. Solutions are being sought to solve this problem. "

From the observations of the social worker from Tiraspol, Petrushka center.