MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS
Spring 2013
CRIFOCUS Child Rescue International is the child sponsorship programme of Mission Without Borders
Y
oung people from children’s Homes in Moldova often get to the age of 18 without receiving any further support. For them, support is vital for their future lives after leaving the homes.
In 2012, Mission Without Borders Moldova supported 102 students with scholarships to undertake further studies. Another 134 children took part in Vocational Training to learn trades such as automotive locksmith, farming, beekeeping, life skills, hairdressing and shoemaking. Training took place at five State Homes and at the car mechanics workshop run by the Mission near Chisinau. At Leova State Home, children can take courses on beekeeping, shoemaking and hairdressing. During the programme, the attendees get both theory and practice, and the tools. For example, pupils on the hairdressing course are provided with haircutting kits, special clothes and other supplies. Mrs. Iulia Gospodinov, the Director of Leova State Home cares about her charges. “We are deeply grateful to see the progress of the children involved in the Vocational/Educational Project. We are thankful to Mission Without Borders for running these courses for the children at our home. These amazing courses also equip them for tackling the challenges life will bring.”
Shoemaking and repairs Dumitru is sponsored under our CRI programme. He told our coordinator, “I heard that shoemaking is a good job, as many people need to have their shoes repaired because they don’t have the money to buy new ones. In the beginning, it was very difficult for me to handle even a simple shoemaking tool or to use the special machine for repairing shoes. Now, I am more confident. I have managed to repair some pairs of shoes, of course with the teacher’s help. I hope that when I grow up, I will be able to find a job and support myself, but now I still have more to learn and practice in order to become a professional.” Mr. Ilie Rosulschi, the teacher at the Shoemaking Workshop, talked to us. “I enjoy teaching the kids how to repair shoes. I always encourage them, telling them that it is better to work as a shoemaker than to be unemployed or work now and again. Dumitru is a hardworking boy. He likes taking part in the vocational courses and is always interested in carrying out the tasks and doing practical work. He even motivated some of his friends from the school to take part in the vocational courses, which will be useful for them in the future. With the help of the participants in the Shoemaking Workshop, we have managed to repair the shoes of all the children at the school and keep them in good condition.”
Dumitru and his shoe-making teacher.
Learning how to fix a schoolmate’s shoe.
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Hairdressing Lucia Tirgola is 17 and at Leova State Home. Lucia comes from a poor family and was brought up by her mother. Her father is dead. She has been going to the hairdressing workshop since September 2012. The course runs for a year. “I really enjoy the hairdressing workshop. I am very grateful that I can take part in this course for free, while other girls in the town need to pay a lot of money to go on courses like this.,” said Lucia, sharing some of her thoughts about the hairdressing course. Mrs. Valentina Buraga runs the hairdressing workshop at Leova Home. She told us, “Lucia is a special and talented girl. She really likes what she does at the hairdresser’s workshop. She is chatty and she always likes to talk to her ‘clients’, who are usually her schoolmates. When she doesn’t understand a technique or has other questions, she asks directly. By the way, all these children are special to me. That is why I like being with them and teaching them a trade which will help them a lot in the future. We help the home’s administration to save money on hairdressing for all the children at the home. When we organise holidays or celebrations at our school, I can tell you that our workshop is overcrowded, because everyone wants to look nice.”
Lucia (right) with her teacher and a “client”
Graduates of the course receive a hairdressing certificate, which helps them when continuing their education or do other courses to get work in hairdressing salons. ♦
Boys can get in on the act, too!
Supporter Tour 2013 In October, 10 Kiwis are travelling to Moldova Romania, Moldova Romania and Albania to visit Albania sponsored families, children and to see other work being done by Mission Without Borders in those countries. The group will be joined by 3 Australian supporters and Director Craig Tobler, and by US Director Eric Floreen. The group will spend about a week in each country. We are considering another tour in 2014, possibly late September-October, to a different combination of countries. We will publicise details on our web site and in our inFocus newsletter. Let us know if you are interested to receive more information about it in due course.
Christmas gift for your sponsored child Each year we have offered sponsors the possibility of ordering a Christmas Gift for their sponsored child. This system allows the sponsor to buy a standard gift pack, with the same things that other sponsored children may receive, and all sourced within the field country. This avoids border control problems (especially in the case of Ukraine), means children get equivalent gifts (no unfairness), and supports local economies. We have a separate order coupon to use if you would like to take advantage of this system – but please do not feel pressured – it is completely voluntary.
MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS (NZ) PO Box 56264, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446 Phone 09 309 6969 Email nzadmin@mwbi.org Helping to Change Lives in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine
Website www.mwb.org.nz
Reg. Charity No. CC37218