The Director of the “Happy Child” charity foundation, Albert Pavlov, told ReporterUA that he has recently accompanied the British volunteers to the Chernigov facility in Kalinovka. The Kalinovka Orphanage currently has 120 orphans aged from 4 to 35 years diagnosed with various mental and physical disabilities. A great number of the orphans are wheelchair users.
A new and important concept will be highlighted in the documentary. A completely restored house that used to be a Mennonite mansion has a new life and purpose. Since the first of December 2011 it has been a family type home, “Happy Home”. The orphanage Director and staff, volunteers and Happy Child foundation have worked together to make this a reality for nine of the orphans. The unique project is individually oriented towards each occupant. It provides a nurturing family-like environment.
“Some children who now live in “Happy Home” can already read syllables, - Albert Pavlov delightfully tells us.
The employees of the “Happy Child” charity foundation note that the physiologists from all around the world have concluded that upbringing and education of orphans is much more effective in small family-like groups than in huge orphanages. This works well with ordinary healthy orphans and also disabled orphans. Most developed countries are establishing foster family homes instead of orphanages. The BBC has already broadcasted a similar documentary about the Bulgarian experience in the reformation of the orphanage system in the custody of the abandoned disabled children.
