By Katrina McDowell on Oct 23, 2024 in Giving, Global
The Romanian Maltese Relief Organization is a Yardi-supported non-governmental association that, during its 33 years of activity, has contributed to changing the destinies of thousands of people in difficulty.
This organization was founded in 1991 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and is defending the faith and helping those in need by continuing to be involved in the community and offering the needed help. When it started its services, the Romanian Maltese Relief Organization aimed to assist children, and now it boasts of recovered young people and adults who are helpful to society.
It also provides a social program called Maltese Kindergarten, a daycare for children with neuromotor disabilities. During its years of activity, the Maltese Kindergarten offers education and recovery services to more than 400 special children, many of whom have become independent adults today. The daycare has been certified as a Psychology Structure by the Romanian College of Psychologists. It has been licensed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity as a social service center since 2005. It has a team of six therapists dedicated and committed to the love of the children, primarily exclusive specialists, psychology graduates, psychological counselors, unique psych pedagogy and physical therapists who have all been certified by the Romanian College of Psychologists. Early personalized therapy can help these children to have a chance for recovery, discover life independently and even go to school. Through its daycare center, the Romanian Maltese Relief Organization provides education and recovery services from an early age.
“It is difficult to imagine being a parent of a child that is living with a disability. It is even harder to imagine being a child with disabilities. You couldn’t explain to your mother what hurts you, you couldn’t reach out for your favorite toy, or you couldn’t eat chocolate. These are all simple things that make the difference between living and existing,” explained Mirela Codreanu, director of Romanian Maltese Relief Organization’s Maltese Kindergarten.
This year, the Romanian Maltese Relief Organization has opened the first inclusive Playground in Cluj-Napoca, a playground to which Yardi funding contributed in 2023 and 2024. This playground is a first of its kind and, through its attractive and complex design, will bring together children with and without disabilities. This concept was created through Symphony of Friendship, another beloved social project. Its goal is to ensure children with physical and mental disabilities have equal rights to approach public spaces for relaxation and play and to encourage inclusion through play.
“This project is important to us because it can contribute to changing mindsets, open opportunities, and new ways to see the vulnerable. We dream about a society that is more tolerant and helpful with those who have a disability, a society that stops pushing away the different ones but embraces it,” said Codreanu.
In addition to the playground, Yardi funding helps continue the charitable work at Maltese Kindergarten, allowing the Romanian Maltese Relief Organization to create a safe space for any child who needs special education and recovery. This benefits the less fortunate, special and vulnerable children.
“We managed to be that much-needed support, thanks to your implication. I want to encourage you to turn your attention to these programs for special children because you help us support those in much need,” expressed Codreanu.
Raul’s Pathway to Hope
Cheerful, shy six-year-old Raul had social, motor and communication barriers before he came to Maltese Kindergarten. When he arrived, his diagnosis reflected the fact that he did not walk, speak, eat, and did not understand anything. However, shortly after his adventure started as a “Maltese” child, he gradually managed to explore every corner of the house. First, he crawled, and then, with help from a walker, he soon found himself able to walk after one year of physical therapy. With patience and perseverance, Raul became more receptive to those around him, learning new words and understanding others. After the first year, he could do amazing things such as puzzles, achieve many cognitive abilities, and eat alone.
When the pandemic started, it did not hinder his evolution, and he continued his independence. One incident happened two months after the pandemic, and he explored every corner of the house and hugged everyone—therapists and other children. That evening, his mother was concerned about what happened that day because he no longer wanted to walk, but the next day, she realized Raul had muscular soreness from how much he moved from room to room and from another person with so much excitement to be back at the house. Today, Raul runs, plays, eats alone, and understands when others speak to him.
“Wonderful Yardi helped us bring hope to Raul’s family, put smiles on his parent’s faces, and create bridges between us so that there is no more them and us and you, but just US. People are together, whether they are sponsors, therapists, parents, or children. We are all people with the same interest: to bring good into the lives of innocent and special children. And for that, thank you,” said Codreanu.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Romanian Maltese Relief Organization invites Yardi employees to be part of the Symphony of Friendship project. This annual social festival promotes inclusion and is an excellent opportunity for Yardi employees to contribute to a larger cause. Additionally, the daycare center offers the chance to manage and organize activities together with the office.
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