Keystone Human Services

Giving Tuesday
2017-11-28
Share the possibities this #GivingTuesday and support children at the Unitate Community Center in Moldova!
November 28, 2017 is #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving to make the world a better place.
This #GivingTuesday, Keystone Human Services International is raising money to support our Unitate Community Center in Tudora in the Republic of Moldova. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with 19% of people in rural areas living in poverty.

Children in Moldova are especially vulnerable. One or both of their parents often live abroad to work, and without a stable family environment, many children are exposed to abuse and neglect, in addition to poverty. It’s a difficult situation for any child to grow up in.
The Unitate Community Center in the rural village of Tudora offers the most vulnerable of these children a safe and structured place where they can be children and thrive. Children attend the Center every day before and after school, even on weekends. It’s a place where they can get a nutritious meal, have access to safe running water, and have a safe place where they can focus on their schooling. But even more than that, it’s a place where children can build their self-confidence and social skills so they can grow and find success in school and life.
“I started attending the Center when I was twelve. The Center is a home for me,” said Mihaela. “The people who work here welcomed me as if I was their child. I felt safe here, loved and protected. I’ve learned to have patience and to understand and support others. Now I am a volunteer at the Center. I wish that our Center would become bigger and could help more children.”

Galina and Andrei’s Story
When she was 13 years old, Galina gave birth to her son Andrei. She always wanted her children to have a better life than she had, so she enrolled her son in the Unitate Community Center. She wanted him to learn, gain social skills, and learn other new and useful skills.
At first, Andrei was shy, selfish, and reserved, and he lacked confidence. He didn’t have any friends and was not prepared to school.
Since he began attending the Center, Andrei has flourished. He learned to count and write numbers, and he knows half the alphabet. Additionally, he has made lots of friends and communicates well with his friends and teachers.
Galina is very happy with Andrei’s successes.
Cristina and Maxim’s Story
When Cristina and Maxim’s mother passed away a few years ago, their father began drinking and stopped taking care of them.
These two siblings came to the Center as very quiet, anxious children. Through the psychological support at the Center, they have opened up and become more active and confident. They have made many friends.
Life at home has also improved for them. Their father started to get involved in their lives again, becoming more responsible and attentive to their needs. Although he refused to talk with anyone from the Center at first, he now participates in parent meetings and other activities organized by the Center.
Why Should You Give?

By attending the Unitate Community Center, children have discovered that their futures are full of possibilities. One girl said, “I’ve realized that I can do much more than I thought I could.”
All children need a safe place to learn, healthy meals, clean clothes, a place to play, and access to running water.
The Unitate Community Center is entire dependent on private funding and charitable donations. Your donation to support the Center will give children a chance to thrive.
The Unitate Community Center is empowering children and families with a better hope for their future. Donate today and share the possibilities!

Making Deinstitutionalization Real: Moving from the Idea toward the Ideal
2017-06-14 11:45 - 13:00 UTC | United Nations Headquarters, New York City, United States
Side Event at the 10th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Developing real strategies for people with intellectual and psychosocial disability to have the opportunity to live full, rich, meaningful lives remains a daunting task. Governments and private organizations continue to congregate and segregate people in institutions, resulting in oppression, brutalization, and loss of identity and opportunity, as well as robbing our communities of the talents and gifts people with disability have to offer.
Almost everyone agrees that deinstitutionalization is necessary, but how do we make it happen? What does it take to build a community-based service system? What are the building blocks of support within communities?
Join a panel of change agents from India, the Republic of Moldova, and the United States to examine and explore questions that surround this issue. Keystone Human Services and YAI in the US have worked to establish a community system to support people in typical lives, often learning lessons the hard way through pioneering. The Republic of Moldova is in the midst of highly successful partnerships with families, government, NGOs, and people with disability to develop culturally competent models that work. India is laying strong groundwork for action toward this end. The experiences of these countries and organizations illustrate some of the most difficult issues around creating a society where everyone belongs.
For more information about the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, visit the UN’s website.
View Side Event Flyer
Speakers

Charles J. Hooker III, President/CEO
Keystone Human Services
Dr. Ludmila Malcoci
Regional Director of KHSI, Central and Eastern Europe
Executive Director, KHSI Moldova Association
Elizabeth Neuville
Executive Director, Keystone Institute (US)
Director, Keystone Institute India
Anastasia Oceretnii, Deputy Minister
Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family
Government of Moldova
Shweta Rawat, Chairperson
The Hans Foundation
Ravi Dahiya, Chief Program Officer
YAI
