Hello, I am Smile

I am coming to you with a special mission.

You saw me often on the happy faces of people, who know they are loved. This season I have Moldovan kids in my mind, my wish is to see lots of children here smiling more.  I enjoy very much appearing on the little angels’ faces!

But I can’t do many things by myself only. YOU can help me!

Let’s offer children a reson to smile!

Still, there is one problem, we still have to address with our hears. It’s a problem, which a kid faces. A kid, whose parents are out of the country for work. A kid, who for 10 years is grown by his 3 years older sister, and who lived with the alcoholic father. And yes, I wish we could say that there is only one kid like that. Still it would be too much. Still, there are thousands, tens of thousands kids living in my country, who are going to bed and waking up in the morning without their mom’s smile, without her warm cooking and without her

washing his clothes. Kids, who have money and eat only bread and maybe too much ice-cream. Kids, who are living profoundly a trauma of separation from the parents and faces his/her loneliness and orphan feeling of being not needed by anyone?

For the second year Altruism Association organized  day camps for  the village kids.  In two different parts of the country. And we saw
this drama. Besides what we imaginary can assume, what those kids feel before they fall asleep in their beds, I saw lots of signs of emotional disfunctions in the behavior of such kids. They are hiper-active, have difficulties with the concentration and very aggressive.

I wonder how much stress would be for them to build healthy relationships, when they will get older. Whom from they would learn trust and security? More than that, that is the image of the future, we shape for them? And what are the values, we teach them?

…While we were in the camp, we had a lot of fun dancing the Pinguins Dance.

Still, I think lots of kids, would do something like that to their parents before they would leave the country. Would do lots of things as matures, would grow too fast to try to please their parents, speaking adult emotional language… Will leave you to take your own lessons from this dance. For some people it’s funny, but it made me think of something hurtful for my country…

Author – Liuba Ceban

liubaATuw.edu

The “Make a child smile at Christmas” campaign was organized within the “Altruism in action”Program of “Altruism” Association from November 1, 2009 until January 15, 2010. During this time, over 120 children participated with joy in Christmas holidays events. They had opportinities to play bowling, to eat pizza and ice cream, as well as to visit the zoo. Also, the Christmas concert was organized, where children were given sweets and scarves.

This winter the campaign brought contribution to the events organized by the Association’s partners: Christian Foundation “Titus” from Teleneshti and Center for Children and Youth “Emmanuel” from v. Step-Soci, r. Orhei.

Thanks to circulation of the message about campaign thoughout the social networks, the news exceeded the limits of the country and individuals from other countries (USA, Sweden) got the opportunity to be involved in the events. However, the greatest achievement of the campaign is considered the involvement of Moldovan citizens, and they were the most active ones.

Goods were collected and services were provided for free during campaign. A lady purchased 45 scarves for children and another one offered the services of her professional photostudio for free. Volunteers participated in organizing the Christmas concert and more people have purchased candies and donated toys.

We thank them all for their active participation!

The first events of the campaign “Make a child smile at Christmas” was organized in 2008 and it is held every year as a part of a continuous cycle of charity events for children at risk from Moldova.

Media assistance was provided for free by the “Allalight” studio www.allalight.com

For more details,

Association “Altruism”

www.altruism-md.org

info@altruism-md.org
+37369379000

FOR MORE PICTURES, VISIT  http://www.flickr.com/photos/liubochka/

FOR MORE INFORMATION OF RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS, VISIT http://www.altruism-md.org/kindness.html

Thank you for being with us!

Присоединиться к кампании на Facebook

Я приветствую тебя в надежде, что мы объединимся  желанием сделать мир лучшим для детей, и что мы пойдем далее наших намерений делать добро и на практике внесем свой вклад в инициативу не оставить детей без внимания и заботы на Рождество.

Программа “Альтруизм в действии” Ассоциации “Альтруизм” бросает тебе вызов. Кампания “Подари  улыбку ребенку на Рождество” приглашает тебя присоединиться к нам  одним из следующих способов:

1.  Если вы знаете детей в Молдове, у которых не будет счастливого Рождества, а также и внимания со стороны взрослых, ответственных за обеспечение теплом и особым вниманием на праздники, вы можете дать мне знать по адресу info@ALTRUISM-MD.ORG . Наша организация уделит таким детям внимание и сделает подарок.

2.  Также Вы сами можете сделать подарок или пригласить пообедать в кафе или в ваш дом ребенка, которому иначе не увидеть тепла и внимания во время Рождественских праздников . Мы в вашем распоряжении, чтобы ответить на любые вопросы и помочь Вам принять наилучшее решение для каждого ребенка в отдельности.

3. Вы можете  сделать денежные пожертвования или игрушки, сладости, одежду и обувь для детей. Все, что пожертвуется в данном случае, будет предназначено детям риска, с которыми работают организации из различных регионов Молдовы. Эти организации являются партнерами Ассоциации “Альтруизм”, которым мы помогаем в организационном развитии и совершенствовании их услуг для детей риска.

Для тех, кто заинтересован, мы предлагаем возможность участвовать в кампании анонимно.

Добро пожаловать!

С уважением,
Люба Чебан
Ассоциация Альтруизм

www.altruism-md.org

+37369379000

I greet you in a hope that we can be united by sharing same desire: to make this world better for children. I wish us to go beyong our intentions to do good things and to express them practically by contributing to the initiative to offer attention and care to all children in my country, Moldova.  And, why not in yours too? Let’s leave no child behind!

The Altruism in Action Program of “Altruism” Association comes with a call to all people to participate in the  “Make a child smile at Christmas” campaign  and invites you to join us in one of the following ways:

1. If you know any children from Moldova, which will not have a happy Christmas, as well as will not get attention from adults, whose responsibility is to provide kids with warmth and special attention on holidays, you can let me know on info@ALTRUISM-MD.ORG . We at Altruism Association wish to show our care and make a gift to these kids.

2. You can make a gift by yourself to a disadvantaged child, you know. Or you can  invite  a child with no gift and care to share a dinner with him in your home or in a cafeteria. We are here to answer any questions and to help you make the best decisions for the case of a child, you would like to help.

3. You can offer us money donations, so we can buy toys, sweets, clothes and shoes for disadvantaged children from Moldova. Everything donated in this case will go to children, assisted by organizations from different regions of our country. These are Altruism Association’s partners and we assist them on organizational development and quality improvement of services for children at risk.  Please, write us on info@altruism-md.org in order to receive the details on money transfer to our organization’s official account.

For those interested anonymous participation in our campaign is assured.

You are welcome to bring a smile on a child’s face at Christmas!

Regards,
Liuba Ceban
Altruism Association

www.altruism-md.org

+37369379000

Alatura-te campaniei pe Facebook

Te salut in speranta ca ne va uni dorinta de a face lumea copiilor mai buna, care va depasi intentiile noastre de a face bine si se va manifesta practic,  contribuind la initiativa de a nu lasa nici un copil fara atentie de sarbatori.

Programul “Altruism in actiune” al Asociatiei “Altruism” vine cu un apel in acest sens.  Campania “Fa un copil sa zimbeasca de Craciun” te invita sa ni te alaturi in unul din urmatoarele moduri:

1. Daca tu cunosti copiii, care nu vor avea parte de un Craciun fericit, cit si de atentie din partea adultilor, responsabili sa ii ofere caldura si atentie speciala de sarbatori, poti sa ma anunti la info@ALTRUISM-MD.ORG Din partea Asociatiei dorim sa ii oferim atentie si un cadou.

2. O alta optiune este ca tu insuti sa ii faci cadou sau invitatie la masa in cofetarie sau la tine acasa, unui copil, care  stii ca ramine fara caldura si atentie de sarbatori. Suntem la dispozitia ta pentru a raspunde la eventualele intrebari si a te ajuta sa iei decizii cele mai optime pentru cazul copilului respectiv.

3. Poti sa ne faci donatie in bani, jucarii, dulciuri sau haine si incaltaminte pentru copii.  Tot ce se doneaza in acest caz se ofera copiilor, asistati de catre organizatiile din diferite regiuni ale R.Moldova, cu care Asociatia “Altruism” colaboreaza in vederea dezvoltarii organizationale si imbunatatirii calitatii serviciilor pentru copiii la risc.

Pentru cei interesati, oferim oportunitatea de a activa pe parcursul campaniei in anonimat.

Esti binevenit/a in campanie!

Cu respect,
Liuba Ceban
Asociatia Altruism

www.altruism-md.org

+37369379000

In the name of a family, which wanted their names undisclosed, I had the opportunity to donate some toys for kids with cancer. It was such a moving experience to see the pictures, even if I didn’t see them personally. Children at age of 3-5, already dying… This makes me think of how blessed I am and how precious are the years God gave us to live so far. These kids are a reminder for us on our responsibility about how we spend our time and about the importance of valuing the wise ways of spending it on doing things, that really matter.

When you seem to be discouraged with what you do, or when there is noone to understand what you do, remember, that God is the One and Only, Who values your actions in a just way.  His system of valuing things is accurate. In His light only it deserves to look at what we do. And then we understand how much matters what we do… or that we need a change to start doing things, that really matter.

Wish you success in all you do and satisfaction from doing the valuable things in your life!

All the best for you and thank you for being with us!

Liuba

Pictures on that children, as well as more charitable actions can be followed on
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Random-acts-of-kindness/100583018229

Our website
www.altruism-md.org

ABOUT THE PROJECT:
We will distribute the school supplies among children – beneficiaries of local NGOs, Altruism Association supports and consults. The project is a part of “Altruism in Action” program of Association.

One 50 USD-cost package of supplies contains:

Backpack (30 USD)

Supplies (20 USD):

Colored pencils

Colored pens

Eraser

Glue stick

Organizer/planner

Pens/pencils

Pencil sharpener

Scissors

A ruler

Notebooks

Notebooks and manuals covers

Drawing book

Colored paper

Additionally, the clothes (30USD) and shoes (25 USD) can be procured.   Some additional materials, like maps, compasses, etc, can be procured for gymnasial and high school classes students.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?

• You can buy and donate school supplies package for one or several children.
• You can donate some  supplies from the list above.
• If you represent a company, an organization or a group, you can adopt particular community’s all children in a need to donate supplies for them.
• We will buy the supplies for you, if you  donate money to ALTRUISM ASSOCIATION.

THE AMMOUNT OF SUPPLIES OR MONEY DONATED IS YOUR FREE DECISION.

DISTRIBUTION of supplies is done by Altruism Association and partners. You are welcome to be directly involved in that.

For more detailes, please, contact Liuba Ceban: asociatia@altruism-md.org, 37369379000 (Please, note, that I will be able to answer your questions only via e-mail on August 2-9. )

OUR PROJECT FOR KIDS IN PICTURES:

http://www.slide.com/r/-z05at3n5z_GWM0fmAAGreKO-TBMIRp6?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

Useful information

ABOUT MOLDOVA:
Moldova is a small country sandwiched between Russia and Romania. It is the poorest country in Europe with a population of over 3.8 million people, the majority of whom are of Romanian descent.

It is a fragile country with high unemployment, crippling foreign debt, and according to UNICEF, over half the children are living in extreme poverty. Educational provision is poor and thousands of children grow up without the love and care of even one parent. Without proper supervision and care, girls in particular are at great risk of being trafficked and exploited in the sex and drug industry.

Millennium Development Goal on Poverty and Hunger Eradication in Moldova: http://www.undp.md/mdg/MDG1/poverty.shtml
“Child poverty is one of the most serious factors of social exclusion children face in Moldova. Incidence of child poverty is significantly higher than adult poverty. Children from rural area represent the most disadvantaged category: 71% of poor children live in villages, while 62.9% of all children live in rural areas. From a gender perspective, both boys and girls are almost equally subject to poverty risk. Differences can be seen by ages: children aged 3-10 are most vulnerable.”

ABOUT MOLDOVA KIDS ON BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6211444.stm

OUR PROJECT FOR KIDS:

http://www.slide.com/r/-z05at3n5z_GWM0fmAAGreKO-TBMIRp6?previous_view=lt_embedded_url

UNICEF IN MOLDOVA

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/moldova.html

CHILD RIGHTS INFORMATION CENTER OF MOLDOVA

http://www.childrights.md/en/index.shtml

Also not too many camps are taking place in Moldova for those people who are limited in their moves.

This summer you can get involved in making some children and people with disabilities smile by giving them opportunity to rest in a camp. Join us to support them!

For more detailes, contact us on:

asociatiaATaltruism-md.org