29 Sep 2011 • Trafficking and exploitation Moldova

Moldova: Goodwill Ambassador brings music to Moldovan children

- Published by Darcissac, Marion

From the Tdh European Child protection website

The Goodwill ambassador of Terre des Hommes Foundation, Patricia Kopatchinskaja visited the village of Bubuieci where she participated in a children’s activity at the local school, having the opportunity to witness the results of Tdh’s work. The Child Protection Safety Net project tries to help children, victims of abuse or vulnerable children by involving them in psycho-social activities under the guidance of an animator. Through this work, the psychological condition and children’s resilience is strengthened. During group activities children can express themselves through drawing, playing games and singing, in a way that everybody gets involved.

Armed with the violin and lots of enthusiasm, Patricia explained to children the structure of the musical instrument and showed them how a few strikes of the bow on the strings can be transformed into a melody. The children tried to keep up with the music, humming the notes that their guest taught them. Each child also described some musical instrument they know and how they think it should be played, trying to mimic this process.

“I felt a little like a child at the school –said Patricia Kopatchinskaja. ”I learned the games easily and I really enjoyed them. I am very glad that they have such a teacher as Elena Ceban, who is a generous person that understands children and has a really good contact with them. A good teacher is the best thing that a child can have.” she added.

The children from the Bubuieci school have been participating in group activities since the beginning of 2011.

Patricia also visited two children that she met during her first visit to Moldova. Back then, the two children were in a very difficult situation, not only financially, but also emotionally.
They did not only participate in the group activities, but Terre des hommes also had an individual approach concerning them. As a result, Elena and Sergiu became more open, especially in communicating with their parents, but also their peers.

“When I first saw Sergiu and Elena two years ago I was shocked. They were in a very difficult situation” said Patricia. While it is impossible to touch all vulnerable children she was happy that Terre des hommes is actively working with them. She continued: “Now, that I already knew the situation of these two children, I was very glad to see some changes. Elena and her mother, had some repairs done in their home. I was positively surprised of how little a person needs to be happier. In other countries it’s quite difficult to make a child happy, as they have everything and they don’t know what is like to live in lack.”

Further information on the Tdh intervention in Moldova