The Toy House

Bucharest, Romania (NGO Fundatia Copiii Nostri)

Beneficiaries:
At-risk pre-school aged children and their families, primary aged children who participate in tutoring, and teens receiving social support. All families are severely impoverished and socially marginalized, which places their children at greater risk of abuse and abandonment.

The Toy House is a community-based educational childcare facility and a family resource center. Targeting at-risk families confronting problems related to poverty, drug abuse, violence, and unemployment, its objectives are to 1) prevent abuse, neglect and abandonment of children through education and social support of their parents, and 2) provide a safe, stimulating environment to children who otherwise would be unable to attend school due to economic problems and general family dysfunction.

In addition to the wonderful, child-centered educational program, all children receive two nutritious meals each day and transportation to and from the Toy House. An after-school program for older siblings provides a hot meal, tutoring, and a safe place to study or relax.

Through home visitation, social workers help parents access community resources and solve problems. Evening classes not only help parents understand child development and their responsibilities as parents, but also serves as a vital support group that ends their social isolation.

The Toy House project was selected as Best Practice in the Day Center/Young Children category of a national competition sponsored by USAID and ProChild Romania. The Toy House parent education program has been replicated in 10 rural areas. The Romanian Ministry of Education has adopted Fundatia Copiii Nostri’s Parent Education Program for implementation in every county in Romania. The program, which trains teachers across Romania in parent education, will improve family stability and decrease the risk of abuse and abandonment of young children.