Casa Austria shines in new splendour
The conversion and renovation work at Casa Austria took two years. After weeks of struggling to get all the necessary official permits, the new day centre has finally been able to open its doors to 48 children from poor and disadvantaged families.
Everything is bright and shiny, a new place with new furniture and new possibilities.
Casa Austria used to be a residential home for children who could not grow up with their parents. But the premises were in need of renovation, dark and not very inviting, so we placed the children in other family-like living groups and decided to breathe new life into the old Casa Austria.
Since the beginning of 2023, Casa Austria has taken over the role of our new day centre for children between the ages of 6 and 15, replacing the old Casa Cristina. The two-storey building was equipped with a large hall in which the children can hold a wide variety of activities such as karate lessons or music rehearsals. In addition, three bright and spacious classrooms are available for the children to do homework after school and study in peace. A dining room, a playroom and a garden round off the facilities for the children. On the upper floor, there is also space for the offices of our staff.
Our offers in our day care centre
In our day centres we offer a wide range of support for children from disadvantaged families. The offer includes a daily shared lunch, the opportunity to shower, do laundry and get a health check-up. The out-of-school care ensures that socially disadvantaged children and young people can actively compensate for educational disadvantages and receive individual support. In addition, their social skills are strengthened and individual interests and potentials are promoted. The right career counselling and professional job coaching round off the offer for the children, young people and their families.
In addition, at Casa Austria we also offer psychological support, counselling, psychotherapy and speech therapy for children from CONCORDIA residential groups as for the children of the day centre.
Our integrated approach to supporting children and their families in the centre and the community is primarily aimed at preventing family separations and school drop-outs.
The return to Casa Austria
Andreea Davidescu has been part of CONCORDIA for 22 years. Formerly as an educator, today as a social pedagogue. She is now returning to Casa Austria for the third time. Andreea was already on board at the first opening in 2000. But then she moved to Casa Alexandra. After seven valuable years, she returned to Casa Austria until it closed for renovations in 2020. Now she is looking forward to a new era at the day centre.
"For me it is special to return to a new Casa Austria, which is completely different from what it was. Everything feels very warm and cosy now. There is more space for the children I work with - and also for us. It's a welcoming place and I'm happy that the children are so excited and happy here," says Andreea.
Successes of the CONCORDIA day centres in Romania
When CONCORDIA opened the first day education centres, families from the poor communities of Ploiesti were reluctant to enrol their children in the after-school programme. Today, the needy families themselves come to CONCORDIA and ask us to enrol their children in our centres.
In Mimiu, the municipality where mainly poor Roma families live, we see big differences between the children who benefit from our educational programme and the others. The children supported by CONCORDIA attend school more often, the number of dropouts has decreased, they are more educated, they behave better and speak better outside their home environment. Some discovered personal skills and talents they did not know they had before enrolling in our centres. Many children have learned to play a musical instrument such as violin, piano or drums.
Such successes as the opening of a brand new house for needy children are only possible with the help of our supporters. Many thanks to all donors!
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