TBACT's Baba Programme begins
01/12/2008
The Baba Programme was first established in 1997 in Bulgaria with the aim of giving the children living in social care homes some individual attention and support through a close caring relationship with a mature woman who has raised children of her own. The staff in social care homes often have to look after at least 20 children at any one time; feeding, washing and dressing them, as well as carrying out other duties, so there is little time for interaction. As a result the babies and children often spend their days lying in cribs or propped up on chairs with little stimulation or contact. Without the care and attention that a loving relationship can provide, the children can suffer long term damage including malnutrition, growth and developmental delay, emotional problems and learning difficulties.
The Pleven home is one of the largest in the country with over 250 babies and young children living there. There is a chronic lack of individual care and many of the children languish in their cots for hours on end with little to interest or stimulate them.
The new Baba’s were chosen from a group of 60 applicants after completing a personality test and a face to face interview. They have undertaken a two day training session with TBACT’s partner organisation, Milosaardie, who will be responsible for managing the programme over the next year. Each Baba has been given a starter pack with a diary to write down daily activities and comments as well as a small allowance for toys and gifts for their children. TBACT will receive reports on each child and their Baba, including photographs and video in order to monitor progress on a regular basis.
Siobhain Santry from TBACT said ‘We first visited the home in October and saw the scale of the problem, with room after room, of pale, unhappy looking little children – some already starting to rock. The Baba’s are a lifeline for these children because they can help the children develop some of their essential skills, particularly social and language skills as well as bring some fun and activity into. their lives.’
The Baba Programme started today is the beginning of a long term commitment to the Pleven home. TBACT is aiming to expand it in 2009 to provide more Baba’s as well as help with rehabilitation and intervention initiatives to improve the long term chances of the children there.
The Give a Granny This Christmas Appeal has been launched specifically to raise money to support more of the children at the Pleven home and supporters can buy Granny gifts from as little as £5. A gift certificate is supplied with every purchase.
The children have now met their Baba’s - all of whom have been carefully selected and matched to their chosen children.
Each Baba will look after at least one disabled child and record daily activities and developments in a diary which will become part of their child’s essential memory book.
The Baba Programme started today and is the beginning of a long term commitment to the Pleven home. TBACT to expand the Programme in 2009 to provide more Baba’s.