59 Eastgate
North Newbald
York YO43 4SD

Our Ethos

• Every individual, irrespective of ability or circumstance, has the potential to grow and develop as a person and become an active participant in their community.
• A community-led project is best able to recognise and meet the needs of that community and of the individuals within it.

Who Are We?

School For Life (SFL) and Scoala Pentru Viata (SPV) were founded in the summer of 1994 by a small group of Romanian teachers and U.K. volunteers who were working in the then neuropsychiatric hospital for 510 children in Siret, Romania, from 1991 onwards.

School For Life in the UK, provide Scoala Pentru Viata in Romania with skill sharing opportunities, advice and financial support.

Scoala Pentru Viata is a registered Romanian Humanitarian NGO. It is staffed and directed by Romanians who have, and continue to develop a working model for the education of young people with special educational needs. Scoala Pentru Viata works to develop life skills and provide new experiences, for ex residents of the hospital, and for the 120 who are still living in an adult psychiatric hospital and grew up in the now closed children's hospital.

Background

We are based in the town of Siret in northern Romania on the border of Ukraine in the county of Suceava. It is an area of high unemployment with a diverse ethnic community, and a population of approx. 9,300. School For Life work with orphaned young adults, who previously lived in the neuropsychiatric hospital for 510 children in Siret, at its height in 1984 housing 1310 children.

Due to their childhood experiences of privation, neglect and abuse, lack of parental nurturing, inadequate nutrition and stimulation many have developed severe developmental deficits and delays. Many failed to thrive in these conditions inhibiting their healthy development and ability to communicate, socialise and survive outside of institution life in the wider community. The majority will now need support for the rest of their lives.

120 of these now young adults are living in an adult psychiatric hospital in Siret. School For Life and Scoala Pentru Viata aim to support these young adults by providing new experiences and opportunities, in their relations with others and in their wider environment. This is through special needs education / activity, trips in the community, life skill and employment support and supported housing.

They all show extreme courage and strength through their will to participate, communicate, socialise and explore new experiences when given the opportunity with another person. Many of these now young adults, if they had grown up in family homes would have had a normal healthy development and life experiences enjoyed by most.

See history section for more information of how Romania came to have so many deprived orphans...

"I love my work here, teaching the lads and working around the house. I love teaching them sport and how to look after animals, and the colour games and how to draw. I am very happy to help the students from the hospital, they are just like me, there is very little difference. I feel confident about the future and what I'm doing and feel that I'll be able to do whatever I choose to."
Lenuta, aged 26

"I like the girls and enjoy talking with them and helping them. If they are unable to come one day they will stay in their rooms and cry. I am teaching myself to look after myself. I have taught the students how to look after the garden and they love it... when they grow up they will have their own house and will need to look after themselves. I like everything here, I can't lie, I like it all!"
Rodika, aged 25

Lenuta and Rodika both grew up in the neuropsychiatric hospital for 510 children in Siret. They now live in School For Life supported housing and work as teaching assistants at the school.

School for Life Romania is a Registered Charitable Trust with the Charity Commission.

Scoala Pentru Viata is a Romanian Registered Humanitarian Foundation under the Department of Social Assistance and Family Affairs.