The Team

Previously living and working in Siret from 1991 – 1994 the team of UK volunteers returned home to raise funds to support the growing Scoala Pentru Viata Romanian team manage and develop the work both at the project and within the Children’s Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

The UK Team

Ruth Brown BA PGCE PGCE , Trustee – a teacher specialising in reading and writing, Ruth lived and worked in Siret for nearly 2 years,. Now living in Glasgow she gives much support with fund raising and publicity.

Katie Goodier MA PGCE , Trustee – now a special needs teacher working in Glasgow, teaching children with special needs having volunteered for over two years in Siret from 1992 and been actively involved since.

Professor William Gould PhD, Trustee – Professor of History at Leeds University, Will volunteered in his gap year from 1991 – 1992. In later years returning to Siret to help develop the project where he met and later married his wife Olivia. They now live in Harrogate and ensure good communication and translation between the UK and Romanian teams.

Sylvia Gurr  MA UKCP (Acc.), Trustee – experienced in working with people with profound learning difficulties and sensory impairments. Sylvia volunteered in Romania for approx. three years from the beginning of 1992,  assisting in the coordination and development of the project, she now visits regularly to support the Romanian team and oversee the work. Sylvia has also worked in mental health and homelessness in London during which gained her Masters in Integrative Child Psychotherapy. Now a Child Psychotherapist and Child Clinical Supervisor she works in the NHS.

Lizzy Hartley MA (hons) DipSW, Trustee – a Social Worker in Child Protection and experience in mental health Lizzy brings her knowledge and expertise of independent living and safeguarding to the team having volunteer in the hospital in 1993 for over a year

Roger Mason Bsc (hons), Trustee and Treasurer – volunteered in 1994 at the children’s hospital and now oversees the book keeping and accounting for School for Life Romania.

The Romanian Team – Scoala Pentru Viata

Elena Harasemiuc, Director – Elena has supported our work since the early 1990’s, eventually becoming Director our work in Romania ensuring the care and wellbeing of our beneficiaries and overseeing the operations and success of our charitable work in Siret.

Radu Harasemiuc, Administrator – Radu has also supported our work since the early 1990’s, later overseeing the general administrative and maintenance aspects of our work. Much of his time has been in a voluntary capacity.

With Thanks to our Former Members of School for Life Romania

Col Philip Keetley (retd.) MBE, former Trustee – previously a Colonel in the British Army, Phil volunteered in Siret from late 1992 to 1994

Marianne Lownsborough – former Trustee – previously volunteered in Siret from 1991 to 1993

Keith Lownsborough – former Treasurer

Veronica Welsby – former Director, Scoala Pentru Viata

In Loving Memory of School for Life Romania, Co-founder and Trustee, David Emptage

Dave dedicated his life to working with people with profound and moderate learning disabilities and sensory impairment in long stay residential homes and educational institutions. Dave volunteered in Romania for two years from 1992, bringing his experience and music to the great appreciation of the residents, staff teams and the local community for over three decades.

On return to the UK he continued to work in special needs education and residential housing, and to use his experience and music to continue to raise finance, awareness and skill sharing on his return trips to Siret . Both Dave and his wife Anna continued to provide support and guidance towards our valuable work in Romania.

Dave’s expertise, knowledge, skills and experience will be sorely missed by all that knew him.

1961 to 2024 RIP

In Loving Memory of our Scoala Pentru Viata colleagues;

Angelica Suhan and Cornelia Petrasciuc

Both dedicated their love and compassion for our beneficiaries teaching and caring for them from the inception of our project in the early 1990’s.

Rest in Peace