The most talented dancers of dance clubs for children with hearing impairments from Moldova and also from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus competed in the eighth edition of the Dance Festival organized by the Association of the Deaf of Moldova. In the event that for the first time involved competitors from other states, over 100 children presented a number of dance styles and won awards, IPN reports.
Natalia Babici, first vice president of the Association of the Deaf of Moldova, said the festival is held at national level for the eighth time, but it is for the first time that it was raised to international level. The event is held once in two years owing to the shortage of funds.
At the competition, Moldova is represented by the dance clubs of Special School No. 12 of Chisinau, the Special School of Hârbovăț and a special school of Tiraspol. “By such events, we aim to integrate the children into society, to make them feel equal, not discriminated. We want to show to society that having a disability, they hear the music with the eyes and feel the vibration with the body,” stated Natalia Babici.
Ghenadie Lozovanu, artistic manager of the dance club of Special School No. 12 of Chisinau, said his pupils take part in the event of such a scale for the first time. The deaf-mute children do huge work to learn a dance, during even half a year. Even so, they manage to learn a series of dance styles and to take part in artistic events.
The event is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection. “Disability is not an obstacle to doing nice things. The talent and ambition of these children show us all how important it is to believe in our dreams. You are valued by the whole country,” Viorica Dumbrăveanu, secretary of state at the Ministry, noted in the event.
The National Resource Center on Youth Friendly Health Services “Neovita” provided logistic and informational support in the event. The center’s head Galina Leshko said “Neovita” devotes special attention to the development needs of all the young people and has nice cooperation relations with the Association of the Deaf of Moldova, at different levels. “Today’s event is an excellent example of social integration of talented children and children with enormous potential who should be promoted. As part of the project “Healthy Generation”, we support the development of these adolescents and young people so as to ensure broader access to health services,” she stated.
During the next few days, the center will stage training seminars on sign language for the personnel of “Neovita” so that when a deaf-mute child or young person comes to the center, at least a small door is opened in direct communication with them. Galina Leshko said cohesion was created between the national youth friendly health centers that form part of the Youth Klinic Moldova (YK) and the branches of the Association of the Deaf. After identifying potential beneficiaries, deaf-mute children are invited to the YK centers and new partnerships as part of a number of activities are thus generated.
