Objectives

The Libra Foundation has four objectives, the first of which is the over-arching purpose for the whole organisation.

To improve the quality of life for children and young people overseas, especially those who are disabled or disadvantaged.

Libra organises two-week visits throughout the summer for UK teenagers to work with disabled children in residential centres, with Rroma children in schools or day centres or with underprivileged Romanian children. Training is given both in the UK and in-country prior to their working with the children.

To broaden the education of UK students.

Libra believes that the benefits to students will include:

• Broadening minds through different cultural experiences
• Learning about commitment and long term obligations to others
• Gaining an experience of working with disabled or disadvantaged children which in turn increases empathy and self-confidence
• Discovering their own potential to act profitably for the benefit of others
• Gaining valuable experience in teamwork and leadership through training
• Having opportunities for presentations and gaining confidence in public speaking
• Working with risk assessment; developing risk awareness; learning not to be risk averse
• Gaining a knowledge of Eastern Europe, a country coming to terms with post-communism and the European Union

To assist in the development of child-welfare professionals by delivering training for staff and carers.

Libra organises events, workshops and training sessions to help the carers to understand new best practice, thereby enabling them to stay up-to-date in their professional standards. Recent sessions have included behaviour management, working with autism, sensory integration, feeding techniques, the neuro-developmental approach and the importance of play in learning.

Libra also provides technical services such as wheelchair repair, which is vital for so many of the children that we work with.

The Fourth Objective

• To encourage in-country secondary school pupils to volunteer in order to provide sustained support all year round

Libra works with teenagers from Romanian schools to encourage an ethos of volunteering to help the carers and staff and to broaden the social contact of all the children with whom Libra works. Our team of staff and volunteers run year round forums to promote volunteering within the community and to encourage students to get involved with local, national and international projects.