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George Hook, Patron of the Comber Foundation: 

 

“Having accompanied volunteers from Comber to Romania, I have witnessed the tireless work they do in trying to close down state run institutions in Giurgiu County. This requires help from you at perhaps the most difficult economic times. Please find a little time in your heart for young adults that perhaps unknowingly will owe you a debt of gratitude for the rest of their lives.”

 

 

Supporting inclusion in society

We support the right of every individual to be included in the society in which they live. To enable the residents of our homes to achieve this, we focus on training for our local partners as well as providing day services and social activities.

 

Tabara camp in full swing, 2009

Social Activities

Since 2007, volunteer teachers and students from Donahies Comunity School in Dublin have travelled to Giurgiu to host a much-anticipated Tabara Summer Camp for the residents of Comber's homes.

Our professional volunteers also provide social activities, such as art, drama and sport for the residents during the summer months.

  Dr Barry Coughlan, UL, delivering training in Romania - 2010 

Training & Education

We support the training and education of our partners in Romania, with the aim of developing a high standard of services for clients. With our partner Motivation Romania, Comber provided training programmes for all the staff who worked in the group homes when they inititally opened. Throughout 2007 Comber worked directly with the County Council in Giurgiu to train staff and support the development of the county’s Strategy for the Development of Services for People with Disabilities.

In 2009, a partnership was developed with Dr Barry Coughlan, a psychologist from the University of Limerick to deliver training to staff in Romania over a two-year period, funded by Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Our professional volunteer programme each summer also supports the staff in the Comber homes to develop their skills and confidence.

 

Day Services

Comber is a partner in 2010-2013 in Centres for Social Inclusion Project (funded under European Structural Funding) with Estuar NGO and Motivation Romania, which has provided funds for a new day services centre in Giurgiu city. Residents from the Comber homes are now attending the centre, as well as people from the local community.