Touching Stories: A Good Life for People with Cognitive Disabilities

Last week, Tünde Löchli, the former director of Caritas in Satu Mare and co-initiator of the Noe Partium initiative, gave a lecture at the Haus der Begegnung.

She spoke about the differences in the support for people with disabilities between Austria and Romania. She highlighted the cultural differences, lack of support for people with disabilities and their families, and the absence of facilities. How do people with disabilities live in Romania? What challenges do their families face? She also discussed the Noe Partium initiative, which operates the "House of Smiles" for day care and the "House of Light," a residential home for people with cognitive disabilities. The people who are welcomed into these homes are embedded in a supportive community and lead a self-determined life. The Noah Association supports this project financially and ideologically.

"Families often cannot accept their child's disability, are overwhelmed by the situation, and feel abandoned. The consequences are often alcoholism."

A drop in the ocean

Through the Noe Partium initiative in Romania, which opened the House of Smiles in 2017, twelve people with disabilities receive professional support through lessons and creative activities. The stories of individual people were particularly touching. One woman lives with her alcoholic grandmother in a house without water and heating, while another was abandoned by her mother at the hospital as a baby. At the House of Smiles, people learn skills like embroidery, focus on physical activity and healthy eating, and, most importantly, build friendships and overcome social isolation.

A dream comes true

A big dream is about to become a reality: a residential home for people with disabilities. Construction began in July of this year, and the house will provide a family-like home for ten people. The total cost of the project is around €260,000, but about €50,000 is still needed for completion. The Noah Association, based in Innsbruck, supports the project both financially and ideologically. Donors who contribute monthly help cover the daily operating costs, such as salaries, food, and heating.

“We want to build a solidarity network to ensure that people with disabilities in Romania can have a permanent family home,” says Gottfried Lamprecht, chairman of the Noah Association.

SOURCE: www.meinbezirk.at