Auxiliary Boarding School of Grinauts: Installation of New Windows

This project was designed to improve the living conditions of the 116 children enrolled in the Auxiliary Boarding School of Grinauts-Moldova through the replacement of the building's old, inoperable windows with new and functional ones. The new windows will provide the living areas and classrooms with warmth, light and fresh air, effectually improving students' health and learning. This project was made possible through the funding and the partnership of the US Department of State under its "Small Reconstruction Projects" initiative.

The Auxiliary Boarding School was constructed in 1957, and has been teaching and caring for disadvantaged children with moderate mental disabilities ever since. The school currently houses 116 students between the ages of six and 16. To continue to provide these important services, the building was in dire need of repairs, which had been entirely neglected during the 30 years prior to CHAP/Moldova's recent reconstruction project. The windows had undergone the most damage, and as a result, were a constant hazard to the children and hindered them from effective learning.

In response to the Auxiliary Boarding School's needs, Counterpart International (Counterpart) was able to use its $10,000 "Small Reconstruction Projects" grant to replace the school's 51 damaged windows with safe and modern plastic ones. This project began in early 2007, and was completed in full in May of that year.

The Auxiliary Boarding School has observed immense improvements following the completion of this basic and straightforward project. The new windows provide insulation from the harsh weather that is common to Moldova. Thus, students no longer have to wear hats, gloves, and heavy coats to bed and to class during the winter months. Also, there have been far fewer cases of illness amongst both children and staff, and the potential for injury from shattered glass has been eliminated.

To learn more about Counterpart's successful SRP in Moldova, please read the following feature story:

Moldovan School Success