Kindergarten 34 is for children between the ages of three and eight with and without hearing impairment. Some of the children board on a weekly basis and all children return to their homes at the weekend.

Pupils from School Aid Romania have decorated the walls in the Kindergarten in the past eight years. This is one of very few institutions in Romania that integrates children with disabilities with those who are not disabled.

What first struck me about the children was that they were more reserved than children in previous places we had visited such as Bradet. With these children, when we entered the room they sat and watched us and waited for us to make the connection with them. They did not seem to want anything from us such as toys, clothing or food. However, their reservation quickly disappeared after the fourth or fifth balloon had been handed out. All the children wanted from us was attention and were fascinated by the bubbles.

The children were also well mannered and it was clear that they were well educated. All sweet wrappers were put straight into the bin and when we left the children helped the teacher put all the balloons back onto the shelf. Where all other children were eager to have their faces painted the children at the Kindergarten were not. They were happier to settle with a drawing on the hand.

The centre was also used for fitting hearing aids for the children and people in the local community. Judith Stelfox, a qualified audiologist has given training assistance on the use of equipment donated to them.

As all hearing aids are specific a separate ear mould must be made for every child. Methody St. Pats and Ballyclare all have a commitment to support this kindergarten. Mihai Scarfau, our contact there, and an inspector visited Northern Ireland in 1996 under the auspices of School Aid Romania.