Scoala Raza de Soare

Sunshine School 2005

Sunshine School 2010

Shortly after RCE's Darius House opened in 2000, a vision came for a school for special needs children that would be like no other in Romania. One that would help educate those rescued from the orphanages and at the same time provide numerous opportunities for enrichment. Just the thought of providing an education for these 'discarded' children made some in the community skeptical that it would succeed.

In 2002, RCE's Sunshine School was established in a small home a few blocks from RCE's Darius House. There were only a handful of students and most of them were disabled orphan children who had been rescued from state orphanages and placed in RCE's original Darius House. Albert, Bianca, Otilia, Florin, Teo, Ionica and even Darius himself went to the school each day to learn from teachers Magdi, Gaby and others.  This small school in the first floor of a rented home was just a beginning.

In 2004 Sunshine School moved into a brand new building and became the school that is known throughout many parts of the country today, as the one that reaches out to and educates special needs children in ways no one thought possible. Thanks to generous support from Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD and others, Sunshine School became a reality.

Today, the school serves 47 special needs children. Some children come from families throughout Arad county, others are orphan children living in RCE's Darius Houses just a few steps away from the school. The Sunshine School is so unique and fulfills such a big need in this community, that there is often a waiting list to get in. Before the school opened, there were very few alternatives for special needs children, so many simply stayed at home.

Sunshine School Principal Dr. Daria Neta

 Sunshine School bus driver Octi

The school was established through the hard work of former Duckworth School Principal and RCE Board member, Lydia Flynn. She worked closely with teachers and speech pathologists from PG county in Maryland to develop the physical layout of the school as well as the curriculum.  Today Lydia continues to collaborate with Sunshine School's Principal, Dr. Daria Neta, and her incredible staff.

Ina- invaluable translator/support staff

Sunshine School student 'Dieter'

I first met "Dr. Daria", as she is known, on my very first visit to Romania in April of 1999.  She is a pediatrician by training and for many years she has taught at a nursing school in Arad.  I was able to visit one of her classes during my first visit to Romania, to talk to her students about physical therapy. Carmen was my translator.

Cara and a child from Darius House

Speech therapy with Mona

Ioana in a speech class

In addition to an academic curriculum Sunshine School also provides both speech and physical therapy for students. One speech therapist (Mona), 'logoped' in Romanian, and two physical therapists (Paula and Angy) provide care through class sessions as well as individual sessions with students. An individualized plan with goals is developed for each student at the Sunshine School who can benefit from therapy. School psychology services are also provided (by Cara and Simona). Soon we hope there will be a newly developed job training component available for older students who 'age out' of school programs.
Stay tuned for more pictures and updates from Sunshine School as the week goes on!

Paula in a PT session

Florinel taking the Sunshine School bus home

Romanian Words of the Day:

School= scoala (skwah-la)
Sun= soare (swar-eh)