One of our goals is to make sure people with Down syndrome won’t be left alone
The story of the Atonov and their daughter diagnosed with Down syndrome
Aurica Antonov gave birth to little Daria in 1986, at 21 years old, when Down syndrome wasn’t as widely known or discussed as it is today.
“When I gave birth to my baby, the nurses didn’t bring me her. I went to the medical department where the babies were and asked them to show her to me. Then, I realised what’s the matter with my daughter. There was also pressure from doctors, they were sure that I would leave her”, Aurica says.
But she didn’t listen to the doctors. “I can't imagine how one could leave one’s child and live not knowing what happens to him or her”, Daria’s mother says.
There followed a period of depression. During this period, Aurica’s husband was in the army and her mother and brother supported and helped her.
When Daria grew up Aurica took her to kindergarten. But the other parents didn’t want Daria near their children.
“I never felt ashamed about my daughter’s diagnosis, but I was very upset that people around me were hostile towards her”, Aurica confesses.
“Whenever I looked for answers, I was finding a wall. I was told that nothing can be done, there is nothing for such children”. Aurica decided to homeschool her daughter.
“Until the age of 30, Dașa was practically isolated from her peers, but when we managed to find centers for people with Down syndrome, her life began to play with new colours”, Aurica says.
Daria Antonov is almost 38 years old. She loves oriental dances and theatre, where she plays with other young people with Down syndrome. “I like dancing the most”, Daria tells.
“I and my husband do various activities together with my daughter, we work and laugh together. We don’t perceive her as a sick person”, Aurica says.
Aurica, her husband and Dasha share a big house in Bușăuca with two other families that have children with Down syndrome.
The families decided to form a community where children can be safe, can socialize and feel useful. Dașa, Petrică and Sașa, assisted by their parents, take care of the household animals, the garden and the orchard and prepare dishes together.
“We don’t want to depend on the state. We know that our children can work, even though, unfortunately, people with Down syndrome are often not allowed to work. We have decided that we will create jobs for them, where they will be able to work, according to their abilities”, Aurica says.
The woman dreams to help as many families and individuals with Down syndrome as possible. Thus, she is one of the beneficiaries of the project "An Inclusive World Starts with Me, with You, with Us...," which aims to create support groups and develop the first platform for parents and caregivers of children with special needs in the Republic of Moldova. Aurica provides counselling for parents and caregivers of children with special needs, helping them better understand disability and ensure a healthy lifestyle for the entire family. To date, Aurica and other support group members have consulted more than 940 parents and caregivers regarding the platform's development. Furthermore, more than 100 parents and caregivers have benefited from empowerment training.
“One of our goals is to make sure people with Down syndrome won’t be left alone when their parents or relatives won’t be able to take care of them”, says Aurica.
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This material is produced within the framework of the #abilitaremd project, the campaign "An inclusive world starts with me, with you, with us..." in partnership with A.O. Prietena mea, with the financial support of the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany, through the German Development Bank (KfW).
