Gallop Moldova

Gallop Moldova Project plans to bring a brand new magical space for 100 children with mental disabilities from rural communities to be helped by the special powers of horses.

Our Center aims to offer high-quality horseback riding programs which open new pathways of healing for children and adults with a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

Horses have long been thought to have special powers. These well trained and vibrant creatures, will bring joy to all children involved.  



We plan to bring or get trained by certified instructors, licensed therapists from USA and involve volunteers and specially-trained horses, one year-round programs on Therapeutic Riding as well as Hippotherapy and specialty programs.

The team of instructors working for Gallop Moldova Center will go through a certification and accreditation program in cooperation with a variety of trainings provided by American Occupational Therapist Association, Professional Association of Therapeutical Horsemanship International.

WHO IS IN CHARGE?

Maria Gurcova , the leader of this social project, is a young professional from Moldova, specialized in occupational therapy, has a Master degree in Sports and Physical Therapy and over 5 years of experience in helping and serving children with mental disabilities. Currently, she helps rehabilitate children with special need from various specialized kindergartens in Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova.



Having a great fellowship in Turkey, Finland and USA for the last two years, she was inspired by the idea to bring to Moldova new technologies from overseas that can increase the well being of children in her country.

Gallop Moldova Center is aimed to become a place where everyone is welcome to come, play musical instruments, learn and train other professionals in occupational therapy and build a community for continuous learning and international exchange visits with other peers in Eastern Europe.

For children with emotional or mental disabilities, the special bond formed with a horse can lead to increased self confidence, self esteem, improved decision making and social skills, patience and a strong sense of achievement. 

Making a donation to Gallop Moldova Center is one of the ways you can assist us in our vision. We focuss on children who have lost their parents, children that are neglected by community, marginalized groups, etc.

WHERE WILL DONATIONS GO?

All donations will be used to support their various needs from health, education, activities, and anything else that may arise. We all want to give these amazingly strong and beautiful children the best chance to become inspirational and healthy adults who will be able to become good people in the near future.



Our first step is to buy 2 horses, specialized in riding as a therapeutical technique for children with a variety of physical, emotional and mental disabilities, buy the necessary equipment, rent the space and pay for transportation services.  

In Moldova, there are over 10.000 children with mental disabilities, who live in disrepair and where social services are limited because of scarce financial resources. According to Moldovan statistical reports, over 2.500 children with mental disabilities are forced to live in residential institutions. Most of the times, these children live all their lives in separate institutions where no leadership capacity is inspired in the lives of these children.