A gymnasium outfitted with all the necessary equipment for persons with visual impairments was set up at the National Information and Rehabilitation Center of the Society of the Blind, located in Centru district of Chisinau, with financial support from the Embassy of Slovakia, provided through the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation, IPN reports.

The head of the Society of the Blind of Moldova Dumitru Sclifos said that over 1,000 persons with visual impairments live in Centru district. “Regrettably, the number of young people with such impairments is very high and we try to engage them in the social life, within the possibilities of a public association. I want to thank the Embassy of Slovakia for the provided assistance. This is the seventh joint project. These are small projects, with a budget of under €5,000, but for us this sum is very important,” he stated.

The Society’s deputy head Stefan Oprea, who is responsible for the implementation of the project, said that for the first time the Society of the Blind implemented a project to open a gym. “We, all those who have visual impairments, are looking for different ways to integrate into society, while integration by sport is very useful,” he stated.

The Ambassador of Slovakia to Chisinau Robert Kirnag said the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation supports the Society of the Blind of Moldova because it is an active member of civil society. He noted he was a professional sportsman and it is a pleasure for him to help the persons with visual impairments in the areas in which they need support the most.