P.A.V.E.L. stands for “Primind Ajutor, Viata Este Luminoasa” which means “Getting Help, Life Is Bright”. PAVEL is a non-profit, non-governmental organization and was created in 1996 by a group of parents of children with cancer, leukemia and severe anemia in Romania. We are member of ICCCPO, ECPC, EUROCHILD, FABC and soon, of UICC-PAVEL received a contribution from the My Child Matters - grant for optimizing the support of parents with children with cancer.

Project background

Weekly, about 120 children (age 1 to 19 years) are treated at the Fundeni Clinical Institute (Pediatrics wards I and II, hematology). About 50 children are treated weekly at the Oncologic Institute (Pediatrics department) of Bucharest and about 50 children weekly receive treatment at the Emergency Clinical Hospital M. S. Curie (Budimex), Bucharest.

- The children are coming from a large area of the country.

- There still is a lack of specialized services on cancer matter such as: social and psychological support.

-  Good practices on cancer issues are missing.

-  The communication and networking between patients and professionals as well as institutions is insufficient.

Main objectives of the project

- Diversification of the services and resources on the issue of children cancer for children, parents, professionals and NGOs by organizing and running a Resources and Service Centre.

-  Increase of the awareness among parents, professionals and public in Romania about the prevention, treatment and services available in the field of childhood cancer.

- Reinforcement of the public/private institutional framework in order to promote the rights of children affected by cancer. 

In addition to the financial support (of 35.000 Euro from the My Child Matters-program) we received practical and technical assistance from Geoff Thaxter who helped us with special issues of our organization. The CLIC Sargent foundation (UK) provided us with training on specific issues and services (helpline and information service for families, psycho-social support in pediatric oncologic units).

What we accomplished so far:

-  Organizing and launching P.A.V.E.L. Resources and Services Centre in partnership with the Oncologic Institute from Bucharest;

-  Work on the  Centre’s methodology and policy manual, such as personnel, reporting, evaluation tools, and clients files and intervention procedures was initiated;

-  Conducting a  survey in 2007 to identify the needs and expectations from various groups: children/ youth, parents and professionals;

-  Supporting 107 children/teenagers and their families by direct social and psychological services.

-  Organizing a data-base and Cancer helpline (0800 800 421) launched on September 2007;

-  On-going organization of a library for up-to date resource materials;

-  Participation in meetings and workshops with decision –makers, Romanian public officials, other NGOs for developing more awareness about the disease.

Contact: P.A.V.E.L. ASSOCIATION (ROMANIA)
E-mail:  pavel_romania@yahoo.com

www.asociatiapavel.home.ro