Social work major Irene Hanna discussed her experience while visiting a children’s center in the Republic of Moldova during York College’s Student Research Day on Apr. 18.

Irene Hanna discussing her research in the Republic of Moldova
Photo Credit: Alfredo Jeff

Hanna traveled to Moldova, along with three other students and York College Professors Dr. Vadim Moldovan and Dr. William Divale. The month long trip in June 2012 gave the students an opportunity to experience another culture. Hanna discussed the research aspect of her time at the children’s center saying that there is a lot less advocacy in Moldova than in the United States in terms of social work. She found that there is no voice for the orphans or abandoned children of Moldova.

“Our research project was an ethnographic study of abused and abandoned children,” said Hanna. “We were looking for aggression and hostility, specifically in children who were abandoned.”

The children’s hospital in Moldova was made up of 15 children between the ages of three and fifteen. Hanna discussed the extremely high rates of hostility in the children who were abused and abandoned. She described the children as being reluctant when it came to getting close to her. Hanna also described one young boy who would play with her hair but would suddenly get upset.

“You can see that transformation from them just wanting to be warm but not really knowing how to,” said Hanna.

Aside from the research aspect of her trip, Hanna enjoyed her time with the children in Moldova. She discussed engaging the children in games, drawings, and also doing hair and nails with the young girls. Hanna said that since she is not a mom, she enjoyed the opportunity to have so many young children at her disposal, each wanting a little piece of her.

Irene Hanna (right) and York College students, Lachanda Moor (left) and Bella Murnane-Victorelli (middle) who will both be traveling to Moldova this summer.

“For me this was a cultural experience, it was an enriching academic experience and it was a transforming personal experience.”