Optimal Brain Education for Children at Risk

PROJECT REPORT | JULY 15, 2025

Our Progress: Enhancing Children’s Development Through Continued NeuroMovement Lessons

By Elena Furnadjieva | CEO

Dear Supporters,

We are excited to share an update on our ongoing efforts to provide optimal brain development training for children with neurological challenges. Between March and July 2025, our program has continued to empower young individuals by building their confidence and fostering independence through personalized mentorship and neuroplasticity techniques.

Lesson Highlights:

• March 2025: We conducted 120 lessons with 16 children, including three parent workshops attended by over 12 caregivers, emphasizing engagement and education.

• April 2025: 110 lessons were delivered to 14 children, with a focus on improving motor skills and communication.

• May 2025: A total of 200 lessons were conducted, benefiting 30 children and 5 adults with neurological challenges. This month marked a significant expansion of our program, focusing on tailored support to enhance movement, communication, and emotional regulation. The month also included a group workshop highlighting achievements and future goals.

• June 2025: 100 lessons for 15 children, with notable progress observed in coordination and speech.

• July 2025: 140 lessons were held involving 15 children and 3 adults, reflecting continued engagement and progress.

In total, over 670 lessons were delivered during this five-month period, contributing significantly to children’s movement, communication, emotional well-being, and cognitive abilities.

Thanks to the generous donations from GG, we have been able to fully support 4 families through complete course funding and partially assist 2 additional families. Moreover, this support enabled us to invite 7 different practitioners from around the world, enriching our program with diverse expertise.

Parental and Participant Testimonials:

A Heartfelt Thanks from a Grateful Parent:
Dear fellow parents,

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Your courage and hope inspire us all—especially those of us facing similar challenges with spasticity and many obstacles for our little ones.

I can confidently say that our 5-year-old daughter wouldn’t be able today to run and walk with balance, jump with both feet, bravely explore the world despite not always succeeding at first (like climbing on playground equipment), dance ballet, or practice yoga poses fully—even though she has hemiparesis mainly affecting one arm—and use both hands actively despite a significant developmental difference.

Cognitively and verbally, she is in excellent shape despite her brain injury that caused cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

For all this, the key role was our decision—after a year and a half of daily, hard work with traditional Bobath and occupational therapy, and a short experience with the Vojta method (which helped her walk at one and a half years old, albeit with a limp)—to completely change our approach and embrace applied neuroplasticity methods.

Reading Anat Baniel’s book and working with many practitioners over the past three years, along with my own training with Silvia Shordaik at NeuroHorizons, has fundamentally transformed our mindset and approach, as well as that of our loved ones, so that we can support our daughter’s optimal long-term development.

Another Parent’s Story about Victor:
After another intensive neuroplasticity course, Victor’s overall development continues to progress. The hyperactivity he showed is gradually subsiding. He is significantly calmer and more balanced. He is curious about everything around him and almost always seeks adult approval for what he does or tries to do. Regarding motor development, there is improvement in his gait, which used to be waddling but now is much more normal. We find him more flexible and agile than before. He even performs some movements we hadn’t noticed earlier. For some time now, we’ve observed him climbing several steps on the stairs without holding onto the railing or wall. We also note progress in his play with his sister. Previously, he would scratch and pull her hair almost always. Now, we observe more normal play. He loves playing chase and hide-and-seek with her, which is very pleasing to see. Thanks to his progress toward normalcy, we recently started sending him to a regular kindergarten one day a week until noon, in his sister’s group. He feels increasingly comfortable and at home there. Starting in September, he will attend regularly.

Looking Ahead:

• In August and September 2025, we will have around 200 lessons with 21 children

• We aim to organize specialized workshops for parents to further support home practices amd some free houres with practict in on line lesson

• Thanks to your generous donations, we will continue providing full support to 5 families and partial support to 3-4 additional families.