From 26 to 31 May 2013, I attended a conference in Istanbul where we met with various organizations working for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. The conference was organized by OSF-MHI, who also fund “Ceva de Spus” (Something to Say).

At the conference we saw videos about institutions in Croatia. Croatia is a country that is not very far from Romania. I represented Ceva de Spus at the conference. I talked about my life in institutions and my work towards opening a second-hand clothing business with my colleague Dan. Everyone was touched by my story.

Besides me there was also a self-advocate from Croatia. His name is Bozo. He is a great man. We drank Turkish tea together and I talked a lot with him about our lives in institutions. We realized that life in institutions is tough no matter where, be it Croatia or Romania.

At the conference we learned how to write our stories. We learned how to make a film and conduct an interview, how to put videos on YouTube and Facebook so that many people can see our stories.
In our free time we visited the city. Istanbul is a great city and is in a country called Turkey. People in Turkey are mostly Muslim and they pray in a big mosque. Mosques are like our churches but don’t have bells. I saw women in headscarves and you could only see their eyes. I didn’t like that men walked casually dressed while women were covered from head to toe in black.
We took a big boat ride and saw many jellyfish. One evening I was with Raluca, Cerasela and Zoli, and we smoked from a chaff, which Is a Turkish water pipe with great flavors. I also went to the sea where we saw many people fishing. I asked a fisherman to let me take a fish in my hand to see how it is. It was very nice but I was also afraid.

Turkish food is very piquant but I liked the fish and rice. I made new friends and I enjoyed all days of the conference. One day I went to the Grand Bazar where we saw many beads, rugs, scarves, spices, etc.. and we bought Turkish delights. I went to Turkey by plane and I did not like it because it hurt my ears.

What I most enjoyed about the conference was that I learned how to make movies. I also was happy to hear that Croatia has begun to close institutions and build group houses.
My message to the Romanian State is to learn from the example of Croatia and close institutions and provide community services instead. All persons with disabilities should also have the right to live in the community with other people.

Thanks to the organizers for inviting us to the conference where I learnt many new things.

Elisabeta Moldovan
Co-president Ceva de Spus