A placement centre for children at risk opens in Comrat, with the support of the European Union,

the Soros Foundation Moldova and the local authorities

A placement centre for children at risk was inaugurated in Comrat with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova. The social service was created by “VESTA” Public Association, in partnership with Comrat Rayon administration which cofunded renovation and equipment works.

The centre is intended for children temporarily placed in police custody, separated from and assistance for family reintegration or social integration. They will be offered living conditions and education appropriate to

“Children who have found themselves in difficult situations need support in their studies and development. We will be visiting exhibitions together, take part in craft workshops, and work in our association’s agricultural household, helping the children to individually assess their potential and to integrate into society,”

Antonina Volkova, President of “VESTA” Association, said at the centre’s inauguration.

“Creating this service allows diversifying social services in the region, with a special focus on protecting children’s rights. For this purpose, we have contributed 334.5 thousand lei from the budget of Găgăuzia for renovating the Centre’s premises. Ensuring children’ protection and security in complicated situations is our basic concern,”

Ivan Topal, President of Comrat Rayon Administration, said.

“This service is one of the 40 social services we create in different localities together with our partners – the Soros Foundation Moldova, Keystone Moldova, and Institutum Virtutes Civilis. We are glad to see the understanding and open attitude from the local public authorities who have offered their own contribution. We will keep supporting civil society not only in the social sphere, which is the current priority due to the crises the Republic of Moldova is going through, and we hope that civil society in Găgăuzia will stay as active and we will keep implementing the projects together,”

Victoria Neaga, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, stated.

The Temporary Placement Centre for children at risk in Comrat is one of the 40 social services developed within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services”, funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

A multifunctional centre for children at risk and with disabilities opens in Soroca with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova

Approximately 100 children at risk and with disabilities from Soroca Rayon will benefit from recovery and occupational therapy, counselling and psychosocial rehabilitation services on a yearly basis at “O Sansa” Multifunctional Centre for Social Services. The centre was opened within a project implemented by “Casa Speranțelor” PA in partnership with Soroca Rayon Council and Soroca Municipality Mayor’s Office, with the financial support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova.

From the project sources, the premises were renovated and the necessary furniture and equipment were purchased. The centre has rooms for group and individual activities, a recreation room, and a sensory room equipped with various sorts of stimuli and specialised equipment for rehabilitation of children with developmental and behavioural disorders.

The centre will be operating on a daytime basis and offer activities for both children and their parents. To ensure the quality of the services, “Casa Speranțelor” Association organised instructive workshops for social assistants and social service providers, informing them how to identify, assess, assist, and monitor children who are prospective beneficiaries of the services offered at “O Șansă” Centre.

“While creating this social service, we also conducted the campaigns to raise awareness of the equal rights of all children and the social services available for them in Soroca Rayon in the communities. At our centre, children from various vulnerable groups will get improved access to supporting services and assistance to overcome eventual inequities,” their sustainability, together with the local authorities. We will keep allocating funds via calls for proposals to develop new social services or to improve the existing ones,”

Valentina Onica, Administrator of “Casa Speranțelor” Public Association, said at the inauguration event.

Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, said at the event.

“The European Union regards civil society as an essential partner in the process of implementing reforms, especially in the context of the new status of the Republic of Moldova as a candidate country for joining the European Union. ‘Casa Sperațtelor’ Association is a reliable partner of the European Union; it has implemented a number of projects funded by the European Union and ensured

The project for creating the Centre has a budget of €60 thousand from the funds of the European Union and two co-financings: 270 thousand lei allocated by Soroca Municipality Mayor’s Office and another 250 thousand lei from Soroca Rayon Council. This social service is one of the 40 services developed within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services” funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with Keystone Moldova Association and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

A temporary placement centre for children separated from their parents opens in Taraclia with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova

Children separated from their parents in Taraclia Rayon, such as orphans, those whose parents are declared missing, and children temporarily separated from their families will benefit from specialised services at “Încredere” Temporary Placement Centre founded by “PRIMA”

Public Association and Taraclia Rayon Council, with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova.

Arranged within the renovated and adapted building of a former auxiliary school, the Centre has a capacity of 25 places. Children at risk will be placed there pursuant to the decisions of the Rayon Social Assistance and Family Protection Department (SAFPD) and stay at the Centre until a permanent type of social protection is established. The children will be offered accommodation, safety, and catering, as well as permanent assistance from such specialists as a nurse, psychologist, and educationist. They will be enrolled in schools or kindergartens, enjoy assistance while studying the school curriculum, develop independent living skills, and have counselling and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Taraclia Rayon Council financed part of the renovation works, purchased the equipment, and will subsequently manage the Centre.

“This service is absolutely necessary; it will allow providing assistance to many children from our rayon and for this reason, we will keep funding it. Taraclia Rayon Council allocated 1.2 million lei for renovation and development works,”

“The social crises we’ve been going through have affected many families from the risk groups who are struggling with financial and social issues. As a result, children suffer. The services of the Placement Centre will significantly improve the quality of life of children separated from their parents. We hope for further cooperation with the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova for developing social services,”

Galina Filipova, Head of Taraclia SAFPD, said.

“For the Delegation of the European Union, cooperation with civil society, especially with the organisations offering social services, is very important. The crises we have been through – the pandemic, the energy, and the war crisis – have made many people vulnerable, and vulnerable children need particular support. Here, at the Centre, 25 children will be offered assistance. Conditions for their placement have been created, but the hard work is just starting, because the service to be provided has to be high-quality and multidisciplinary,”

Victoria Neaga, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, said.

“Încredere” Temporary Placement Centre for children separated from their parents is one of the 40 social services developed within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services” funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

This year, more than 50 pupils and teenagers with disabilities and special educational needs from Telenești Rayon will benefit from counselling and career guidance services which will help them choose the jobs matching their skills and therefore facilitate their integration into labour market. “Șanse egale” (“Equal Opportunities”) social service is founded by Concordia Public Association in partnership with Telenești Rayon Council with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova.

Young people with special educational needs (SEN) need support and guidance while learning and this support should be adapted to their individual particularities. Developing these services will help young people avoid isolation and take part in orientation activities, thus contributing to their social integration.

“Through the workshops and other communication activities, we will provide supporttoyoungpeopleinindividuallyassessing their potential, and a psychoeducationalist will work with them to guide them in choosing their field of studies and profession. Besides, within the service, young people will be informed about educational and employment opportunities, so that as many young people as possible could get a suitable job and feel all right in the community,” has supported this initiative unreservedly and allocated 154 thousand lei from the rayon budget for renovating the office where the service will be offered,”

Eugenia Rosca, President of “Concordia” PA, said at the service launching event.

Mariana Ombun, President of Telenești Rayon, said.

Victoria Neaga, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, who attended the launching event, emphasised that the European Union encourages civil society organisations and public authorities to create conditions for efficient integration for all vulnerable persons via the projects in the social sphere.

“Creating this service with the support of the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova gives us a valuable chance to expand the activities for young people with special educational needs; therefore, the Rayon Council

“For young people with special needs, studying a profession facilitates their access to services and opportunities within the community and excludes their isolation, and the European Union supports social inclusion and respecting the rights of all the community members. The European Union will keep supporting the foundation of such services,”

Victoria Neaga said.

“Concordia” Public Association is one of the 40 grant beneficiary organisations within the project “Civil Society Organisations Acting for Better Social Services” funded by the European Union, implemented and cofinanced by the Soros Foundation Moldova, in partnership with Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis PA.

“Concordia” PA implements the project titled “’Equal Opportunities’ Career Counselling and Guidance Service for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs” with a budget of €35,000.00, within which the “Equal Opportunities” social service is developed. The service is aimed at facilitating professional inclusion of pupils with special educational needs aged 14-18 by taking part in counselling, educational, and vocational guidance activities for promoting social inclusion and improving their living standards. The service is founded by the association in partnership with Telenești Rayon Council and will be subsequently provided by the rayon psychoeducational assistance service.

While implementing a number of projects funded by the European Union, the Soros Foundation Moldova together with the partners has already managed to create over 40 social services in the country.