Civil society organizations from 13 districts of Moldova were helped to strengthen their capacities to intervene and support local socially disadvantaged families. With the financing obtained within a European project, the NGOs established partnerships with the local public authorities and staged in concert activities to raise awareness of human and children’s rights, creation workshops, out-of-school events, summer camps, clubs for teens and others.
The results of the project that was implemented by the organization “Child, Community, Family” and was supported by the EU with €336,000 were presented in a conference that is held in Chisinau on November 9-10, IPN reports. The project involved 28 NGOs working in the social sphere, 13 of which received grants of €2,000.
Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Peter Michalko said that by this project they aimed to support the development of the civil society’s capacity to influence the drafting and implementation of public policies so that the NGOs become advocates of the most vulnerable members of society and they succeeded. On the other hand, they aimed to develop the capacities of final beneficiaries (children and parents from vulnerable groups) to defend the rights and obtain information and social services of a high quality.
According to Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection Stela Grigoras, the project was designed to strengthen the civil society’s capacity to involve persons from socially-deprived families in discussions to overcome vulnerability and to create a better life for all the children from Moldova. As to the de-institutionalization of children, Moldova does good job. In less than ten years, there were closed a number of residential institutions and many children were reintegrated into their families. Another 1,200 children are waiting for the Ministry to develop mechanisms for them to be de-institutionalized.
Delia Plop, programs director at Hope and Homes for Children (HHC) of the UK, said she knows from the experience of the organization she represents that four conditions should be created simultaneously and in the same reign to change the situation, namely: political will, knowledge, financing and a vibrant civil society environment, which is NGOs fond of the cause they plead.
Iuliana Tabacari, of the public association “Pasarea Albastra” (“Blue Bird”), said they informed through brochures the people and the local authorities in Hancesti about the problems of children with special educational needs. Things started to change even if with small steps. A number of ramps for persons with locomotor disabilities were set up in the center of the town. The townspeople’s attitude to persons with disabilities is friendlier.
Vera Patrascu-Tanase, deputy head of the Hancesti District Council, said their administration devotes special attention to the social sector and aims to create conditions for the persons with special needs to feel useful to society. At a certain moment, the marginalized persons find a rehabilitation environment and benefit from social integration services. Society becomes more receptive to other people’s needs. The change of mentality is even more important than the support, including financial one.
