The people are encouraged to fast and donate the equivalent value of the meals they should have for a noble cause – to support vulnerable children from Moldova. For the third consecutive year, CCF/HHC Moldova conducts the social campaign “Rostul Postului” (“Purpose of Lent”) that will last until April 28, IPN reports.

One in eight children in Moldova live in poverty according to the data of UNICEF Moldova for 2011-2016. Most of these are from rural areas. 38% of the children in rural areas live below the poverty line, as opposed to 13% in urban areas.

The Republic of Moldova remains one of the poorest states in Europe, with the children being most affected. This leads to malnutrition, premature death, absenteeism from school, etc. Poverty can deprive children of parental care, being one of the main causes of institutionalization.

Through the agency of the campaign “Purpose of Lent”, CCF/HHC Moldova encourages to support socially deprived families and families that are seriously stricken by poverty and are exposed to the risk of abandoning children. Donations as part of the campaign can be made at http://rostulpostului.md/.

In 2017, owing to the proceeds collected during the campaign “Purpose of Lent”, the second social crèche intended for children aged between four months and three years was opened in Balti municipality. The same social campaign helped open the first Early Intervention Center in Balti. This provides services to asses children aged between zero and three from the town and from 11 districts of the region, whose development is compromised by a particular disability or social risk.