Five Traveler Center minibuses will provide mobile services for young people in local communities and young refugees in Balti, Cahul, Ungheni, Criuleni and Fălești and will carry out activities to raise awareness and prevent gender-based violence as part of the UNFPA program “Safe Spaces for women, young people and the elderly”. The initiative was carried out by the Ministry of Education and Research, with the support of the UN Population Fund.

Minister Dan Perciun declared that the five youth centers will from now on have the possibility to carry out activities with young people from more remote areas. “For us, UNFPA is a strategic partner, with whom we carry out multiple projects, especially in order to strengthen the networks of youth centers, which organize various activities for young people to enable them in the process of participation and involvement, in making decisions and developing life skills, for which we are grateful”, said Dan Perciun.

“These new mobile services will be a breath of fresh air for young people in remote communities who are the hardest to reach, bringing young people from Moldova and Ukrainian refugees to essential services that will help them develop and thrive. We are extremely grateful to the European Union for the financial support provided to buy these minibuses. This reconfirms our common commitment to empower and support young people from all over the country”, said Karina Nersesyan, UNFPA resident representative to Moldova.

“Starting today, we have the opportunity to come closer to the young people of the region, and for the services to be more and closer to every young man and woman in the country. From now on, we can reach thousands of young people every month from both urban and rural areas”, said Nonna Mihalcean, coordinator of the mobile team from the city of Bălți, during the event.

The total cost of the minibuses is over 3,000,000 lei.