The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on December 19 signed a co-financing agreement on the development of local youth services for a five-year term (2017-2022), IPN reports.
The agreement represents the intention of the sides to mobilize the financial resources and implement the national priorities of the Republic of Moldova in the youth sector. Until 2022, there will be invested about 26 million lei, 19 million lei of which is the contribution of the Ministry.
Within the partnership, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and UNFPA will develop youth centers all over the country for these to provide youth-friendly services at the local level, with emphasis on the needs of the most disfavored ones, including disabled and unemployed young people and people from families in need or affected by migration. These centers will offer professional assistance in launching and implementing own initiatives and projects, possibilities of becoming involved in volunteering programs, taking part in the decision-making process and contributing to the promotion of rights.
At the start of 2017, the persons aged between 14 and 35 represented 34.7% of the resident population. At the same time, studies show a large part of the young people, especially from rural areas, do not have an official occupation and are outside the education system and labor market and many young people fall prey to risky behaviors that affect their health and welfare.
