An IT student with entrepreneurial ambitions, Silvia T. is a 21-year-old woman who has found refuge, for three years now, at In Cammino, an assisted living facility supported by the Regina Pacis Foundation in Chisinau.
While she is not an orphan, the young woman does not want to return home, where she’ll find a mother with whom she does not get along and conditions that are far away from what one would call satisfactory. Her parents separated when she was only 10, and since then she has not kept in touch with her father, who has been stripped of parental rights.
“When I was 17, I had to go to the police and child protection, and after that I found accommodation at the Regina Pacis Foundation’s Placement Center, because I was still a minor. After turning 18, I was offered refuge in the assisted living facility In Cammino. The staff there knew my situation and knew that after I came of age I would not have a good life back home”, says Silvia.
The young woman is studying IT at the Academy of Economic Studies and says that she will find it hard to one day leave In Cammino and the people there. “Here I’ve had the opportunity to continue my studies. Also, we are offered the opportunity to get involved in different projects where we can do volunteer work, which is of course an advantage for your resume. Thanks to the services offered by In Cammino, I’ve been able to develop personally and professionally, I even participated in trainings that took place in Italy. At In Cammino, we are monitored, asked if everything is in order, we are encouraged to participate in various competitions and projects”, says Silvia.
Inga Platon, a doctor of psychology, is the coordinator of the In Cammino project. She says the assisted living facility is meant for young women aged 18-23 coming from residential institutions such as orphanages, or who are simply deprived of parental care. Besides accommodation, the project offers opportunities for developing skills needed for leading an autonomous life and for helping beneficiaries achieve socioeconomic and professional integration into the community. Since the start of the project in 2015, In Camminio has helped 35 beneficiaries.
“These are young women who, when they come of age, have no support, no house, no education degree. The girls are accommodated under certain conditions: they have to continue their studies or find a job, and have to chip in a small part of the accommodation costs. Not having a place to live, study or work, these young women risk becoming victims of human trafficking or other abuses. They end up moving in with their peers, where they smoke, drink alcohol, commit crimes, and lead a disorganized life in general.
“After three years, when the girls are financially stable, they leave In Cammino. We usually keep in touch with the girls. After leaving us, they find a place to rent or go abroad, but already having education, financial stability and work experience. We also had cases where the girls left because they got married. During their stay at In Cammino, the girls also volunteer, at the Regina Pacis Child Placement Center, the Municipal Youth Center, they are involved in various campaigns to help people in need. During the volunteer activity, the girls meet different people, who might later offer them a job”, says Inga Platon.
According to the project coordinator, during 2015-2021, 85% of the In Cammino beneficiaries were reintegrated into society. 94% of the beneficiaries were enrolled in secondary and higher education, and 82 % of the beneficiaries were employed as seamstresses, office managers, call center operators, educators, confectioners, hairdressers, cashiers etc.
The assisted living facility In Cammino is a social service provided by the Regina Pacis Foundation, with the financial support of the German charity Renovabis.
At In Cammino, young women benefit from personal development programs that help them form social and communication skills, and reduce internal fears and barriers to boost their self-confidence. They also benefit from a program focused on developing emotional and social intelligence. At the same time, its beneficiaries participate in the International Summer Schools “Week of the World”, taking place annually in Italy.
Individuals can support Regina Pacis Foundation social projects through food donations or financial donations using the bank details below:
For donations from Moldova:
BANCA: BC „Victoriabank” S.A. Filiala № 11
BIC: VICBMD2X883
C/C MDL: 222400011100577
BENEFICIAR: FUNDATIA REGINA PACIS
For donations in EUR and USD:
IBAN: MD84 VI 000 222401711100577
SWIFT: VICBMD2X
BANK: VICTORIABANK, Chișinău, Moldova
BENEFICIARY: FUNDATIA REGINA PACIS
