The Street Assistance Service during a year housed 32 children identified on the streets of Chisinau. The specialized social service provides day care services for children in situations of risk with a view to integrating and reintegrating them into society and the family. Of the 32 children, only 11 are from Chisinau and the rest come from outside the municipality.

Asked by IPN to provide details, Lucia Caciuc, acting head of the Municipal Division for the Protection of Children’s Rights, said the results achieved during a year are very important. “During a year already, these children have where to take a bath, eat, change their clothes and hear an encouraging word. We managed to integrate seven children of those from the street into families. We expect the local authorities of the localities from where these children are to react, to become involved and to return them home,” she stated.

Among the beneficiaries of the service are children who do not keep in touch with their families. They spend the day begging on the street or working. Of the 32 beneficiaries, 28 are male. Over 20 children are aged between 13 and 16.

According to specialists, these children are subject to the risk of being physical and sexually abused and have their labor exploited. Most of them take drugs and consume alcohol, do not have identification papers and do not attend school.

Created by a July 2018 decision of the Chisinau Municipal Council, the Street Assistance Service started work in February 2019.