Thirty civil society organizations have received funding from the European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova (SFM) to create five day centers for different categories of children and two temporary placement centers for children at risk, create and expand services for early intervention and application of alternative therapies for children with disabilities, develop 3 mobile team services for children and adults, and create teams of children’s rights specialists in 4 communes in Ungheni district.
Also, with the financial support of the EU and the SFM, a social laundry will be created in Glodeni, a placement center for homeless people will be set up in Bender, and in three northern districts activities will be diversified in existing day care centers for seniors and in-home services will be extended as well.
The project will provide support to the partner organizations so that the developed services are provided at high quality and are sustainable.
“We aim to contribute to the development of civil society organizations involved in social work by offering them the opportunity to promote positive change in communities, build partnerships with the authorities and provide support and funding for the development of social services, and subsequent accreditation of these services will ensure their quality. The sustainability of the developed services is one of the main preoccupations of all partners, so that the costs of implementing those services from domestic resources can be ensured after the projects are completed. We will provide all the necessary support for the partner organizations to become pillars in creating inclusive and friendly communities for people in vulnerable groups,” said SFM executive director Petru Culeac during an event to present the Grants Program results.
EU Ambassador Janis Mazeiks said: “The European Union considers civil society to be a reliable partner in the reform process. By supporting local civil society organizations, social service providers, we are contributing to community development and to improving the quality of life of vulnerable people.”
Another round of the SFM Grants Program is currently underway, following which another 10 organizations will be selected to receive funding for the development of social services. In total, 40 civil society organizations will be funded under the project “Civil society organizations work for better social services”. The 42-month project, with a total budget of 3,375,000 euros, is funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by Soros Foundation Moldova, in partnership with the NGOs Keystone Moldova and Institutum Virtutes Civilis.
