Theology University to have a social assistance resource centre

The first resource centre in social assistance, endowed with modern computers and specialised literature in social assistance, sociology, psychology and theology opened recently in Chisinau for the students of the Orthodox Theology University (UTO). The centre is destined to the students of the future faculty of social assistance, which is to be inaugurated in September 2007 within the UTO. According to UTO pro-rector Veaceslav Cazacu, once with the opening of the Centre, students, especially future social assistants and priests, would benefit from quality information, which will help them in their professional development. The opening of the centre became possible thanks to the financial support of the UNICEF Moldova. UNICEF representative in Moldova, Ray Virgilio Torres, emphasised on the role of the priests and of the future social assistants in solving the most serious social problems, which, first of all, affect the children from residential institutions, children abused in the family or those who are obliged to beg in the street. “UNICEF’s contribution to the opening of the centre has been a modest one. However, we wish that these resources would help the Church in realising the importance of the mission it has in each community: to support poor families, to help and protect children who are in difficult situation, to promote the family as the best environment for children’s growth and education”, the UNICEF representative affirmed. According to the most recent sociologic surveys, 79% of Moldova’s population trust the Church. At present, there are 1.325 Christian-orthodox churches in Moldova.