World Vision and AVE Copiii launch new education project for Ukrainian children in Moldova
“Our goal to establish a safe environment for both Ukrainian refugees and Moldova’s host communities and to improve access to education for both groups. This new project will focus on child protection, mental health and psycho-social support, education in emergency and winterization”, shared Mamello Juniah Tsekoa, World’s Vision Project Manager at the opening of the event.
World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response (UCR) and AVE Copiii launched the new project on 17 January 2023 aptly named “Creating a protective environment and improved access to education for Ukrainian refugees and host households in Moldova ” through the support of World Vision Austria, Nachbar in Not (NiN) and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and will be implemented until 31 March 2024.
Five Moldovan districts, including Chișinău, Ștefan Vodă, Cahul, Basarabeasca, Bălți, Ceadîr-Lunga and Vulcănești will benefit from the project that includes more than 1,000 children of refugees and host communities. Additionally, over 7,000 Ukrainian and Moldovan children will have easier access to formal and nonformal education in emergencies.
“In collaboration with the Moldovan Government and local partner AVE Copiii, the project will hopefully help change the lives of over 15,000 people by improving access to protection, formal and non-formal education services, supporting their psychological well-being”, added Tsekoa.
The program is also establishing seven new centers and child-friendly spaces in the five districts, providing children with vouchers for school supplies, education facilities and psychological counseling. Ukrainian caregivers and educators will be provided access to language lessons.
I would like to thank World Vision for the opportunities, flexibility, and commitment they have shown in supporting refugees who have come to Chișinău through our municipality.
During the event, local municipality and district representatives, AVE Copiii, and World Vision UCR discussed opportunities in facilitating protection and education services in Moldova. The Deputy Mayor of Chișinău, Angela Cutasevici, underlined the need of non-formal education for the Ukrainian children in the city.
”We have around 4,000 refugee children living in the municipality of Chișinău. We need to provide diversified services because not every refugee child go to the schools here. They take online classes and continue their education in Ukraine”, Deputy Mayor Cutasevici said.
She added, ”They don’t have a chance to interact with the locals. We need to diversify the non-formal component, integrating and making these children feel part of the community.”
World Vision has provided humanitarian assistance to close to 35,000 Ukrainian refugees and host communities in Moldova, in partnership with AVE Copiii, HelpAge, Communitas, Food Bank, Step by Step and World Food Program.
”I would like to thank World Vision for the opportunities, flexibility, and commitment they have shown in supporting refugees who have come to Chișinău through our municipality, especially during the critical part of the crisis. I am sure the NiN project will have the desired impact on both refugees and hosting communities.”, added Deputy Mayor Cutasevici at the end of the event.
As of today, World Vision has helped more than 595,000 refugees, internally-displaced and host families in Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.
Story and photos by Laurentia Jora, Communications and Public Engagement Officer