Aktion Deutschland Hilft supports World Vision, WeWorld and CRIC to empower Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan host communities

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Monday, May 15, 2023

“In Moldova, the project funded by Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) is crucial. It aims to strengthen child protection, mental health, psychosocial support (MHPSS) and education”, shares Setsabile Mncina, World Vision Senior Program Officer, at the launch of the new project.

Mncina adds, “It will also provide an opportunity for Ukrainians and Moldovans to interact socially, sharing cultures and social cohesion activities.”

The “Emergency Response to Meet the Basic Needs of Refugees and Host Communities Affected by the Ukraine Crisis in Moldova” Project, supported by World Vision Germany and Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH), will be implemented until December 31, 2023.

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The project will be implemented by WeWorld, and the local NGO Child Rights Information Centre Moldova (CRIC) and will also include addressing issues on gender-based violence.

It will cover ten districts of Moldova, among which Chișinau, Criuleni, Căușeni, Ștefan Vodă, Anenii Noii, Riscani, Cahul, Basarabeasca, Bălți, and UTA Găgăuzia.

During the event, the representatives of the three NGOs raised existing issues and opportunities regarding the integration of Ukrainian refugees and how they would be addressed through implementation. 

“According to the studies we have recently conducted, Moldovan schools have a concerns on violence against children and bullying”, says Vasile Coroi, Executive Director of CRIC.

Providing psychological therapy to teachers, refugee children, and their parents is one of the most critical needs to assist the integration process into the Moldovan school system.

He adds, “The bullying issues related to the war in Ukraine need to be addressed. The teachers’ capacity to prevent discrimination against refugee children and other students must be strengthened.”

To meet these needs, CRIC will train 40 school psychologists and 70 teachers on prevention, combating bullying, and how to integrate Ukrainian children in the educational setting.

“Providing psychological therapy to teachers, refugee children, and their parents is one of the most critical needs to assist the integration process into the Moldovan school system,” said Coroi.

More than 350 professionals will support the integration program of the Ukrainian children into the local formal educational system. In addition, 200 teachers and facilitators will participate in the Training of Trainers in the “I Support My Friend” Psychological First Aid.

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“The ADH-funded project will facilitate the enrollment of 250 refugee children in the Summer Camp Program, train 120 home-based nannies for Ukrainian and Moldovan kindergarten children aged 3-5 years old,” shared Viviana Cobzaru, Country Representative of WeWorld.

She continues, “The initiative will support language lessons in Romanian and English for 350 refugees and host communities. A total of 800 people will be provided with soft skills training and sharing sessions for MHPSS support and social cohesion.”

Aside from awareness-raising trainings on protection and GBV, the project will deliver multi-purpose cash to 700 refugee families and 300 host communities.

“World Vision’s partnership with WeWorld and CRIC has been instrumental in making this unique design of the project, considering the changing dynamics of the Ukraine crisis and the expressed needs of the people,” said Mncina.

Overall, World Vision has reached more one million people in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, and Georgia, including displaced Ukrainians, refugees and host communities.

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Story and photos by Laurentia Jora, Communications Officer