Moldova ASSIST: improving access to quality public services and social cohesion
In today’s Moldova, change is built in small but determined steps.
It makes its way quietly into villages and towns, into the modest rooms of social centres, into the offices of social workers, and into the eyes of children and older people — wherever life beats at its most vulnerable rhythm.
In this broad effort to modernise the social protection system, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Territorial Social Assistance Agencies are the leading actors shaping a new architecture of social services across the country.
Yet the reforms they advance require resources, tools, and support that reach people directly — right where the pressure for change is felt the most.
The Moldova ASSIST project, funded by the European Union and implemented by People in Need Moldova, stepped in to reinforce these efforts.
We began with a clear mission: to bring social services closer to people
and to help create communities where every voice matters and every person is heard.
The first steps became visible on the roads of northern Moldova, where three new vehicles were provided to ATAS North, enabling mobile teams to expand their outreach.
These teams — psychologists, speech therapists, social workers, and physiotherapists — started offering support directly at the homes of people who otherwise would have had no access to specialised care.
Communities felt the change immediately. Regular visits helped break through the walls of isolation.
Aliona, the mother of a young boy with special needs, shared that her son Timofei began speaking his first words thanks to the sessions offered by psychologists and therapists. For a mother, progress like this is a whole world of hope.
But change is not only emotional — it is structural. The RESTART social system reform advanced through consultations, trainings, and exchanges of good practices supported by the project.
Digitalising social services became essential. The mobile technical support team created by People in Need trained over 1,100 social workers to use tablets and specialised software.
“This training was extremely helpful and much needed, as about 40% of a social worker’s daily work is linked to using a computer or tablet. All this knowledge will significantly ease our tasks,” - said Olesea Heiu, Head of Community Social Assistance Service, STAS Donduseni.
Equally important was the training of more than 50 representatives of local authorities and CSOs in project writing — a real opportunity for communities to access funding and find solutions to local challenges.
Systemic change matters, but true transformation is felt in the places where people receive direct care: in residential centres, shelters, and facilities where vulnerability needs constant attention and compassion.
In Drochia, the “Căldura Casei” centre became a warmer home for children separated from their parents, with refurbished rooms, new furniture, and safety equipment.
In Riscani, the canteen of the “Renaștere” centre was fully renovated — kitchen, dining hall, energy infrastructure — everything ready to offer warm meals in a safe, modern space.
In Bulboaca, more than 30 children with special needs gained access to modern therapies, trainings for parents and teachers, and equipment that supports their progress.
In Balti, the “Respirația a Doua” centre received medical furniture, equipment, a smart TV, and recreational materials — all improving the lives of 32 beneficiaries: older persons, people with disabilities, and refugees.
In Cornesti, the “Respiro” service was equipped with 13 multifunctional beds and essential care devices for people with severe disabilities.
In Șoldănești, the centre for older persons and people with disabilities was transformed through essential upgrades: a new electrical system, washing and drying machines, dishware, air conditioners, and televisions, making the space warmer and more dignified.
In the south, the “Recunoștință” centre in Basarabeasca modernised its heating and cooling systems and improved access to clean water. Energy costs dropped, while comfort increased.
The “ProSperare” centre in Bocsa renovated its kitchen, installed new equipment, and added washing machines and dryers. It can now serve 45 more people, including from neighbouring communities.
And in Tanatari, the residential home became more welcoming thanks to new furniture — beds, wardrobes, bedside tables — small elements that can transform daily life for older residents.
Yet change is not carried only by services. It also comes from young people — those who dare, who question, who create.
Young people were involved in processes of creation, analysis, and innovation. At the “E-INTEGRATION” Hackathon, dozens of students developed digital solutions on rights, European opportunities, civic participation, and non-discrimination.
The Documentary Film Caravan travelled from one community to another, sparking conversations among teenagers about truth, manipulation, and the world around them.
The Y-Media and Digital Media Literacy Lab programmes equipped young people with practical tools for critical thinking and media skills.
The Inclusive Education Forum brought together over 120 people in an honest dialogue about how schools can become safe and welcoming spaces for every child.
The “Learning the Language of Acceptance” programme, implemented in 15 model schools, nurtured values such as diversity, solidarity, and empathy among pupils and teachers.
The initiative “Live Your Life Through Film” inspired young people from five communities to create documentaries on topics like bullying, rural life, civic responsibility, and the realities they face today.
But for change to take root and endure, strong local anchors are necessary. This is where civil society organisations step in.
Through Moldova ASSIST, dozens of CSOs received support for organisational development, infrastructure upgrades, trainings, strategic planning, and service expansion.
Their teams took part in trainings on management, communication, advocacy, project writing, and cross-sector collaboration.
Cultural and community events organised by CSOs became moments of connection and solidarity, bringing together children, parents, volunteers, and local leaders.
A community truly changes when its people engage directly and join efforts.
CSOs, local authorities, and citizens worked hand in hand to identify real challenges: roads, lighting, accessibility, social infrastructure, youth activities.
In several localities, participatory budgeting mechanisms enabled citizens to vote on their own priorities. They did not only ask for support — they actively contributed to solutions.
This process strengthened trust between authorities and citizens — a bond without which change cannot take root.
Moldova ASSIST is therefore more than a sequence of activities. It is a story about people who chose to work together for the wellbeing of their communities.
A story about families who received support, young people who found their voice, local organisations that grew stronger, and communities that began to feel the shift.
It is a story about dignity, solidarity, and hope — about a Moldova where every person truly matters.