UNICEF Moldova

🌍 Around 412 million children worldwide live in extreme poverty (on less than ~3 USD a day), and nearly 900 million face multidimensional poverty — lacking essential needs such as food, water, education, or healthcare. In Moldova, according to the latest 2024 data from the National Bureau of Statistics: ➡️ 1 in 3 children lives in absolute monetary poverty, ➡️ and 17% experience extreme poverty. 🧒 No child should have to choose between food, school, or health. Today, we call on the international community and the private sector to join our efforts to break the cycle of poverty through: ✅ Strategic financing of social protection programmes for children and families; ✅ Sustainable investments in early education, healthcare, and safe housing; ✅ Innovative partnerships that bring expertise, know-how, and digital solutions for social inclusion. 🤝 Through lasting and trusted partnerships, we can turn UNICEF’s initiatives from plans into tangible realities for the most vulnerable children. 💙 #ChildrenCannotWait - they deserve action now. #EndChildPoverty #InternationalDayForEradicationOfPoverty #ForEveryChild

🎉 New hope for young children in #Chișinău.   Children aged 0-5 with developmental delays or disabilities now have access to free, specialized early intervention services right in a public medical facility. In September, #UNICEFMoldova, in partnership with Lumos Moldova and with generous support from the Government of Norway (via Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation in Moldova), inaugurated the first Early Childhood Intervention Centre integrated into a public health institution in the capital: AMT Centru Chișinău. 🏥 At the new center:  - Children benefit from early assessment and personalized #therapy;  - Parents receive professional guidance and emotional support;  - Multidisciplinary teams provide care through a child-centered approach;  - A sensory room fosters learning through play in a safe and inclusive space. 💬 “Every child has the right to a hopeful start in life. This centre is more than a service, it's a promise to families who need support the most,” said Angela Capcelea, Health Specialist at UNICEF Moldova. The first three years are crucial for a child’s #development. By identifying risks early and offering professional support, this initiative helps prevent or reduce long-term difficulties and builds brighter futures for Moldova’s youngest citizens. 🧠 This effort is part of #UNICEF’s broader program to expand early childhood intervention services across the country, with centers already active in Fălești, Cimișlia, and 12 development offices in other districts. Together with national authorities, Lumos, and our donors, we bring services closer to families. 🤝 👉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/deemrBpP #ForEveryChild #EarlyIntervention #ChildDevelopment #HealthForAll #Inclusion #SocialProtection

Moldova takes a major step toward protecting every child’s #rights. 👧👦 In September, Moldova reached a key milestone in its European integration journey: the launch of the national implementation process for the European Child Guarantee.   👥 Government leaders from five ministries: Labour, Education, Health, Finance, and Internal Affairs came together with local authorities, civil society, the EU Delegation, Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, and #UNICEF to commit to a joint action plan that will ensure all children, especially the most vulnerable, can access essential services. The Guarantee focuses on breaking down barriers to:  - Early childhood education and care;  - Quality health services;  - Adequate housing;  - Nutritious meals;  - Inclusive learning and play environments. 📢 “Many children in Moldova still face poverty, exclusion or grow up without the support they need. The Child Guarantee is a strong commitment to change that reality,” said Vasile Cușca, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Moldova. UNICEF is proud to support this process with technical expertise, data, and proven solutions, alongside our partners at the EU and UK Government via Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 🤝 🌍 Together, we’re building a fairer, more inclusive future.  Every child must be seen, heard, and supported. 💙 📰 More in this article: https://lnkd.in/dEECrxze #UNICEFMoldova #ChildGuarantee #SocialInclusion #ForEveryChild #ChildrenFirst #Education #Health #Inclusion 

📚 Inclusive education means education for every child. #UNICEFMoldova, together with CCF Moldova - Copil, Comunitate, Familie Moldova, the MER/Ministerul Educației și Cercetării al Republicii Moldova, and the Republican Centre for Psychopedagogical Assistance, has launched a new initiative to support 27 schools across 9 districts in Moldova in becoming more inclusive. 🏫 The selected schools will benefit from training, mentoring, and community-focused activities to enhance their capacity to support children with disabilities, special educational needs, refugee backgrounds, and ethnic minority groups. This effort is part of the national behavior change campaign “Learning Together”, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and aims to:  - Strengthen school-family partnerships;  - Equip teachers and support staff with inclusive education practices;  - Empower children and parents to participate in awareness activities;  - Encourage inclusive, empathetic media narratives. 📊 In 2024, over 11,000 children in #Moldova were identified with special educational needs, including nearly 6,000 children with disabilities. Supporting their #inclusion is not just a goal, it’s a necessity. Together, we are building a school system that welcomes every child, celebrates diversity, and creates communities where all children can thrive 💙 👉 More details in the press release: https://lnkd.in/dAt3rcZU #EducationForAll #InclusiveEducation

👶 Parenting support at the workplace and in communities? Yes, it’s possible. #UNICEFMoldova, with support from the Government of #France and in collaboration with the Business Advisory Board, is rolling out a nationwide #parenting programme for working parents with children aged 0-6. 👣 📍 The first session, held in Chișinău and hosted by maib, brought together over 100 parents to discuss child development in the first 1,000 days, healthy routines, emotional regulation, and the value of play. Parents also explored #Bebbo, UNICEF’s free parenting app with practical, evidence-based tips. 👨👩👧👧 The second session took place in Hîncești, in partnership with the Hîncești Municipality, where health and psychology experts 👩⚕️ Dr. Rodica Eremciuc and Sergiu Toma shared guidance on early childhood development and emotional balance. 💬 “When the private sector adopts family-friendly policies, such as flexible schedules, parental leave, or childcare support - the benefits are felt by both employees and employers”, said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova. UNICEF continues to promote family-friendly policies and parenting support nationwide because every child deserves the best start in life. 💙 👉Learn more about the programme: https://lnkd.in/d69S5ffB #ForEveryChild #ParentingSupport #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #FamilyFriendlyWorkplaces

📊 Two-thirds of children in Europe and Central Asia experience violence at home, in school, or in their communities. One in three children is physically punished, while two in three are subjected to psychological aggression, the most common forms of violence against children, according to a new #UNICEF report. 🗣️ “Violence is shaping too many childhoods across Europe and Central Asia, often at the hands of those meant to protect and care for children,” said Regina De Dominicis, Regional Director, UNICEF Europe & Central Asia. Although most parents believe that violence is unnecessary, stress, lack of support, and limited awareness of positive alternatives lead to the continued use of physical and emotional punishment. Violence, in any form, affects children’s development and can have long-term consequences on their mental health and behavior. To stop this, UNICEF calls on governments to turn #commitments into concrete action:  - prohibit all forms of physical punishment;  - invest in parenting support programmes and child protection services;  - create safe and inclusive learning environments;  - collect and use data to inform effective policies. 📘 Read the full report:  “Where We Live and Learn: Violence Against Children in Europe and Central Asia” 👇 https://lnkd.in/dCAETd97 #UNICEF #ForEveryChild #ProtectEveryChild #EuropeAndCentralAsia

After fleeing the war in Ukraine, Marina found refuge in #Moldova. Here, her life changed once again - she gave birth to Vova💙 Today, one year and four months old, Vova had an accident on the playground. 🏥 At the Valentin Ignatenco Municipal Children’s Clinical Hospital, doctors immediately decided to admit him to the Neurosurgery and Associated Trauma Unit. There, he received the necessary treatment and medical care - free of charge, with support from #UNICEF and international partners 🤝 For thousands of #refugee mothers, access to healthcare means more than treatment. It means safety, dignity, and #hope. ✅ Since the beginning of the war, over 10,000 refugee children have received free medical services in public institutions across Moldova, thanks to the support of the Governments of the Republic of Korea (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea), Switzerland (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Moldova), the United Kingdom (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), Japan, Norway (Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), Sweden, and the United States (U.S. Department of State). #ForEveryChild, health must be a priority! 🔗Read Marina and Vova’s story: https://lnkd.in/dpWtu-vB #ForEveryChild #HealthServices #HealthForAll #ChildhoodWithoutBorders #RefugeeChildren

Impactful achievements are built on reliable and long-lasting partnerships 🤝. We are grateful to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) & KfW for their trust. Together, we can reach every child in Moldova 💙

👁️ Have you ever tried looking through a sheet of plastic? That’s how many children with visual impairments see the world, not complete darkness, but a blur of shapes and shadows. At the “Low Vision” Medical-Social Rehabilitation Centre in Chișinău, specialists use simple tools like simulation glasses or plastic sheets to help parents understand how their children perceive everyday life. Thanks to the support of the Global Partnership for Education, and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Research, #UNICEFMoldova has provided over 840 assistive devices to schools across Moldova from Braille typewriters to video magnifiers, screen readers, and adaptive keyboards. 🎓 These tools are already changing lives. Like for Ionuț, 8, who received a monocular telescope to help him see the blackboard more clearly. Or for Viorel, 15, who now #dreams of working in IT thanks to the electronic magnifiers that help him read and learn independently. In the last decade, the number of children with special #education needs integrated into mainstream schools in Moldova has doubled. But for children with visual impairments, access to education still requires targeted efforts, tailored solutions, and continued investment. 📈 Because for many, these devices are not just tools, they’re windows to the #future. 💙 📰 More in this article: https://lnkd.in/dsCQVpme #ForEveryChild #InclusiveEducation #AssistiveTechnology #EducationForAll #ChildRights #AccessibilityInEducation

💙 Children and families in Edineț will soon have access to services tailored to their needs. #UNICEF, the Edineț District Council, the National Institute for Early Childhood Intervention “Voinicel,” and the “Step by Step” Educational Programme, with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea (Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)) and the Government of the United States through the U.S. Department of State (BPRM), are expanding the network of integrated services for children and families in the district. 👶 An Early Intervention Centre and 35 Resource Centres in #kindergartens will provide personalized support to children with developmental delays, disabilities, or at risk, through learning-through-play activities, socio-emotional #development, and interactive reading. 👨👩👧👦 Over the next two years, more than 250 #children and their families will benefit from monitoring, #parentalcounselling, and #psychosocialassistance services, ensuring that #everychild has the opportunity to grow up in an #inclusive and #safe environment. Read more in the press release: https://lnkd.in/dnYd6Dt8 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea #ForEveryChild #InclusiveEducation #EarlyIntervention #UNICEFthxKOREA #GamsahapnidaKOREA #UNICEFthxUS