British charities join efforts in Moldova.
The British Ambassador to Moldova, Mr Phil Batson brings together British charities for the first time.
British charities join efforts in Moldova
On Tuesday 12 November the Embassy played host to 19 British charities (or those who have worked with UK organisations) by organising a round-table discussion of their experiences in Moldova. The charities ranged from missionaries working with small rural communities to large charities working across regions and directly with Governments to formulate and implement national policies (on e.g. inclusive education and deinstitutionalisation).
The main purpose of the meeting was to improve coordination and maximise effectiveness by: sensitising the charities to one another’s work and the locations within Moldova of their activities; the exchange of useful contacts, know-how and best practice; and offering one another use of assets (transport, office space, equipment).
10 key learning points:
- Job creation is key to the future survival of rural communities
- Social institutions must work together (including Orthodox and non-Orthodox churches)
- Lack of transport for disabled people means lack of education and employment opportunities for them
- Children, the elderly and the disabled are all more likely to be physically abused
- Moldova loses 500 people per year in road accidents costing the country 3% of its GDP
- Children from institutions are 10 times more likely to be trafficked than those from a family
- Suicide risks among young people from an institutional background are 500 times greater than a young person living in a stable family
- Civil society has a role to play in policy implementation
- Common problems for the elderly include poverty, isolation and marginalisation
- The key thing is to provide more business training in order to create employment
You can read more about the event, including interviews with three of the charities concerned, in Adevarul article.