BETTER PROTECTION OF CHILDREN LEVING CARE (BOARDING SCHOOL NB.

2, CHISINAU, MOLDOVA)
Project proposal
by NGO Association for Child and Family Empowerment AVE COPIII Moldova
Project implementation period: 1 August 2015 31 July 2016
Background: Short history of organization including previous and ongoing projects
AVE COPIII Moldova is a democratic, independent, apolitical and non-religious, not-for-profit Association
founded in 1992 under the name Salvati Copiii Moldova. From 2011, Child and Family Empowerment are
the main strategies of the Association.
AVE COPIII has extensive experience of working with children in need victims of abuse and violence. In
1994 the Association created the first residential Centre for assistance and rehabilitation of street children,
named Casa Aschiuta (Aschiuta Home). The main objective of the Centre was social and family
(re)integration of street children. In 2006 the multidisciplinary team of Aschiuta Home launched its
services on foster placement for children who needed a longer intervention. All projects which were
developed through Aschiuta Home are based on the principle of learning by doing. Case management for
children referred to Aschiuta Home represents an exercise which involves all specialists from childs
place of origin, and therefore these specialists can learn how to address a case in an expedient, correct and
qualitative way.
The services provided within Aschiuta Home and multidisciplinary teams technical approaches
represented a good inspirational for launching, in 1998, in partnership with the UNHCR, the Project for
Social, Medical, Educational Assistance and Community Development Support to refugees, Asylum Seekers
and Beneficiary of Humanitarian Protection in Moldova. The Project is still implemented in our country,
being annually adjusted (where necessary) as a result of an increasing State Authorities involvement, thus
taking different responsibilities regarding the assistance of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Beneficiary of
Humanitarian Protection.
AVE COPIII Association is a member of APSCF (www.aliantacf.md ) a national network of over 120
NGOs specialized in child and family protection. As part of this network, AVE COPIII promotes childs
rights and compliance with the rights of the child. From 1997 the Association is national correspondent of
International Social Service (http://www.iss-ssi.org ) being committed to protect, defend, and support
children, families, and individuals separated as a consequence of cross border migration.
(*) Problem definition and stakeholder analysis: Description of the specific problems the project aims to
address
Situated in the heart of Europe, the Republic of Moldova is a post-soviet country which has inherited less
appropriate systems to the European democracies. Nevertheless, since the Declaration of Independence,
pronounced on August 27th, 1991, Moldova has experienced by its own a series of developing social,
economical and political mechanisms, being motivated, in the last period, by its firm desire to enter the
European Union.
Having a surface of 33,3 thousand km2 and a population counting little more than 3 million 500 thousand
habitants1, nowadays the Republic of Moldova is still experiencing socio-economical difficulties: poverty2,
populations massive migration to the East and West to find a job and, as effects - trafficking and the
1

The National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova

http://statbank.statistica.md/pxweb/Dialog/view.asp?ma=POP0102_EN&ti=Resident+population+by+Years%2C+Ages%2C+Areas
+and+Sex&path=../quicktables/EN/02%20POP/POP01/&lang=3
2
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which is the share of the population that is multi-dimensionally poor, adjusted by the
intensity of the deprivations, is 0.007. (http://www.undp.md/presscentre/2012/NHDR/2012%20NHDR%20English.pdf )

exploitation of human beings, children left home alone without adults surveillance, familys values and
culture considerable degradation, etc.
Generally, the Social Protection has a new history in the Republic of Moldova, considering that till the90s
it was strictly focused to ensure pensions and allowances, to facilitate the access to residential services for
the old people and to facilitate the access to specialized residential services for the children and adults
with severe disabilities. Child Protection as a State Policy was only focused to ensure protection within a
residential system (i.e. boarding schools), tutor/ family guardianship (a different one that the biological
family) and the adoption. Unfortunately, this approach has developed a culture of a massive children
institutionalization (in the beginning of the 90s there were placed over 14 000 children in the residential
structures), which is still a continuing process.
However, in 2000s the NGOs working in the field of child protection have launched a huge action of lobby
and advocacy concerning public opinion and policies related to residential childcare. As a result, the
Republic of Moldova is in a process of reformation of the system of residential childcare. Thanks to that, in
the period 2007-2012 the number of children in residential institutions has decreased from 11000 to 5000.
Among the NGO leaders in the residential childcare reform is Lumos Foundation that is operating in several
districts, including in Chisinau. Thanks to their commitment to close the residential childcare institutions,
and strong advocacy at the municipal level, as well as involvement in the prevention activities and
promotion of new services for children without parental care, the Municipal Council decided at the end of
school year 2014/2015 to close the boarding school nb. 2 from Chisinau. For a number of 10 adolescents
that are remaining without a family solution after closing the school, Lumos decided to support the
Municipal Directorate for Child Rights Protection (Chisinau) in establishing for them of a Small Group Home
Service in the city. As the construction of the service is far from being finalized, and the risk of reinstitutionalization of those children exist, the Association for Child and Family Empowerment "AVE COPIII"
offers its facilities of the Aschiuta Home to Lumos and Municipal Directorate for Child Rights Protection
to be used as placement for the 10 adolescents leaving care from the boarding school nb. 2.
(*) Target group: Who is the project intended to reach? How many children will be reached by the project?
Ten Children (6 boys and 4 girls, aged between 12 and 15 years) adolescents from boarding school nb. 2
referred by Municipal Directorate for Child Rights protection from Chisinau to the Association AVE Copiii.
Four children are from the city of Chisinau and 6 from the suburbs, including 2 from Stauceni, 2 from
Dobruja, 1 from Bubuieci and 1 from Vatra.
Only 4 of them, including 3 boys and 1 girl have the statute of children without parental care as result of
parents passing (2 cases) and termination of parental rights of single mothers (2 cases). Six children,
including 3 boys and 3 girls, are from families with single parent as result of death of one parent or divorce
of parents.
From 10 children, 7 are with different health problems.
All 10 children were placed in boarding school starting with 1st class. Three of them are in 9, 3 in 8 and 4
in 7 class.
Specialists in problems of the families with children at risk from the Municipal Directorate for Child Rights
protection, Child protection specialists (if will be appointed) and communitarians social assistants from
Mayoralty of Stauceni, Dobruja, Bubuieci and Vatra villages, and school pedagogues from the school that
will host our children. At least 25 such specialists will collaborate with the multidisciplinary team of the

Association AVE Copiii for regular monitoring of the placement, children and parents briefing to the
(re)integration process and other technical aspects related to childhood.
Municipal and district councilors and Mayors of villages of origin of referred children, who will be
sensitized on the need and importance of periodic review of the placement, as well as on the identification
of sustainable solutions for graduates children.
(*) Project objectives: What is the overall objective(s) of the project? What does the project aim to achieve
during the project period?
The overall objective of the project is to ensure the rights of all children in difficult situation, including
victims of abuse and neglect, referred for placement to the Association AVE Copiii to be protected and
cared of in a secure family type environment.
By the end of the project, placed children have minimal skills of self-service, independent life and
have a life project "after leaving the house".
By the end of the project, the staff is offering qualitative individual education and psychosocial
support to all referred children, including young persons whose family (re)integration chances are minimal,
to become independent and organized.
(*) Project partners: the Project is a partnership action implemented by The Association for Child and
Family Empowerment AVE Copiii, the Lumos Foundation and The Municipal Directorate for Child Rights
Protection. A trilateral Partnership Agreement will be signed at the beginning of the Project
implementation period (August 2015). The Agreement will stipulate all partners engagements related to:
creation of the Service of Small Group Home in Chisinau and its financing, provisional protection by
Association AVE Copiii of 10 children leaving care from the boarding school nb. 2 and the financing of this
provisional period, etc.
(*) Activities: Which concrete activities will take place in order to reach the objective(s)? If specific methods
are used or will be developed, please indicate so. Please indicate if the methods are based on any particular
theory or practice. Describe the skills, experiences and/or formal qualifications of the staff that will carry
out the activities.
The main project approaches:
LERNING BY DOING: The project will develop and implement in the project areas a capacity building
technical assistance based on learning by doing approach which will enhance the capacity of local human
resources to manage better the cases of children removed from the family. This is essential in order to
support the institutional development and successful implementation of the project.
The main project actions:
1. Preparation stage & management:
Hiring and training the team;
Housekeeping and arranging spaces based on age of children;
Obtaining operating permits;
Negotiation with the City Council to take over financing since 1 January 2016 until the commissioning
by Lumos of the new construction for the newly created Small Group Home in Chisinau;
Project M&E and Reporting;
2. Psychosocial rehabilitation of children placed at the Association AVE Copiii;
Preparation of children for the placement at AVE Copiii and after the provisional period at Small
Group Home;
Medical assistance and psychological counseling when necessary;
Educational and social inclusion, based on individual activity planning, monitored by the Team;

Children, parents (were exists) and local authorities briefing for the community (re)integration after
the graduation.

3. Field Technical Support based on case by case approach:

Regular visits to the school of referred children, aiming to help teachers in order to better deal with
the school inclusion process;
Monthly technical meetings with social assistance and district child protection specialists;

4. Awareness/Communication activities:
Awareness activities in order to increase prevention, identification, referral and treatment of child
cases removed from the family: publication of different technical information on the Associations
website, and publication of different leaflets with information for local specialists.

The team is composed by a Manager of the service, 8 educators, a cook and a housewife. All staff
members will be trained by Lumos with the participation of the Municipal Directorate for Child Rights
protection and hired by the Association. From January 1st, 2016 the staff will be transferred to the
Municipal Directorate for Child Rights Protection as core-staff of newly created Service of Small Group
Home.
(*) Project Monitoring and evaluation:
M&E strategy will be managed by project team in collaboration with project partners through monitoring
visits to project areas and meetings with project stakeholders. Progress reports will be presented to the
donors.
Sit-reports will be written monthly and will only contain Project statistic indicators. First analytical report
will be elaborated by middle of January 2016 and will cover the first 4 months of implementation. The
following analytical reports will be elaborate each 3 months.
Qualitative methods will be used to measure the achievement of the project outcomes. The process will be
participatory, inclusive and encourage self-assessment. Project stakeholders (beneficiaries, partners and
staff) will actively participate in the ongoing monitoring, review and evaluation of the project.
Children, parents and other stakeholders will be also involved in these processes through discussions,
focus groups and interview.
(*) Child participation: How is the target group involved in planning, implementation and monitoring (feedback of activities and results) of the project?
The project provides two levels of child participation: 1) at general project management, including
planning, implementation and M&E; 2) at Case Management level.
At all levels children are involved troughs various methods: individual discussions, child friendly focus
groups, message boxes, access to phone numbers of educators and manager etc. The process consists from
different stages: information, consultation, analysis and feedback.
(*) Sustainability: What are your strategies to ensure long-term sustainability of the project (both in terms
of funding and long-lasting change for the target group)?
Institutional sustainability
The project aims at building the capacity of local authorities to strengthen the child protection system in
general. The project will enrich their capacities to a better management of the cases of children at risk and
children victims of abuses and neglect, which are leaving care.

The staff that will be hired by the Association AVE Copiii for the implementation of these Project, will be
transferred under the Municipal Directorate for Child Rights protection to be involved as core-staff of the
further Municipal Service of Small Group Home.
Policy sustainability
The project team will work closely with Municipal Directorate for Child Rights Protection and NGOs to
ensure that the best practice achieved at the local level are analyzed, incorporated into municipal policy,
debate and promoted for nationwide replication.
(*) Risks analysis: What internal and external risks may affect the way the project will be able to reach its
objectives?
Weak support and cooperation between different local authorities and partners
Building alliances at local level for the benefit of children, including local NGOs; promoting partnerships in
case management of referred children.
Under funding
Fundraising activities in order to cover needed expenses, as well as awareness activities at municipal level
in order to obtain an increasing of financial standards for some direct expenditures for children.

(*) Costs: (see budget)

The Project budget will be supported by Lumos Foundation, The Association AVE Copiii and the
Municipal Directorate for Child Rights Protection.
(*) Contacts:
Mariana Ianachevici,
Chief Executive Officer
tel.: + 373 (0) 6 910 31 25
e-mail: m.ianachevici@avecopiii.md