January 11, 2023
News
In November 2022, Caritas Czech Republic celebrated 5 years of work through our local office in Moldova. Although our engagement in the Republic of Moldova started as early as 2004, by carrying out various initiatives with the help of local partners, the Caritas Czech Republic country office in Moldova was inaugurated in November 2017. Since then our local team has supported thousands of vulnerable people and established important partnerships with state institutions as well as civil society organizations.
What has Caritas Czech Republic achieved in the past 5 years in Moldova
Our office in Moldova was opened in November 2017 under the name of Pro-Development Association. This step enhanced the efficiency of our interventions and facilitated our cooperation with local partners.
Since the beginning of our work in Moldova, we have focused on various areas, such as the development of health and social services, including the use of telemedicine, civic activism, community participation, and effective waste management. Last year, we also tailored our activities to deal with the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and provided immediate humanitarian assistance to refugees from Ukraine.
Caritas Czech Republic projects aim to bring positive change and dignity to the lives of the ordinary people, to increase the professionalism of specialists in various fields and to modernize and adjust local legislation to European standards.
Achievements of Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova:
- Opening of 11 health and social care centres throughout the country
- Providing health and social care to more than 20,000 vulnerable people
- Training more than 7000 socio-medical and educational specialists
- Establishing long-term cooperation with the Moldovan Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection
- Initiating and implementing legislation in the field of home care and telemedicine
- Providing support to 15,000 refugees from Ukraine
- Equipping the shelters housing refugees and providing financial support to refugees to cover their basic needs
With the support of donors and international partners, Caritas Czech Republic has invested over €12 million in the 34 projects it has carried out or is still working on in the Republic of Moldova.
Anniversary thoughts and future plans
"The first 5 years are just the beginning, but they are testing years that have proven our dedication to what we do, our strength to move forward when we overcome obstacles as a team. We have successfully passed the test because we had the support and trust of our donors and partners and we had a team equipped with determination, courage and dedication. Thank you all for your contributions over the past 5 years. It's time to move on to the next years that will bring change in Moldova," says Vasile Vasiliev, country director in Caritas Czech Republic.
"We are celebrating the first 5 years of local work in Moldova and our direct involvement, but we are already thinking about the next 5 years and the next people we will help to live in dignity. We are grateful to these people who welcome us into their homes and share with us their hopes, their dreams, but also their loneliness and sadness," adds Anastasia Vasiliev, Caritas Czech Republic Programs Manager.
"All these years we have been working with the ordinary people of Moldova in mind, but also with those who can make their lives better and more dignified. That's why we have focused on giving specialists from various fields access to expertise, resources and best practices to help them do their job better,” says Galina Bujor, project manager in the medico-social field.
Our commitment for the next years of activity in the Republic of Moldova remains the same: to help people in need, to intervene in humanitarian crises and to assist in the development of health and social services, including the use of modern technology.
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Caritas Czech Republic is one of the oldest non-profit organisations in the Czech Republic and is a pioneer of systemic social and medical assistance. Since 1995, Caritas Czech Republic has been a member of Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis. Besides carrying out numerous projects domestically, Caritas Czech Republic is also working in emergency aid in many developing countries.
