Donor: The PESTALOZZI Children’s Foundation in Switzerland

Implementation Period: June 15, 2025 – December 31, 2026

The project targets 7 localities in the Republic of Moldova: Chișinău, Cimișlia, Criuleni, Dondușeni, Comrat, Vulcănești, and Ceadîr-Lunga.

Project objective: To facilitate access to quality, inclusive, and empathetic education for refugee children from Ukraine, while also contributing to their integration into host communities.

Specific objectives:

  • Strengthening equitable and inclusive education for refugee children by promoting relevant learning materials and training teachers;
  • Improving institutional collaboration and local policies to support the social and educational integration of refugee children into the communities where they live.

Project beneficiaries: 600 Ukrainian refugee children (girls and boys); 360 peers from host communities; 450 parents of refugee children; 200 parents of peers from host communities; 40 members of the educational staff (educators, psychologists, teachers from schools and community centers); 50 members of local intersectoral teams (DE, APL, TASA, CRAP).

To address the complex needs of refugee children, the project includes a series of concrete activities, among which:

  • Romanian language courses at Digital Hubs to facilitate integration into the national education system and participation in community activities (for children studying online and those enrolled in schools);
  • Organization of 3 multicultural activities and community events for refugees and host families;
  • Training of educators and psychologists at Digital Hubs (on the ICE, Peaceful Life, Sports and Recreation, and psychosocial support extracurricular programs);
  • Implementation of extracurricular educational programs: “ICE and Peaceful Life” and “Sports and Recreation,” to encourage inclusion, trust, and socialization;
  • Individual psychosocial support and psychopedagogical support for building resilience, overcoming trauma (including gender-based violence), and adapting to the educational process.
  • Remedial lessons in core subjects (for refugee children enrolled in national schools) to reduce learning gaps caused by previous interruptions in education.
  • Development and implementation of materials for the afterschool program, aligned with the Ukrainian curriculum, for children learning online. The focus is on the mother tongue, mathematics, and science, and the materials include teacher guides and workbooks for students.
  • Inclusive summer camps featuring educational and social activities for refugees and their peers from host communities.
  • Training for teachers and psychologists on inclusive education (CCA), child protection, psychosocial support, prevention of gender-based violence, and initial psycho-pedagogical assessment.
  • Material support: distribution of school supplies, backpacks, and other materials tailored to the individual needs of refugee children.

To ensure the sustainability of interventions and the effective integration of children into communities, the project also provides direct support to local authorities and educational institutions:

  • Support for the development and implementation of institutional policies in 7 schools and 7 community centers, with a focus on gender inclusion and child protection (including GBV prevention).
  • Training for representatives of local institutions (local public administration, Department of Education, Regional Council for Public Administration, TASA, schools, community centers) on updated educational and social policies, refugee integration, and case management;
  • Development and implementation of a monitoring mechanism to track the educational progress of refugee children (especially those learning online), with identification of children at risk;
  • Informational brochure for refugee parents (in Ukrainian and Russian) regarding school enrollment and available legal, psychosocial, educational, and medical support;
  • 3 information sessions for refugee parents (including Roma, vulnerable families, and single mothers) on the value of education, the risks of early marriage, available services, and the sharing of parental responsibilities;
  • Ensuring effective case management for each refugee child (in collaboration with parents), which includes school enrollment, psycho-pedagogical assessment, consistent attendance, and full integration.

Expected project outcomes:

  • 960 children (480 girls, 480 boys) will participate in educational and support activities.
  • 95% of them (912 children) will improve their academic, social-emotional, and resilience skills. 600 refugee children will receive educational kits.
  • 650 parents will benefit from information sessions and community activities (450 refugees, 200 locals).
  • 40 teachers and psychologists will be trained in inclusive education, psychosocial support, child protection, and GESI.
  • 28 local policy documents will be developed and approved.
  • A mechanism for monitoring academic progress will be implemented.
  • 30 case management cases for the integration of refugee children into school.