Moldova Supporting the authorities to protect children at the local level

6 Nov 2007 |

Angela Ciobanu, 37, is the national coordinator for community based actions of FACT project in Moldova. She is a medical doctor, with a master in public health, working with Terre des hommes since March 2006. Angela Ciobanu is in charge of the implementation of the activities based at community level with the local authorities within the three regions where Tdh intervene to protect children at risk.

More than 1400 children have benefitted from activities of FACT project since its beginning; can you describe what kind of activities? (…)

Angela Ciobanu: It’s ranging from outdoor activities to building capacity activities. They also implemented psychosocial games, in order to develop the self-esteem of the children, communication… They also organise social theatre, puppet theatre… and other different activities…

We often talk about 'children at risk' within the project implementation framework, what kind of risks has been identified today in Moldova regarding these children?

Angela Ciobanu: It’s different kind of risks! The children are at risk of abandonment by their parents that are linked to this immigration. There is also neglect of children by their parents, physical abuse by parents and emotional abuse. And also the risk of the phenomenon of the exploitation of the children at the community level.

The Project is implemented in 43 municipalities in 3 regions of Moldova, what is the role played by the local authorities within this project?

Angela Ciobanu: The local authorities created the local councils of child rights protection. These councils are implementing the protection system at the local level. They are not so developed and they didn’t know so well how to implement the protection system at the local level. And FACT is supporting them in organising the activities and in implementing the case management at the local level.