Russian military aggression against Ukraine, has led to a massive exodus of the native population from Ukraine. Around 100,000 people from Ukraine have found refuge in Moldova and have had to adapt to new realities and integrate into our society.
Since the outbreak of the war, the members of the APSCF have been in solidarity and actively involved in helping refugees. They regularly receive essential humanitarian assistance, psychological counselling and other services. However, not all of them manage to overcome the harsh impact of the reality in their country and fully integrate into the host society. Moreover, some host communities are not prepared to facilitate the integration process of newcomers.
In order to support both local communities and refugees in building trusting relationships and forming social cohesion, APSCF, from July to September 2023, is organising a 2-round training course. The first one-day training took place on 20 July 2023 in a hybrid format, giving participants the opportunity to be physically present in the room or to connect online. The event was attended by 43 people, including representatives of APSCF member and partner organisations, as well as members of the Social Welfare Directorates of Falesti, Edinet, Stefan Voda, Cantemir and Chisinau.
Nicoletta Canter Greb, the seminar’s trainer, explained the concept of social cohesion and its importance for the healthy functioning and stability of society. Together with the participants she explored and analysed the factors that influence social cohesion; the consequences and risks at micro and macro level of a decrease in the level of social cohesion. In practical exercises, workshop participants developed psycho-social profiles of refugees and migrants.
Part of the training course organised by APSCF was also a counselling and mentoring session, held online on 25 July. The aim of this session was to develop ideas for social cohesion activities that can be implemented at local level, contributing to a positive impact on social cohesion between refugees and host communities.
The participants were very interested in the two events and came up with several ideas for social cohesion activities, such as: organizing gatherings with the presentation of local customs and traditions in Moldova and Ukraine; holding social theatres in Romanian and Ukrainian languages; organizing trips to Soroca Fortress and monasteries, etc. After the second round of training, APSCF plans to fund the five most original and effective micro-projects for social cohesion at the local level.
The events are organised in the framework of the project “Strengthening Cohesion between Ukrainian Refugees and Host Communities in the Republic of Moldova”, financially supported by Caritas Austria.