They exchanged ideas and experiences to improve the support services they provide. Between September 23–25, 2024, partners from the Alliance of NGOs Active in the Field of Child and Family Social Protection (APSCF) in Moldova carried out an exchange visit to Romania, hosted by the Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations for Social Services (FONSS) in Iași.
The visit, brought together specialists from six partner organizations implementing the project “Integrated Humanitarian Response for Ukrainians Affected by the Conflict and Third-Country Nationals from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova” — AO Alternative Sociale, AO Amici dei Bambini Moldova, AO Information and Documentation Center on Children’s Rights, AO Demos, AO Partnerships for Every Child, and IP Keystone Moldova. The goal was to exchange good practices and strengthen collaboration among organizations involved in humanitarian and social assistance, with a particular focus on supporting Ukrainian citizens affected by the conflict.
Visit to the Nicolina Humanitarian and Social Assistance Center for Refugees, Iași
The first stop was the Nicolina Humanitarian and Social Assistance Center for Refugees (CTR) in Iași, managed by FONSS. The center’s team shared insights into the types of support offered to Ukrainian citizens since the beginning of the conflict, highlighting the adaptability of organizations in managing large-scale humanitarian response.
One of the common challenges identified in both Romania and Moldova is the integration of Ukrainian children into local education systems. While in Romania Romanian language classes have been developed, in Moldova the integration process combines both Romanian and Ukrainian language instruction.
The FONSS team also presented examples of innovative social interventions, such as the development of the Nicolina Center and the RoUa Social Store, both unique in Romania’s social services sector.
Discussions on Social Assistance and EU Funding
During the meeting, discussions focused on comparing the social assistance systems of Romania and Moldova, emphasizing funding mechanisms through European funds and the importance of advocacy achieved through effective collaboration among federative NGO structures. These discussions underlined the need for closer cooperation to maximize the impact of humanitarian and social actions in both countries.
Visit to “Alături de Voi” Foundation Romania (ADV)
Another key component part of the visit was the meeting with the team from “Alături de Voi” Foundation Romania (ADV), known for its work in the field of social enterprises. APSCF members had the opportunity to learn about the challenges and successes experienced by ADV in developing social enterprises — a business model with a strong social impact, and high relevance for Moldova as well.
ADV is recognized at the European level as a resource center connecting Eastern and Western Europe for promoting the social economy.
Visit to the Bucovina Institute for Social Partnership, Suceava
The third organization visited was the Bucovina Institute for Social Partnership in Suceava. Here, the Moldovan team learned about the organization’s initial humanitarian response and its projects supporting sustainable community development in Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova. These efforts include learning partnerships and vocational training programs promoting lifelong education.
Strengthening Cooperation and Future Partnerships
The exchange visit was a valuable opportunity for APSCF and FONSS partners to share knowledge and solutions, strengthening collaboration in the field of humanitarian and social assistance. This exchange laid the groundwork for future partnerships, opening doors to the development of joint projects at the local, national, and regional levels.
This activity is part of the project “Integrated Humanitarian Response for Ukrainians Affected by the Conflict and Third-Country Nationals from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova”, implemented by APSCF and its partners with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office. The project reflects a continued commitment to providing support and developing sustainable solutions to current humanitarian challenges.