Republic of Moldova

Causeni Maternal Centre Celebrates its First Year fnd Opens New Centre

Causeni, March 27, 2008 – The “Pro-Familia” Maternal Centre celebrated its first anniversary today.  During its first year, the center helped 30 women and 36 children overcome crisis situations by providing accommodation, medical assistance and psychosocial counseling.  After an active first year, Pro-Familia is now opening a new center for women from the left side of the Nistru river.

Kori Udovički, UN Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Administrator of UNDP and Regional Director for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as well as Government officials and representatives of international organizations participated in the celebration and inauguration ceremony.

The Pro-Familia Maternal Centre provides women with living conditions similar to a family home and seeks to preserve and strengthen the mother and child relationship. During their stay, women are provided legal assistance, life skills development, vocational training, and employment assistance opportunities.  In addition, professional social workers are on hand to support the women as they transition back into society.

The new Pro-Familia Centre will offer protection and psycho-social assistance to women from disadvantaged families from the left side of the Nistru river.  These women will be provided assistance for three to six months, with a possibility to extend up to one year.

Pro-Familia is managed by the Association of Psychologists ”Tighina” and is a component of the “Better Opportunities for Women and Youth” project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova and funded by the U.S. government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Pro-Familia Centre is one of the nine social reintegration institutions launched under the “Better Opportunities for Women and Youth” project.  In addition to Maternal Centers, the project has established Social Reintegration Centers for Youth to prepare new boarding schools graduates for independent living.  The project has opened three Maternal Centres in Causeni, Drochia and Cahul and six reintegration Centres for Youth in the following communities: Ungheni, Soroca, Carpineni (Hincesti), Edinet and Calarasi. More than 600 young people have benefited from the services provided by the centres since they were established during 2006-2007.

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For contact: Doru Ciocanu, Communications Consultant, tel. 294 771; GSM: 0 691 07 143; e-mail: dciocanu@yahoo.com and/or Ludmila Tiganu, tel. 22 00 45, ext. 112, GSM: 0691 67710.

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to provide a better future for all. The Better Opportunities for Youth and Women Project in Moldova is part of President Bush’s world-wide $50 million Anti-Trafficking Initiative.