Republic of Moldova

A new Social reintegration centre for youth was opened in Telenesti

Chişinău, 8 October 2009 – Orphaned or deprived of family care Graduates of boarding schools, will be able to benefit of a temporary home thanks to a new social reintegration centre for youth inaugurated today in Telenesti. Along with hosting services, close to family conditions, the Centre will offer to these young people psycho-social consultancy, development of independent living skills, activities of mediation and facilitation of access to employment, financial and material support towards their socio-economic and professional integration.

Social reintegration centre for youth from Telenesti was inaugurated under the project "Better Opportunities for Youth and Women" implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Moldova with the support of the Romanian Government. The Centre from Telenesti can offer accommodation for 8 people simultaneously, but other young people from the region, which don’t have problems with accommodation, but faces a difficult social situation could benefit as well from Centre services. Annually, the institution will provide assistance for approximately 200 vulnerable young people.

"This centre represents a successful partnership between UNDP Moldova, the Romanian Government, as well as local authorities and civil society, a partnership that guarantee the sustainability of the Centre which was opened today. By assistance given to these young people we contribute, in fact, to the prosperity of entire communities to which they belong. I belief that the services offered here are of critical importance for the future of Moldova and we will do our best for further development of this project", said Louisa Vinton, Senior Portfolio Manager, UNDP Bureau for Europe and CIS (NY), at the ceremony of inauguration of the Telenesti Centre.

Social reintegration centre for youth from Telenesti is the tenth centre opened in Moldova under the project "Better Opportunities for Youth and Women", implemented by UNDP Moldova with the support of the United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development. Through these 10 centres, the project aims to reduce the number of vulnerable persons at risk of being socially marginalized, physically and mentally abused or exploited. In addition to the Social reintegration centre for youth, the project ensure the activity of maternal Centres, that offer accommodation, medical assistance and psychosocial consultancy for mothers with children and pregnant women in situations of risk or crisis. The Project launched maternal Centres in Causeni, Drochia and Cahul and social rehabilitation centres for young people in 6 locations: Ungheni, Soroca, Carpineni (Hancesti) Edinet, Calarasi and Telenesti. Centres are located in buildings owned by local public administration and are managed by local NGOs in cooperation with local public administration and other social actors.

So far, from the Social reintegration centres services have benefited more than 5 thousand 400 socially vulnerable people, including 1716 young people who were professionally trained and 1252 were employed. With project support there were created 8 social enterprises, and in collaboration with the private sector were created over 400 jobs. Also there have been established partnership relations with over 60 private sector enterprises that provide employment to project beneficiaries.

For contact: Viorel Albu, Project manager, tel. + (373 22) 29 47 71; e-mail: viorel.albu@undp.org or Natalia Costas, communications consultant, tel. 069221141, E-mail:natalia.costas@un.md

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