A model centre for the elderly was opened in Calfa, Anenii Noi with support from EU and UNDP Moldova
Chisinau, 16 February 2012 - Over 40 lonely or vulnerable elderly or from the village of Calfa, Anenii Noi will now enjoy better living conditions thanks to the Centre for Temporary Placement of Older People which was inaugurated today in the village.
Established with the support of the “Support to Confidence Building Measures” project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP, the Centre is the only social institution of this kind in the security zone. It can provide accommodation facilities similar to family ones such as food, medical care and psycho-social conditions to 25 elderly. About 15 elderly will receive assistance at home with the Centre distributing hot meals, clothing and products of first need. "Out of nearly 1900 inhabitants of the village, about 400 are old, helpless or lonely. Many of them have contributed to their community development, but now live below the poverty line. Therefore, I insisted to open a Centre in Calfa, so that we can provide a decent and quiet retirement, as they deserve", said Ludmila Ceaglic, Mayor of Calfa. She said that this project was possible due to EU and UNDP support which helped rebuild the old building by replacing the aqueduct, heating and sewerage systems, and the electrical networks. Also, the project provided the Centre with all necessary furniture and equipment. The total cost of repair and refurbishment works of the Centre is estimated at about 99 000 394 Euro.
Ludmila Ceaglic also mentioned the intention to expand the Centre to provide opportunities for social rehabilitation to the elderly from the neighboring villages (Roşcani, Hârbovăţ, Gura Bâcului, Speia, Teia şi Grigoriopol). For now, the elderly from these villages will be accommodated or provided assistance for a period of six months, on a rotational basis, to cover a bigger number of beneficiaries.
Attending the opening ceremony, Wolfgang Behrendt, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Moldova, said the Centre for Temporary Placement of Older People is one of the dozens of social institutions created or renovated with EU support in the security zone, including Transnistria. "Through these projects, we aim to improve the living conditions of people in the region, as well as for all people in Moldova. EU plans to continue support similar projects, especially in social, business and environment areas. These projects, aimed at promoting confidence between Chisinau and Tiraspol, will benefit people on both banks of the Nistru River", he said Wolfgang Behrendt.
Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, said at the ceremony that the Centre was established thanks to the mobilization of whole community, local government and donors and that this successful cooperation can be replicated in other localities in the region.
The project “Support to Confidence Building Measures,” aims to address the needs of the communities from the Security Zone, including the Transnistrian region, by increasing the access to basic economic and social services, and to objective and diversified information sources. The project also aims to build confidence between the inhabitants on both sides of the Nistru River and to work for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities, with particular emphasis made on the Transnistrian region and security zone. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.
For more details, please contact:
Victor Munteanu, Project Manager, UNDP Moldova, tel. 260786, e-mail: victor.munteanu@undp.org, Natalia Costas, communication consultant of UNDP Moldova, tel.069221141, e-mail: natalia.costas@undp.org Duhot Hubert, Attaché/Project Manager, EU Delegation, tel . 505210, e-mail: Hubert.DUHOT@eeas.europa.eu
Republic of Moldova 
