STEP FORWARD: Empowering communities through socio-economic support

It is solidarity that makes us resilient in the face of challenges. Since our founding, we have made it our mission at People in Need (PIN) to provide aid and assistance to people suffering from crises, exclusion, and restricted access to human rights.

Since February 2022, our team in Moldova has supported the integration of Ukrainian refugees into Moldovan communities.

"In these difficult times, we have understood that the integration of Ukrainians into Moldovan society is the foundation for the future development of both Ukrainian and Moldovan refugees,"

explained Guillermo Llinás, Country Director, People in Need Moldova.

In 2023, we launched the socio-economic empowerment initiative for both Ukrainians and Moldovans in host communities. Thanks to the project: 'Ensuring dignity and resilience of vulnerable communities through socio-economic empowerment,' 224 people benefitted from our support. This project was funded from our SOS Ukraine resources, which is built on direct donations from the Czech people,

55 people have obtained entrepreneurial development courses, and 77 have obtained qualifications and certifications through professional training. 50 have been employed after qualifying, while 49 received micro-grants to start businesses in their community.

"Within the project, we provided support for training in various fields and acquiring new professions. Upon completion, we helped participants integrate into the labour market or start businesses,"

Arcadie Zastavnetchi, project manager told us.

"The PIN team helped me find the right courses to develop my skills and obtain an international diploma. Today, I already have the opportunity to display my work at exhibitions, so more and more people can learn about me,"

Natalia Promitna, a sculptor, told us.

At the "Step Forward: Empowering Communities through Socio-Economic Support" event in Balti, we met 200 participants eager to acquire new knowledge. We thank our speakers who made this event a success: representatives of the National Congress of Ukrainians of Moldova, the Organisation for Entrepreneurship Development, the business consulting company - One Note, the Institute of Technology and Career Development (ITDC) and the EcoRep Moldova Association.