Social centre for street children inaugurated in Moldovan capital

Chisinau, 15 February /MOLDPRES/ - A social centre of assistance for street children was inaugurated in the Moldovan capital today.  

Attending the opening event was the acting general mayor of Chisinau, Ruslan Codreanu. He stressed that the new structure would work subordinated to the municipal department for the protection of child’s rights and implied providing assistance to children discovered to be at risk.  

„It is about children subjected to violence, ignored, those practicing vagrancy and begging, children fleeing the home or those who live in street. The service implies the providing of assistance through activities of informing, carried out by specialists directly in street and here at the centre. There is a problem with the street children in the city. This centre is a solution to offer comfort and safety to children at risk. They can come here and can benefit from every support, so that they feel in safety and protected, no matter whether they are from Chisinau or other districts of the country,” Codreanu said.    

For his part, the head of the municipal department for the protection of child’s rights, Lucia Caciuc, noted that the centre had sports hall, rest room, sanitary unit and kitchen. “Some assets of the centre were donated. The centre will be opened starting from 8:00 till 24:00. More psychologists and social assistants will work here. In continuation, we are set to develop the services provided. Presently, ten children with ages up to 16 years are cared by the department and the centre’s capacity is 15 children. We thank those who contributed to the creation of this centre, which will decrease the number of street children. We hope that it will be an oasis of light for children, where they will benefit from a protected environment. Children know about this centre, as we inform them when we find them in street,” Caciuc added.   

Attending the event was also the Ombudswoman for the protection of the rights of the child, Maria Banarescu. “This centre is a very important achievement for the entire society. Street children quite often come to Chisinau, as they have a greater  freedom here. This centre is a premiere for Moldova. The child should know that he is waited somewhere, that he/she can do a bit more than in street, especially as there are so many possibilities here. I am sure that the care and love will change  things for these children,” Banarescu said.        

The inaugurated centre is on the Miron Costin Street 19/1 from the Rascani district of the Moldovan capital. The works of the centre’s repair cost 390,000 lei – allocated from the municipal budget. At the same time, financial resources are earmarked for maintenance and staff expenses. Fifteen people will work at the centre, of whom six are already employed.