Project title: Improved & accessible development and social integration services for refugee children from Ukraine & children from Taraclia.

In partnership with: Terre des Hommes Netherlands

Grant amount: 44 400 €

Project duration: 6 months

Goal: Providing access to improved social services for development, rehabilitation and social integration at the Center for Early Childhood Development for refugee children from Ukraine, for children with autism, with autism spectrum disorder from Taraclia. Providing support for refugee families by providing material assistance and counseling.

To implement the project and achieve the goals, the following financial resources were spent:

• 18.545.00 € - salary for the project implementation team, consisting of: the project director, educators, psychologists, the social assistant and the driver.
• 20.711.00 € - for social packages for beneficiaries. 484 beneficiaries received social packages. There were 419 refugees and 65 families at risk from the Taraclia district.
• 3.459.00 € - were used to equip the Center with 2 tablets, 1 printer-scanner-copier, 1 TV and 1 laptop.
• 1,685.00 € - were used for utilities payments of the Center and administrative expenses.

Financial Report November 2022 to May 2023

Project implementation details

Task 1: By the end of the project, the Center for Early Childhood Development is providing at least 30 children, both refugees from Ukraine and children with special needs from the Taraclia district, with social and educational services, early development and social integration services.

Activity 1a. Collecting information about Ukrainian refugees with children.

At the beginning of the project, the Department for Social Protection provided the list of refugees. Each refugee had the opportunity to have a conversation, to talk about problems, about needs for food and hygiene products. The information about children with disabilities, with autism, with an autism spectrum disorder living in the Taraclia district was collected as well.

Activity 1b. Recruiting a Ukrainian speaking teacher, if possible, from among the refugees within the Center.

One speaking Ukrainian Child Psychologist/Educator from Taraclia was employed at the Center. From among the refugees a teacher was selected to work with older children as a volunteer.

Activity 1c: Identifying the beneficiaries and signing contracts with parents, i.e., obtaining parental consent to work with their children.

In total, there were 101 beneficiary children (52 boys and 49 girls) in the Center. Out of them, 69 were refugees and 32 were residents of Taraclia. 65 parents signed agreements,

1. e., the parental consent to work with their children. Many parents signed consent forms for photographs and videos.

Event 1d: Initial assessment of beneficiaries. Creating individual social and educational development plans for beneficiaries.

The process started by assessing the knowledge and the skills of preschooler beneficiaries and of children with disabilities and their individual social and educational development plans were created. The work continued by assessing schoolchildren's communication skills with peers, their behavior in the society, their work orientation and independent living skills. Based on the results, educational and recreational activities were organized.

Event 1e: Providing free of charge specific individual and group services to beneficiaries, in accordance with Individual Plans.

During the project, individual and group development and socialization services were provided free of charge to the beneficiaries, in accordance with the Individual Plans.

29 children attended individual classes at the Center: 14 children of preschool age, 4 children of school age and 1 child with disabilities from among refugees, 10 local children with disabilities. During the project, after determining the level of children's development, classes were conducted according to the Individual Development Plans. Subsequently, 2 knowledge monitorings were carried out for each child in order to assess the quality of the services provided and the development dynamics. After analyzing the data, it was determined that all children showed a positive mental development trend. 507 individual lessons were provided.

28 children attended group classes: 26 of them were refugees, 2 local children received psychological services (brain building, memory improvement, development of attention, imagination and emotions), development of communication skills with peers and formation of social behavior skills. The children were divided into groups by age and the classes were conducted according to the Individual Development Plans. The groups included both refugees and local children. This gave them the opportunity to get to know each other and make friends. The monitoring showed a positive trend in the development of all children. 238 group lessons were provided.

34 children participated in entertainment and educational activities: 26 refugee schoolchildren (1 child with disabilities) and 8 local children went on a city break in Taraclia, visited a bakery, went to the theater and to a concert, went to the celebration of the New Year, March 8. Drawing competitions, master classes in drawing and crafting, origami, applications, and entertainment events for the children at the Center were organized as well. In the process of activities, the skills of communication with peers, behavior in society, work orientation and independent living skills were developed.

26 events were organized.

41 pupils received psychological support by phone. The psychologist and the educators of the Center have held 238 telephone conversations. Children shared their problems, their fears, their experiences, their joys. Parents were given recommendations on providing psychological support to their children, depending on the problem of the child.

A survey on the subject of satisfaction with the services was conducted among the parents. Everyone noted that they were highly satisfied. The only wish was to expand the Center so that there would be a large hall for events and to create several additional rooms.

Activity 1.f.: Monitoring the beneficiaries' development process. Final assessment.

Two knowledge monitorings for each child were carried out to assess the quality of the services provided and the development dynamics. After analyzing the data, it was determined that all children showed a positive trend in mental development.

Task 2: By the end of the project, at least 400 low-income refugees and 60 vulnerable Moldovan families from the Taraclia district settlements will receive material assistance in the form of food and hygiene packages

Activity 2a. Providing material assistance to refugees in the form of food and hygiene kits. The required amount of goods for social packages was determined based on beneficiaries' needs. A tender was announced. Out of the 3 organizations selling food products, it was the Alimer Comert Ltd which requested the lowest price for one and the same quality of goods. Out of the 3 organizations selling hygiene products, it was the Vion Impex LLC company which requested the lowest price for one and the same quality of goods. Contracts were signed with these firms. Social packages were formed according to individual needs for food and hygiene products. The food packages included: cereals, flour, canned fish and meat, vegetable oil, pasta, sugar, condensed milk, cookies and a New Year gift for children. Hygiene packages included: toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, washing powder, soap, toilet paper, pads (for girls and women), diapers, wet wipes and school supplies. 484 beneficiaries received social packages. Out of these 419 were refugees and 65 were residents of the Taraclia district. 2 refugees refused their social packages and 32 refugees left for the European Union countries. All the beneficiaries who received the packages were very satisfied to get what they wanted and stated that all the goods were of high quality.

Task 3. At least 50 parents/legal representatives/guardians of beneficiaries receive psychological assistance and counseling when their children are taught personal development skills at home.

Event 3a. Consulting families on care, social inclusion, respect for children's rights, non-discrimination, exploitation, abuse and recovery of children with autism, ASD, genetic diseases and developmental delay

101 parents/legal guardians/guardians of beneficiaries received 1,055 consultations on care, social inclusion, respect for children's rights, non-discrimination, exploitation, domestic abuse, care for children with autism, ASD, genetic diseases, developmental delays at home and correct nutrition. They also received psychological help.

227 representatives of families were consulted on the topic of the legislation of the Republic of Moldova in the field of financial and material assistance to refugees by social protection authorities, migration to other countries.

Task 4: At least 20 children with developmental disabilities will receive home development services.

Event 4a. The expert group will conduct home visits to children with developmental disabilities.

27 pre-school refugee children received early development services at home. All of them are from the settlements of the Taraclia district. A pediatrie psychologist and educators made home visits to refugee families with children and families with children with developmental disabilities. They entered into agreements with parents, talked with children to determine their level of mental development, worked with them, handed over tasks for children to parents so that they would study until the next visit. Parents were very grateful because they did not have the opportunity to leave the villages and travel to the Taraclia city to visit the "Zolotoy Kluchik" Center. 197 classes were held at home.

Challenges faced during project implementation.

1. Refugees migration within the district, within country, to other states.
2. The outflow of some refugees and the influx of others.
3. Passivity on the part of parents and on the part of older children.

The project viability

The Center is currently using new equipment to work with children. The Center continues to work in better conditions, classes are more varied and interesting, which leads to better results within children' s development. Parents receive guidelines and materials for working with children at home.

Gratitude. On behalf of the AO PRIMA team and of the "Zolotoy Kluchik" Center, we express our deep gratitude to the Terre des Hommes Netherlands for the grant provided and the opportunity to assist the beneficiaries when facing difficult times. On behalf of the beneficiaries of the project, we convey recognition and gratitude to the Terre des Hommes Netherlands for the assistance provided. Parents are grateful to the Terre des Hommes Netherlands and the "Zolotoy Kluchik" Center for high-quality, daily and free of charge child development services, for consultations, for the moral and the material support that were provided to them within the framework of the project.