Keystone Human Services International Moldova Association (KHSIMA) Bridge Funding During the Global Economic Crisis

October 2010 – present

Funded by the Soros Foundation – Moldova

Since the Community for All-Moldova program began, children with disabilities have been supported to join their communities. They have left the institution at Orhei to rejoin their families and now receive support from at least one of the newly developed community-based services. More children have been able to stay in their own homes with their families rather than be placed in an institution. Some children have even been supported to attend their community’s regular school.

The Community for All-Moldova program has had much success since its inception, but the global economic crisis is threatening to set back many of those gains. With bridge funding from the Soros Foundation - Moldova, the program will be able to support 136 more children and young people to leave the institution at Orhei and return to their families and the community. It will also preserve the existing community-based services to support the children who have rejoined the community from the institutions and those who are at risk of institutionalization. These services include community homes for children and adults, supported living services, support services for children reintegrated with their biological families, and foster care and shared living services.

Not only will the bridge funding sustain existing services, but it will allow the Community for All-Moldova program team to continue to develop other needed services, such as mobile teams and respite care. With these community-based services in place, families will receive enhanced support and care for children with disabilities so they can remain in their own homes, thus preventing more children from being segregated in an institution.

In addition, this initiative will assist people at risk of financial difficulties during the economic crisis. As community-based services are sustained and implemented, 200-250 new jobs will be created for both individuals and reputable Moldavian nongovernmental organizations working in the field of disability, rehabilitation, education, children and family services, and other related social services. This initiative will increase other NGOs’ capacity to support children with disabilities, strengthening them for the future.

As the Community for All-Moldova program continues through the global economic crisis, we move closer to an inclusive society in which children and adults are accepted into the community and receive the supports they need to be fully participating members.

Learn more about Community for All-Moldova