CRS Work in Moldova
Plagued by poverty and unemployment, many people in Moldova are struggling to build a life for themselves. Without jobs skills or safe job opportunities, Moldovans—particularly youth—may be vulnerable to labor abuses or even human trafficking. Catholic Relief Services works in a variety of ways to offer Moldovans a chance for a better life.
Rural Poverty Reduction
In Moldova, poor people in the countryside have little access to jobs. By partnering with private businesses, CRS creates thousands of new jobs—100 new jobs in each village where we work—offering a reliable year-round salary for people who had no employment before. The employees who benefit from each village project contribute a percentage of their salaries (matched by their employers) toward projects that will improve their communities, such as a new well, road or day care center. Or they may contribute to activities to reduce domestic violence and alcoholism or promote women's rights. CRS provides a way for people in rural areas to earn money, make changes in their communities and have a better life free of poverty.
Prevention of Human Trafficking
CRS prevents human trafficking by addressing the root cause—poverty—and by raising awareness among rural young women about how to make safe life choices. On average, 70 percent of rural Moldovan women in high school plan to leave their village upon graduation, but very few have any idea of what they will do once they leave. In partnership with local and national nongovernmental organizations, CRS teaches these young women about how to find a job, manage their finances and avoid dangerous situations. These educational and awareness programs are combined with CRS' job creation and poverty reduction programs, providing an alternative to young women who choose not to go abroad.
Parish-Based Social Programs
CRS works to improve local churches' ability to provide for the poor and vulnerable in their communities. In the past, CRS has supported a youth workshop for street children in Transnistria, an annual Catholic youth camp and the development of two centers for parish activities. Now, CRS helps Caritas Moldova and the Diocese of Chisinau to encourage volunteerism in the parishes, which in turn feeds into projects such as language lessons, a community choir or assistance to the elderly as a means of improving community life.
HIV and AIDS Prevention
CRS helps parents and youth learn about the realities of HIV transmission and change their behavior. By providing after-school training for youth, workshops to help parents communicate with their children about healthy behavior, and small grant projects, CRS helps parents and youth create a safe and supportive environment in which HIV can be prevented and stigma for people living with HIV is reduced.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Many companies today recognize that in order to be effective in business, they must also give back to their communities. CRS in Moldova provides a way for businesses to engage in corporate social responsibility, creating thousands of jobs in remote villages and improving the quality of life for employees. CRS assists partnering businesses to expand their operation in rural areas, creating jobs where none existed before. Partnering businesses also undergo social accountability auditing to ensure their commitment to human rights in the workplace. By partnering with CRS, businesses in Moldova are able to make a profit, while people living and working in rural areas have a better life.
Women's Empowerment
More than 70 percent of young Moldovan women in high school plan to leave their village after graduation, yet few of them have any guidance on how to build and manage their lives. Many older women in villages have been left behind when their husbands seek work abroad, leaving them in a state of idleness and dependency as they wait for their husbands to return. These factors make women in Moldova vulnerable to trafficking, domestic violence and a sense of hopelessness that comes with not having control over their own lives. CRS partners with local teachers and nongovernmental organizations in Moldovan villages to help women evaluate their lives—their resources, skills and possibilities—and identify and strengthen areas that need improvement. Women learn how to earn and manage money, build supportive social networks, and avoid dangerous situations.
