On February 19, 2026, Caritas Moldova officially launched the project "Strengthening Child Protection in Disaster Situations" an initiative dedicated to integrating child protection into national and local mechanisms for emergency prevention, preparedness, and response.
The launch was attended by:
- Aleco Sandu, Deputy Head of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, who emphasized the importance of integrating child protection into disaster response and preparedness plans.
- Viorica Negrei, manager of the general education department of the Ministry of Education and Research, who highlighted the essential role of schools in education for prevention and the formation of a culture of safety among children.
The event was also attended by representatives of civil society, development partners, and specialists involved in disaster risk reduction and child protection.
Why is this project necessary?
Disasters can lead to:
- disruption of education,
- family separation,
- stress and psychological trauma,
- increased risks of abuse and maltreatment.
Although progress has been made in recent years in reducing disaster risks, child protection is not yet sufficiently integrated into all prevention and response mechanisms. The project launched by Caritas Moldova addresses this gap through a systemic and coordinated approach.
What does the project aim to achieve?
-
developing a child-centered national Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Toolkit,
- training teachers and social protection specialists,
- strengthening the capacity of mobile teams for rapid response in vulnerable communities,
- organizing educational activities and simulations in schools,
- supporting vulnerable families in developing livelihoods that are resilient to climate change.
Through this initiative, Caritas Moldova is helping to build a culture of prevention and responsibility, in which children are not just beneficiaries of interventions, but become an active part of the process of increasing community safety.
See HERE how it was.
The project "Strengthening child protection in disaster situations" is implemented by Caritas Moldova in partnership with SOS Children's Villages.