Caritas Moldova, with financial support from the organization Kindernothilfe, is implementing the project “SMARTER – A Safe Moldova for All Refugee and Vulnerable Children Through Education and Resilience,” an initiative dedicated to the protection, education, and resilience of refugee children and those from vulnerable communities.

The project is being implemented in 8 public schools in the districts of Căușeni, Ștefan Vodă, and the municipality of Chișinău:

• “Veaceslav Harnaj” Secondary School, Baimaclia village, Căușeni district
• “Ștefan cel Mare” Secondary School, Taraclia village, Căușeni district
• “Grigore Vieru” Primary School, Ștefan Vodă
• “Dimitrie Cantemir” Russian Gymnasium, Ștefan Vodă
• “Mitrofan Ciobanu” Gymnasium, Copceac village, Ștefan Vodă district
• Gymnasium in Popeasca village, Ștefan Vodă district
• IP “Taras Shevchenko” Secondary School No. 8, Chișinău
• IP “Matei Basarab” Language School, Chișinău

How do we transform the community through SMARTER?
We invest in the future by acting in three main directions:

• Safe spaces for learning and recreation: We create and strengthen 8 Multifunctional Centers/safe spaces within partner schools, where 800 children and adolescents benefit from a welcoming space for educational and recreational activities, support with homework and thematic projects, etc.
• Support for Professionals and Caregivers: We believe that every child is safe when the adults around them are well-trained. That is why we organize training sessions for at least 200 professionals (teachers, school psychologists, etc.) and caregivers, covering topics such as: children’s rights, safeguarding and child protection mechanisms, working with children with special needs, the inclusion of refugee children, and stress management. 
• A stronger organization for people: We are developing the institutional capacity of the Caritas Moldova team to ensure the sustainability of our interventions. Through modern fundraising strategies and social innovation, we ensure that the support provided to the community remains predictable, professional, and long-lasting.

Duration: January – December 2026