May 13, 2026
News
In Moldova, we have long been engaged in social services and healthcare. Recently, with support from Czech Development Agency, we completed a three-year programme to strengthen home care services nationwide. Our goal was to improve the quality of life for older people and individuals in vulnerable situations. In cooperation with the organisation AO Homecare, we supported seniors at five social and healthcare service centres. We also trained local professionals.
Intergenerational club and occupational therapy
In five social and healthcare service centres across Moldova, we established intergenerational clubs that brought together seniors, young people, volunteers, and other community members. They spent time together, played games, and learned from one another. Older participants could share stories, pass on their life wisdom, or simply teach others how to knit. At the same time, they could draw inspiration from the energy and fresh perspectives of the younger generation. The programme fostered mutual empathy and respect between generations. Seniors, who often struggle with loneliness, became more active, open, and socially engaged.
Photo: Intergenerational clubs
In these five centres, we also expanded occupational therapy services, which help individuals regain or maintain their independence and ability to perform everyday activities. This form of therapy is intended for people of all age groups who experience physical, emotional, or cognitive difficulties that limit their ability to manage daily tasks.
Photo: Ergotherapy
In 2025 alone, the centres provided a total of 3,354 occupational therapy services and organised 35 intergenerational club meetings. More than 1,375 people benefited from our support. Among them was Zinovia, who lost her husband several years ago, and whose daughters no longer live in Moldova. “I have cataracts, which make it difficult for me to see. My memory is not what it used to be, either. It’s not only about physical health – loneliness is just as hard for a person,” she explains.
Support for professionals
Caritas Czech Republic also supported local home care professionals, service managers, and representatives of public authorities. We organised trainings and sessions focused on capacity building.
Photo: Sessions for professionals
“If we want to have quality social services for all, it is important to have well-trained people. A well-trained professional will help an organisation to be financially sustainable, and this will enable the organisation to continue to support the communities it serves,” says Mariana Novac, the project manager of Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova.
Through this three-year project, we also strengthened public institutions in developing home care services and in preparing effective rules and mechanisms for the future. Close cooperation between authorities, non-governmental organisations, and service providers is essential to ensure that these changes are not temporary but sustainable.
Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova
We have operated in Moldova since 2004. We established 11 home care centres in total. In the past, we also supported telemedicine services.
At the moment, we are focusing on improving hygiene and sanitation conditions in Moldovan schools, where we are carrying out renovations of sanitary facilities and organising workshops for children, parents, and teachers.
Last year, we finished the installation of a unique rainwater harvesting system in a kindergarten in the small village of Bilicenii Vechi. The system, which now serves 135 children and the entire local staff, can capture, filter, and store rainwater.
