The first home-based childcare services will be opened with the support of the International Labour Organization and Street Child Moldova, in partnership with AFAM

Previously, 27 individuals participated in training workshops last year on providing this alternative childcare service. The ceremony for awarding participation diplomas in the training workshops, as well as the grants for the best business plans, took place on the 16th of February, in the presence of national authorities and international partners. This action is part of the support provided by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in implementing the National Program for alternative childcare services for children up to 3 years old, organized in partnership with the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Moldova (AFAM) and Street Child Moldova, within the framework of the ILO-SIDA Global Partnership.

"The percentage of children aged up to  3 years enrolled in preschool care institutions is relatively low in Moldova and will require substantial investment and innovative strategies are needed to achieve the EU Barcelona objectives of 45% by 2030. And that is why we are here today. For the International Labour Organization, it is equally important to promote decent working conditions for care workers, as they represent 11.5% of total global employment," noted Claire Harasty, Director DWT/CO-Budapest, International Labour Organization.

Home-based childcare services  is a new type of service regulated by Law no. 367/2022 on alternative childcare services.

"I am very pleased that we have finally begun to implement such an important law. For many years, we have been talking about the lack of access to childcare services. The fact that we have a labor shortage and a large number of mothers who would like to work and balance personal and professional life drives us to take action. It took a long time to launch this process, but today, with the support of our partners, we are reaping the first fruits," said Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection.

A maximum of 5 children are admitted to the daycare service. If a child under the age of one or a child with special needs is included in the group, then the group size is reduced to 3 children.

"This is a great opportunity for small communities where we do not have such institutions, but also for large municipalities that no longer have space to open daycares. Nursery groups have always been treated as care groups and not as educational groups. Today, the situation is changing, and we need to view these daycares as spaces for the good development and education of children," said Valentina Olaru, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Research.

This service has emerged because in Moldova, only 15% of children under the age of 3 are enrolled in pre-school educational institutions. Due to the lack of alternative childcare services for children under the age of 3, 53.6% of the population of Moldova, mainly women aged between 25 and 34, are inactive due to family responsibilities.

"Dear women who have been involved in this process, the help you provide to parents is immense. Your work will help many women, many parents to be present both at home with the family and at work. There are dozens of people behind this process who have worked intensively on laws, training, and mentoring to reach this event today, and I sincerely hope that one day we will be like Sweden in this regard," stated Deputy Marina Morozova.

"Sweden will always continue to support Moldova in this endeavor of involving women. By working together, we can share the best practices. We have a very good partnership here in Moldova with state institutions and with the International Labour Organization, and through our efforts, we very much want to keep young people in Moldova, but for this, various services are needed, including childcare and education," mentioned H.E. Katarina Fried, Ambassador of Sweden to Moldova.

"I joined this program out of curiosity, and I never thought I would reach the end and that there would be a continuation of this story. I didn't know I needed it. This project has opened my eyes, my path, and now everything makes sense, my studies, my activities so far with other children and their parents," emphasized Mariana Grigorenco, one of the grant beneficiaries.

Individuals who have obtained grants will be mentored throughout the initiation and launch of home-based childcare services by experts from AFAM, certified by the ILO.

Carolina Bugaian, President of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Moldova (AFAM): "We are determined that every woman in Moldova should live her life as she wishes, and through all our efforts, we want to change the paradigm in our society. Today, finally, we have the first pilot that comes to life and that will help us understand what we can improve along the way."