UNICEF and Prietena Mea have launched Abilitare.md

UNICEF and the Prietena Mea Association have launched Abilitare.md — the first online informational platform dedicated to parents and caregivers of children with disabilities in Moldova. It provides a safe and accessible space where they can find specialized informational resources, including articles developed by psychologists and psychotherapists, offering support and guidance throughout various stages of accepting a disability. Thus, Abilitare.md becomes an essential tool for anyone seeking relevant information and emotional support, contributing to the creation of an informed and supportive community for parents and caregivers.

The Abilitare.md platform was developed based on a study in which over 900 parents and caregivers were consulted to identify their daily needs and challenges.
Abilitare.md addresses these needs and becomes an essential online resource for all parents seeking solutions, emotional support, and a welcoming environment where they can find understanding.

At the launch event, Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection, emphasized the authorities' commitment to supporting initiatives that promote inclusion: "

Abilitare.md is a concrete example of creating a support system for families with children with disabilities, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection remains committed to collaborating on developing policies that ensure inclusion and equal opportunities for all children."

In addition to directly supporting parents, the platform also targets professionals working with children with disabilities, thereby extending its impact in the educational environment. In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research and UNICEF Moldova, it is developing the first parenting program dedicated to families with children with disabilities in the country. Thirty support teachers from model schools will contribute to creating the "Empowerment for Parents" program. This unique initiative will provide parents and caregivers with the necessary tools to support their children’s development and inclusion.

"This platform not only supports parents but also offers significant assistance to the education system. We know that success in education is achievable when parents and educators – teachers or professors – work together, aligned in the same direction, with coordinated and child-centered activities," said Viorica Negrei, Head of the General Education Management Directorate within the Ministry of Education and Research.

The platform also aims to support mothers and fathers across the country, encouraging them to form support groups. These groups will become a powerful voice and engage in advocacy activities, offering parents a space to share their experiences and highlight the real needs of their children. In this way, abilitare.md will help them become the voice of change within their communities.

“We want this platform to be more than just a website — we want it to become a dynamic advocacy network for children with disabilities and their families, creating spaces for participation, experience-sharing, and mutual support. Parent groups and communities hold significant power, and their collective experiences and perspectives are invaluable. Through these networks, parents not only support each other but also empower one another to become agents of change,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova.

To further support these efforts and ensure sustainability, abilitare.md will offer guides and courses specifically designed for parents on how to manage the specific needs of their children, as well as how to address challenges related to societal attitudes and behaviors such as discrimination and stigmatization.

Ludmila Adamciuc, founder of the Prietena Mea Association and host of the event, highlighted the importance and vision behind this initiative: 

"Our work so far has shown how crucial it is to provide support and respond to the real needs of parents. That’s why abilitare.md has become an essential resource available with a click from anywhere in the country. We believe in the power of the community and hope this platform will inspire change, bring people closer together, and contribute to building a more inclusive and empathetic society."

Also present at the launch event was Mariana Rotaru, Project Coordinator at the KfW Office in Chișinău, who emphasized the following:

 "This launch marks a special moment in society, namely providing a reliable source of information, resources, and support for those who, day by day, with devotion and unconditional love, care for children with disabilities. I want abilitare.md to be more than just a platform; I want it to be a partner, a community, a family where each member shares experiences, innovative ideas, practical advice, and a warm word of support."

The abilitare.md platform is part of the UNICEF project "An Inclusive World Starts with Me, with You, with Us..." implemented by the Prietena Mea Association, with financial support from the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Development Bank.