Together for the Elderly: Moldova and Serbia United in a Mission of Social Care
From June 9 to 14, 2025, the team from Philanthropy, Charitable Foundation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, visited the town of Strășeni, Moldova, as part of a project dedicated to improving the quality of life for older people. This important visit was carried out in cooperation with the partner organization Neohumanist. The project, titled "Social Protection and Poverty Reduction for Vulnerable People in Moldova and Serbia," aims to enhance the well-being of the elderly through home care, education, health and psychosocial support, with a particular focus on rural populations. The initiative, which began in September 2024 and will run through December 2026, is financially supported by the Austrian organization BROT für die Welt – Bread for the World, and the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Austria. In Serbia, the project activities are implemented in the cities of Kragujevac and Kraljevo, as well as the municipality of Ruma. Beneficiaries receive licensed home care services, along with access to creative workshops, medical check-ups, and psychosocial support aimed at improving both physical and mental health, encouraging social inclusion, and ultimately raising the quality of life for older people. During their stay in Moldova, the Philanthropy team visited the headquarters of their partner organization Neohumanist, whose dedication and daily fieldwork left a strong impression. Through joint efforts, Neohumanist and Philanthropy are actively building a network of solidarity, mutual support, and care for the elderly. A key highlight of the visit was a training session focused on dementia, one of the critical topics in geriatric care. This educational component significantly strengthened the team’s capacity to work with vulnerable groups and improved their approach to caring for individuals affected by dementia. The Philanthropy team also visited three rural households in the Strășeni area, where they had the opportunity to observe the daily delivery of home care services by their colleagues from Moldova. In addition to home assistance, Neohumanist offers day care services and residential accommodation for older adults. These visits served not only as a platform for experience-sharing but also for reinforcing cooperation with local communities, which play a key role in supporting the elderly. The visit was also attended by Mr. Martin Muehlbacher, Attaché of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, and Consumer Protection at the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Chișinău. Photographs taken during the field visits show to the extraordinary efforts and dedication of our colleagues in Moldova. Through home care services, they contribute daily to preserving the dignity and quality of life of the older members of their communities. This visit marks another important step toward the realization of our shared mission: that no elderly person should be forgotten. The project continues to connect people, ideas, and resources to build a better future for all. The collaborative work and international partnerships reaffirm that a dignified old age is not a privilege, it is a right, and international cooperation is key to achieving it.
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