COUNTRY PROFILE
MOLDOVA
Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of 33,850 km² and a population of 2.6 million. The internationally unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria lies on the country's eastern border with Ukraine.
Moldova is one of the countries facing the most drastic impacts of the global cost-of-living crisis catalysed by the war in Ukraine. The absolute poverty rate in the country is 24.5%, with most of these households being in rural areas (32.8%) versus urban areas (11.9%). Older people represent 22.8% of the total population.
As a result of the war in Ukraine, there has been a huge onset of refugees in Moldova.
We work with our local partners to support older people across Moldova, both to provide humanitarian relief and long-term support.
Our Partners
Members of community exercise group supported by HelpAge Moldova.
Members of community exercise group supported by HelpAge Moldova.
HelpAge Moldova
HelpAge Moldova is a charity working to improve the lives of older people in Moldova. It is part of the HelpAge global network.
HelpAge Moldova provides support to survivors of domestic violence, abuse, and neglect, and also supports older women who are at risk of being survivors of violence. They also focus on access to home-based care, digital inclusion, intergenerational support, and national level advocacy.
HelpAge Moldova now also implements a large-scale humanitarian programme, since the onset of refugees due to the war in Ukraine.
Health
Many older people don't get the healthcare they need. Centres may be far away and difficult to access, treatment and medicines may be unaffordable, and staff may lack the right training. Older people deserve equitable access to high-quality healthcare.
Community centre in Moldova.
Community centre in Moldova.
In Moldova we have supported projects with a focus on healthy and active ageing. This includes providing medical vouchers, psychosocial support sessions and specialist healthcare sessions.
Our local partners also work to support older people through running community exercise groups for older people. These exercises include dancing and Nordic walking. This provides a social opportunity as well as a place for older people to improve their health.
Members of community exercise group in Moldova.
Members of community exercise group in Moldova.
Group members taking part in an exercise class.
Group members taking part in an exercise class.
Group members taking part in 'Nordic Walking'.
Group members taking part in 'Nordic Walking'.
Group members taking part in an exercise class.
Group members taking part in an exercise class.
Members of community exercise group supported by HelpAge Moldova.
Members of community exercise group supported by HelpAge Moldova.
Marina, 60
Marina, 60, is a member of a community group in Moldova. She told us how much the group has helped her…
“I have a straight back, I walk steady. No more headaches.
My right joint was hurting but now less painful. It’s all ahead.”
“It’s great. Because motion is life. Especially for those with knee pain or arms pain. Walk, breathe, and you’ll see how things change. I’m saying this with sincerity. Come to us and we’ll walk together. Guys, start now and you’ll thank me later. I’m just very grateful because they are giving us life. They distract us from all sorts of things. Be healthy.”
To hear more from Marina, watch the video below.
Marina at community exercise group.
Marina at community exercise group.
Marina at community exercise group.
Marina at community exercise group.
Livelihoods
In many places older people are regularly refused loans or credit due to their age. Only ~20% of older people in low-income countries have access to a pension - and older women are even less likely to have one than men.
Eugenia, 69, received a mini-grant for a greenhouse.
Eugenia, 69, received a mini-grant for a greenhouse.
Through our partner we have supported older people in Moldova to set up small businesses or invest in local projects. We provide support, funding and training to help older people run small businesses so they can be independent.
Eugenia, 69
One older person who has been supported by this work is Eugenia, 69. Eugenia is the recipient of a mini grant for a greenhouse. She started to grow vegetables, as she wanted to have some healthy products. She grows tomatoes and cucumbers for her own consumption and to increase her family's income.
“We took advantage of a project, and we have this greenhouse. So, I’m working here for the second year already. When I feel bad, I sprout new seeds.
A plant is like an alive human. If you treat it with love, it responds the same way.
I sold seedlings. I earned a little more than 2000 lei [around £100]. I sold the extra seedlings. From that money, 550 lei [around £25] we bought a new hose and we spread the water through drips. We won the second grant. They give you money without returning it back. It’s different from applying for credit. You write a small project, apply for a grant, and you get the money. You just have to work a little.”
To hear more of Eugenia's story, watch the video below.
Eugenia showing some of the produce she has grown
Eugenia showing some of the produce she has grown
Eugenia working in her greenhouse
Eugenia working in her greenhouse
Humanitarian
The onset of refugees due to the war in Ukraine, has meant that we now support a large-scale humanitarian programme in Moldova.
Knitting workshop at a refugee centre in Moldova.
Knitting workshop at a refugee centre in Moldova.
HelpAge Moldova was able to build on existing relationships, stretching back to 2005, with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection after the war started in Ukraine. HelpAge was included in all national working groups focusing on refugee support and were authorised to provide services to refugees in refugee accommodation centres. The National Agency for Social Assistance also authorised HelpAge to work at community level to deliver a wider response to the crisis in Moldova.
The humanitarian work implemented in Moldova since April 2022 has mainly consisted of providing food support to refugees in Refugee Accommodation Centres in Moldova. The food support includes food and value vouchers. There has also been distributions of hygiene kits and basic non-food items.
Older women participating in knitting workshop.
Older women participating in knitting workshop.
Svetlana, an older woman participating in knitting workshop.
Svetlana, an older woman participating in knitting workshop.
Older women participating in knitting workshop.
Older women participating in knitting workshop.
Ekaterina, 66
Ekaterina (66) is a Ukrainian woman who came to Moldova together with her daughter and granddaughter. Before the Russian invasion, Ekaterina ran a blog about her family. She now blogs about her experience at the refugee centre, and shows the life of the Ukrainian refugees in Moldova.
“I decided to upload videos about our centre in Dondushany. Only few know about it. No people were referred to us cause the Centre was just opened. It is very beautiful, all equipped. People were coming to fix the water supply and other things. So, I started recording it.”
To hear more of Ekaterina's story, watch the video below.
Ekaterina knitting at a refugee centre in Moldova.
Ekaterina knitting at a refugee centre in Moldova.
Ekaterina knitting at a refugee centre in Moldova.
Ekaterina knitting at a refugee centre in Moldova.
Rights, voice and inclusion
In many places, older people are denied access to work, healthcare, education, and support due to their age. We amplify older people's voices and needs to ensure they are at the heart of our programmes, whilst lobbying, campaigning and working in partnership to achieve more inclusive and age-friendly policy and practice.
Prior to the war in Ukraine, HelpAge Moldova’s area of focus has been (and continues to be) on violence against older women, digital inclusion, intergenerational support and national level advocacy.
Community chess and checkers group in Moldova.
Community chess and checkers group in Moldova.
HelpAge’s work around gender-based violence, abuse and neglect has built over several years in Moldova, from the first project implemented in 2012. The project largely comprised of awareness raising activities on prevention, and identification of cases of violence. This work led to subsequent projects:
- developing age-friendly facilities and operating procedures in two Crisis Centres for older women survivors.
- providing livelihoods support for survivors.
- enabling engagement in policy work on mainstreaming ageing in strategies and plans of the government.
In 2020, HelpAge developed a large programme on digitalisation skills of older people. Working in ten villages across Moldova, young volunteers supported older people to upskill their digital capacities. The project has successfully trained over 600 older women and men on using digital tools such as the internet, social media, and WhatsApp.
Vera, 81
One older woman who has participated in the digitisation workshops is Vera, 81. She shared her experience with us…
“When I got the phone, I called my son right away. He’s a doctor, works in Chisinau. I didn’t feel well, so I asked him to bring me some medicine and to check me up. I think every older person should have a phone so they can communicate and feel free. Not to stay alone because it influences health and life.
But if you communicate with friends, life gets happier. You don’t feel alone.”
To hear more of Vera's story, watch the video below.
Vera, 81, at a digital skills workshop.
Vera, 81, at a digital skills workshop.
Vera, 81, at a digital skills workshop.
Vera, 81, at a digital skills workshop.
Thank you
Thanks to all our UK donors who make this work possible.
Special thanks also go to DEC, UNFPA, UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
All photo credits: Victor Para / Age International
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