In 12 dormitories across colleges, vocational schools, and Centers of Excellence in Chisinau and the districts of Cahul, Nisporeni, Orhei, Rezina, Râșcani, and the city of Bălți, living rooms for students and teachers have been modernized. These spaces have been completely renovated and equipped with modern furniture, transforming them into multifunctional areas for leisure. The modernization and arrangement of dormitory living rooms took place with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Austrian Development Agency, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, as part of a joint program to develop life skills for youth in technical vocational education and prepare them for employment.
"Creating friendly spaces in dormitories, where young people spend a significant amount of their free time and need to feel at home, is part of our efforts at UNFPA to create positive development environments for students and youth both in schools and in the community. Besides providing a safe space for students to spend their leisure time, such spaces help engage young people in various useful activities through which they develop skills to better fit into the workforce and succeed in life. We did this in schools with the 12 open and friendly classrooms three years ago, and we are extending this good practice to dormitories," said Viorica Ivancenco, Program Manager, UNFPA Moldova.
Around 450,000 MDL were invested in the 12 dormitories to equip the premises, and more than 6,000 pupils will use these spaces every year.
"A multifunctional and friendly space in a student dormitory can change how young people interact and the new habits they create. We are grateful for the renovation of these spaces because it contribute to the well-being of students. They come here for board games, homework preparation, or to socialize with other colleagues," mentioned Diana Țapuchevici, a teacher of the "Decisions for a Healthy Lifestyle" discipline at the Center of Excellence in Light Industry in Chisinau, one of the institutions involved in the program.
Nina Chiriac, a fourth-year student at the same institution and a peer educator, confirmed that she now enjoys the atmosphere in the dormitory much more. "Since this space was arranged, I organized an awareness activity with colleagues about gender stereotypes and decision-making, we had discussions on weekends, and for the next week, we plan to gather for a singing night. Here, we feel like a family," confessed the young woman.
As part of the program "Development of Soft Skills and Healthy Behaviors of Students in Technical Vocational Education for Better Employment Preparation," supported by UNFPA and Austria, 12 study classrooms were renovated in the same schools in 2021. These were equipped with modular furniture and interactive materials. Lessons in the disciplines "Decisions for a Healthy Lifestyle" and "Personal Development" take place here. Friendly classrooms are arranged to create "active" learning spaces, allowing students to communicate and collaborate, similar to what is expected of them in the workplace.
In the last four years, over 13,000 young people, including refugees and young people with disabilities, approximately 1,400 employees of IPT institutions and business companies, and over 500 parents have participated in the activities of this program.
Starting from 2024, UNFPA and the Austrian Development Agency have begun the second phase of the program. Now, another 20 institutions in technical vocational education will be equipped with modern classrooms and youth development spaces in dormitories. Similarly, all institutions will receive methodological support, training, and equipment with interactive teaching materials to enhance the quality of teaching disciplines that develop safe and healthy behaviors, as well as skills that help with employment and easier adaptation to the workplace.
