Alarmed by the situation in the country, young volunteers from the Network of 44 Youth Centres in Moldova, with the support of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), have launched an online mobilization campaign to support the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19). They have taken the urge of the authorities to stay at home trying to persuade their friends, relatives, especially the grand-parents, to do the same. 

The first to join the initiative was the Ungheni Youth Centre, which challenged young people to be the directors of their quarantine at home and to plan their time in a pleasant and useful way. Thus, they thought for each day a new action that they promoted on the Centre’s page: #I Read #IStayWithMyFamily #ICook, #IWatchMovies, etc., challenging other young people to follow their example.

Mihaela Revenco, a volunteer at the Cimislia District Youth Centre, joined the campaign with a message to the elderly, using her example. She posted a short video with the hashtag #IStayHomeWithGrandMa, where her grandmother calls everyone to stay home. "Be like Mihaela's grandmother, stay home," says the young girl, urging especially older persons to take self-isolation measures because they are the most at risk of infection.

Another appeal to young people, this time launched through photography, was posted by the Straseni Youth Centre. Ana Scutelnic, the Centre's volunteer, mobilized her friends, volunteers as well, to take photos of their daily routine activities at home, and collected in a photo collage with the message: We stay home because we care, and what about you?

"Young people are a valuable resource and network during public health crises and emergencies. With the necessary support and training, they can help break the chain of infection. This is the time to show intergenerational solidarity – how young people can support older persons which is most affected by the pandemic. UNFPA will continue to work with Youth Centres and will involve young people safely and effectively as agents of change and mobilizers while empowered to play an important role in responding to the pandemic", said Nigina Abaszada, Resident Representative, UNFPA Moldova.

So far, seven (7) Youth Centres joined the campaign, and messages have reached more than 4000 young people. The online mobilization campaign will continue until the end of April and will involve famous people and young influencers to reach as many people as possible. 

While face-to-face activities at the Youth Centres are suspended, a number of them have been innovatively adapted to the epidemiological situation in the country and transformed into online modality. The Chisinau Municipal Youth Centre published the schedule of online activities, such as learning sessions, Online Reading Club, and the Criuleni Youth Center organizes online board games sessions. 

The activities of the Youth Centres are supported within the framework of the Joint Fund on the Development of Youth Centres and strengthening the participation and civic involvement of young people from the Republic of Moldova of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Research, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the United Nations Population Fund.

For contact: Irina Draguțanu, communication assistant. Tel.069694246, dragutanu@unfpa.org