A safe haven for vulnerable children
- simoneworthing
- 20 hours ago
- 5 min read
BY DOMINIKA BRODOWSKA
Throughout the tiny, Eastern European nation of Moldova, The Salvation Army operates after-school projects for vulnerable children. This vital work provides critical support beyond the classroom, helping to break cycles of poverty, trauma and social exclusion.
One of its core initiatives, the ‘See Me Afterschool Project’, targets children aged seven to 16 living near local corps. Priority is given to children from marginalised families – those without parents, with disabled or absent caregivers or struggling with poverty and instability.
Compassion and community
Over the past four years, around 150 children have benefitted directly from the See Me project. These children regularly attend classes, participate in extracurricular and spiritual activities, and receive support with education, nutrition and social skills development.
As awareness of the program grows, so does its reach. Demand is rising as more children and families turn to the project for support. Remarkably, dedicated volunteers lead all Salvation Army child-focused work in Moldova. No paid staff were employed in these roles until recently, and the organisation proudly continues to rely on the strength of its community.
The program helps install spiritual and moral values. Children and families report feeling supported, valued and included. There is a visible boost in self-esteem, motivation and active participation in community life.
Building belonging and breaking barriers
The long-term impact of the See Me project is already visible. One of the most significant outcomes has been increased social cohesion. Through shared activities and consistent engagement, children and their families have become more connected to their communities. This has fostered trust, improved relationships across diverse groups, and created a stronger sense of belonging.
The project has become a platform for forming meaningful and lasting social bonds – crucial for the overall development of young people. There is also a clear shift in attitudes towards education. Parents are more involved in their children’s learning journeys, and teachers from partnering schools report improved academic performance among participants.
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Parents note positive changes at home: children are more disciplined, respectful and engaged in family life. In many corps, children are also active in Scouting, which further supports their personal growth by building responsibility, leadership and mutual respect. Scouting has also strengthened family relationships and enhanced behaviour in school. Perhaps most importantly, the program helps install spiritual and moral values.
Second home
In the small town of Orhei, a humble building belonging to The Salvation Army becomes a refuge of warmth, learning and stability for children who need it most.
For more than 10 years, this after-school project has served as a second home for vulnerable children, many of whom face hardship, displacement or a lack of support at home.
Officially, the project is designed for 12 children, but its doors are now open to 21 regular attendees, including three refugee children from Ukraine. The need is clearly greater than the capacity. This place is fully self-funded and thrives thanks to strong cooperation with local authorities and communities.
“Children come with great joy and eagerness to the See Me project,” says Orhei Corps Officer Captain Larisa Zaharia. “Here, children are welcomed, heard, encouraged and loved. They learn what friendship and kindness towards one another means, how to integrate into society (school) and they find peace.
“Some children have arrived unable to read or write but are able to learn thanks to the work and attention of the teacher and volunteers. Children receive a hot meal – for some it’s the only hot meal of the day.
“Within the project, children learn Christian songs, attend summer camps and day camps where they socialise with other children and make new friends.
“The children not only learn more about God but come to know him personally as their saviour, learning from the Bible during Sunday school. Some become junior soldiers, and their parents and grandparents also attend worship services.
“Praise the Lord that we can serve these children and help them grow in faith and obedience to God in a friendly and loving environment.”
Daily program
The program runs from late morning until late afternoon, offering structure and support at a time of day when many children would otherwise be unsupervised. Some children arrive as early as 11am and stay until 4pm.
Their daily schedule is simple but meaningful. It includes:
Homework help in a quiet, focused environment
Nutritious lunch (sometimes donated by local business owners operating canteens)
Games, crafts, drawing, singing and Scout activities
Time to play and be children.
The routine isn’t just about filling time; it’s designed to nurture development, self-confidence and emotional resilience. Children must finish their lunch before playing table games – teaching responsibility and structure in small but impactful ways.
Community and refugee support
Beyond its role as an after-school centre, the Orhei Corps is deeply embedded in the local support network for refugee families, particularly those fleeing conflict.
There are currently more than 70 refugee families in the town and more than 100 families in the surrounding region.
The centre collaborates closely with the local refugee centre in Orhei. When refugees arrive needing food, housing or job support, the centre often calls The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army in Moldova also works with the labour office, helping place refugees into work.
The Salvation Army has also become a go-to resource for other non-government organisations groups seeking reliable, local information on the refugee situation.
Community involvement
The project’s success is heavily reliant on community engagement. Many of the parents of refugee children volunteer at the centre.
Some of the children who once benefitted from the program have returned as volunteers, a testament to the lasting impact of this safe, nurturing space. Promotion is done primarily through social media, city hall, the social department and even local business leaders.
Challenges
Despite its many successes, the project operates under strain. Six children were turned away in 2024 due to lack of space.
The children continue to ask for more diverse activities: computer and dance classes, football, swimming, basketball, badminton, and even simple joys like ice cream or a birthday cake. However, the ongoing challenge of securing additional funding makes it difficult to turn all these dreams into reality.
One child tragically discovered their mother deceased at home – a situation far beyond the scope of volunteers, and one that highlights the urgent need for trained social support.
The Salvation Army also holds bi-monthly meetings with schoolteachers to monitor children’s academic progress. The children come from seven different schools and, depending on the school, children speak either Romanian or Russian, which adds another layer of diversity that the centre embraces daily.
This after-school project is more than a program. It is a lifeline for children who might otherwise fall through the cracks. It fills the space where social services are thin, where families are struggling and where childhood should still have room to breathe, grow and play.
With more resources, this program could reach even more children, provide even more security and offer brighter possibilities for the most vulnerable young people in Orhei. But even as it stands, it is proof of what’s possible when compassion, community and commitment come together. By supporting projects like these, all of us can help build a better future for children.
This article first appeared in The Salvation Army’s international magazine, All the World.
*Dominika Brodowska is the Ukraine Response Unit Coordinator, based at The Salvation Army International Headquarters in London, UK
