In June 2023, IOM Moldova celebrated the delivery of two playgrounds. The first one was set up next to the Refugee Accommodation Centre (RAC) in Congaz, the largest Moldovan village with 12,000 people. Children from Ukrainian, Roma, and Moldovan families are already enjoying at fullest the playground and the requalified neighborhood after 4 months of work during the winter period to rehabilitate and equip the area.

The handover ceremony in Congaz was hosted by Mihail Esir, Mayor of Congaz village, Comrat district, ATU Gagauzia, Brett Mattei, Refugee Coordinator, U.S. Embassy Chisinau, Moldova, and Lars Johan Lönnback, IOM's Chief of Mission to the Republic of Moldova. Johan Lönnback, IOM Moldova's Chief of Mission)

The second playground was inaugurated in the Bălți municipality, next to the Meridian Refugee Reception Center (RAC). Both Moldovan and Ukrainian children will benefit from the new playground equipped with an area dedicated to children aged 3 to 6, another for children aged 7 to 12, and a third with a ping pong table, training area, and chess, even for the elderly.

The handover ceremony was hosted by Nicolai Grigorișin, Mayor of the Municipality of Bălți, and Lars Johan Lönnback, Chief of Mission of the IOM in the Republic of Moldova.

“Today is a big event for us. Together we made a project and now we have a playground for refugees, Moldovans, and citizens of Bălți. Through games, we can achieve peace. We are grateful to IOM and the US government for making this project possible”, said the Mayor.

“Children play, this is what they should be doing. This is their job, to grow and play, because this is the way children can develop. This lovely playground is for the benefit of refugee families and their children, but also for the local population. In this park, all children can now play all together. A big thanks to Bălți municipality for the great collaboration and to the U.S. Government for the generous financial support to realize this playground.“ (Lars Johan Lönnback, IOM Moldova's Chief of Mission)

The playgrounds were donated thanks to the generous support of the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

***

For more information, please contact: 
Riccardo Severi, Project Officer - Media and Communications, IOM Moldova 
rseveri@iom.int