Chisinau - Playgrounds are the best place for children and their parents of different nationalities to play, make friends, and socialize within the local community. 

In the Republic of Moldova, the playground means more opportunities for Ukrainian refugees, third-country nationals, and host communities to meet, interact and share valuable time. 

In May and June 2024, three playgrounds were handed over by the European Union as part of the project “Strengthening Moldova's national capacities to ensure quality protection, education, health services and socio-economic opportunities for Ukrainian refugees” implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Republic of Moldova and funded by the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission.

On May 2, the first IOM-renovated playground was handed over to Otaci during a ceremony hosted by Dmitrii Zavrotschii, Mayor of Otaci, Marcia Kammitsi, representative of the European Commission's Foreign Policy Instruments Service, and the IOM representative. 

On May 27, a renovated and equipped playground was delivered to a village in ATU Gagauzia, Comrat district. 

On 19 June, next to the reception center for refugees in the village of Popeasca, Stefan Voda district, the local community, the European Union and IOM Moldova celebrated the delivery of a new playground where Ukrainian, Roma, and Moldovan children and their parents enjoyed the equipment, played ping-pong and practiced sports in the fitness area. 

Since the center is located next to the Popeasca Gymnasium, the playground will also be frequented by students. The handover ceremony was attended by the mayor of the village of Popeasca, Ion Pădureț, the representative of the EU delegation, Marcia Kammitsi, the IOM Moldova’s Chief of Mission, Lars Johan Lönnback, and many children and adults from the local community.

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For more information, please contact:

Riccardo Severi, Communications and Public Information Officer, IOM Moldova, rseveri@iom.int