Children & young people without support get help
In Europe’s poorest nation, Moldova, unemployment and economic problems have led to widespread poverty and poor living standards. Our partners in the region have been working towards creating better living conditions for families in need and older children in transition from orphanages into society. They aim to assist struggling families to ensure that they have a safe environment for their children. They have also been working on assisting Ukrainian refugees to meet their basic needs, as well as giving emotional support to new arrivals, as the situation in their country remains unstable.
To assist with the programmes, Crossroads has sent a number of shipments to aid with their work. Crossroads is proud to be numbered among their supporters with the regular shipments prepared and sent from Hong Kong.
Crossroads’ partners allocated clothing to families in need through a self-picking drive-through.
“Over the years, thanks to our partners, we have been able to help thousands of adults and children. Many orphans have found families, many residential school leavers have received social, legal, and psychological support. Many children from at risk families did not end up in orphanages. All this cannot be measured in concrete numbers. Warmth, love, care, joy, hope, kindness, happy children’s smiles are the very thing we all need.” NGO newsletter
Above: House renovations and furniture donations assisted in repairing this family’s house into a much better environment for the children. Our partners noted how the family struggled with enough finances even to survive and this initiative saved them from a huge financial drain.
Our shipments have facilitated assistance to Ukrainian refugees transitioning to their new life in Moldova, furnishing of apartments for young people and families at risk, distribution of clothing to families and old people in need, and creation of employment opportunities through supporting self-sustaining projects and skills training.
Above: Families at risk are supported by the project, which in turn receives support from our shipments.
One of the most important aims of this project in Moldova is to give vocational training to young people leaving orphanages at the age of 18, with no job or place to live. Shipments from Crossroads allow them to invest in their future through training and support in many ways. Furniture and household goods are used in kitting out small apartments and help them to acquire basic life skills. These photos show some of the students who have trained as hairdressers trying out their skills at a home for elderly residents.
“It was super, I really liked it! It was a good practice for me. The people are wonderful, and it is nice to take care of them,” said a future hairdresser Irina.
Other students have taken up baking, driving, welding, designing, or becoming a masseur, a sports instructor and a beauty technician.
Above: loading one of the regular containers which make their way to Moldova.
In recent shipments, textiles have been included, as well as attractive sewing accessories such as lace, trims and beads. Used clothing and fabric oddments are also regularly sent. One of the ways to provide useful work for the unemployed, especially youngsters and women, is through their sewing centre. They have made tablecloths, napkins, shoppers, Panama hats, pillows, and blankets. Lately, they have been experimenting with eco-friendly upcycling. They report:
“It is about new life for old things. We remake clothes that can no longer be repaired or worn, various items and accessories. We made several types of shopper bags and sacks from old shirts, jeans, and jackets. Some hair accessories were made from dress belts. From trousers and skirts, we made some cosmetic bags and wallets. This experience showed us that our seamstresses can cope with tasks of any complexity. They do their work very carefully. It is obvious that they treat their work with great love.”
All the shipments have included clothing and household goods. Several have contained baby items and toys, plus fabrics and sewing items as mentioned above. There have been laptops and stationery for educational purposes, and fans and heaters for households, and even some gym equipment!
