Doubled budget for active aging: MMPS awards grants of one million lei
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MMPS) awarded grant certificates to the eleven organisations that won the tenth edition of the National Small Grants Program focused on active and healthy ageing.
A total of 50 organizations participated in the competition, and eleven civil society organizations were selected to implement projects dedicated to the elderly over the next six months, with a combined budget of one million lei.
During the certificate award ceremony on June 18, Minister Natalia Plugaru congratulated the winning organizations and highlighted the anniversary nature of this edition. The small grants program for active aging has been in operation for ten years, and the current budget of one million lei has doubled in the last three years.
In Ruseni, a locality in the Aneni Noi district, the “Aneni Noi - Dor” Association will equip the “Nadejda” Day Center for the Elderly with outdoor fitness equipment, which will be accessible to approximately 120 seniors.
“The project is for the beneficiaries of the center, approximately 120 people. We will also organize an information session on healthy lifestyles, as well as an art therapy activity in which seniors can participate,” said a representative of the organization.
Another winner, the “Lunca Răutului” Local Action Group from the village of Mărculești in the Florești district, aims to re-integrate seniors over the age of 60 into the labor market through a project involving 17 localities, in partnership with the Territorial Employment Subdivision.
“Seniors over 60 are our asset, which must be utilized. They are very easy to work with: they have more time, desire, and inspiration,” explained a representative of the association, noting that the project will conclude with a job fair specifically for seniors.
In the Manta commune of the Cahul district, the Association "Manta - Home with Longing," established by the local diaspora, will implement the project "Digital Club for Seniors - Connected Generations." This project will train 40 elderly individuals, splitting the training sessions between a computer room and at-home assistance from young people in the community.
"We start from a simple reality: while the world is digitalizing, many of our elderly are left behind—not out of a lack of desire, but due to a lack of support," said the representative of the association.
In Sireți, in the Strașeni district, the “Liga Civică” Association, with government support, will establish a traditional crafts workshop for the “Țărâncuța” Seniors Club, led by former teacher Eugenia Moisei. Seniors will learn to sew alongside a folk craftsman.
"Let's not forget where we came from; let’s not lose sight of our origins," said a participant.
The other winning organizations, located in Leova, Anenii Noi, Telenești, Edineț, and Călărași, will undertake similar initiatives. These include digital training, workshops, the development of community spaces, and the organization of cultural events aimed at the elderly.
This small grants program is part of the National Program on Active and Healthy Aging for the years 2023-2027, which has been approved by the Government. It prioritizes active aging as one of the key areas for the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.
This initiative is in response to a demographic trend indicating a significant proportion of elderly individuals in the Republic of Moldova's population. According to Minister Natalia Plugaru, "every fourth person" in Moldova is over 60 years old.
The ceremony is also part of a series of recent initiatives by the ministry focused on the elderly, including the establishment of the Advisory Council of the Elderly this month. This council serves as the first permanent platform for dialogue between authorities and organizations representing seniors.
