Inclusive Education Begins with Patience, Empathy, and Dialogue

“— If you want a friend, tame me!”
These words from “The Little Prince” remind us that genuine relationships are built over time — through patience, respect, and openness toward others. Inspired by this powerful message, an advocacy activity dedicated to promoting inclusive education was held at the Crihana Veche Public Library, facilitated by Tatiana Tronciu.

The activity created a safe space for dialogue and reflection, where participants explored together what it means to be a good friend, how we can grow closer to one another, and why accepting diversity is essential for a healthy community. Through simple examples and age-appropriate questions, children were encouraged to reflect on empathy, kindness, and mutual respect.

A particularly meaningful moment of the activity was giving space to children’s voices. They shared thoughtful ideas about how to be more empathetic, how to include others in shared activities, and how important respect and tolerance are in everyday relationships. Their responses demonstrated that inclusive education is not just a theoretical concept, but a value that can be understood and practiced from an early age.

The activity concluded with a creative exercise: young participants illustrated their favorite characters from the story and wrote sincere messages about what friendship means to them. The resulting works reflected sensitivity, imagination, and a deep understanding of the values discussed throughout the session.

We thank everyone who contributed to the success of this initiative, especially Ms. Maria Cudlenco and the administration of IPG “Mihai Eminescu” for their openness and support. We look forward to continuing these meetings and returning to the community with further activities dedicated to promoting inclusive education.

This activity was carried out within the project “A.R.I.P.I. – Assistance and Resources for Inclusion and Individual Progress”, implemented by the Regional Community Development Center. The project is implemented under the “Active Citizens, Prosperous Communities” program, run by the East Europe Foundation – Moldova, with financial support from the Embassy of Sweden in Chișinău and Swiss Cooperation in Moldova.