Inclusion in Action: Local Experience and International Cooperation

Last week, the administrator of the Public Association Regional Center for Community Development, Bejan Irina, participated in a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations from Azerbaijan who were visiting the Republic of Moldova on a working visit at the invitation of AO “ActiveWomen”.

The discussions took place in Cahul and focused on the exchange of good practices in the field of inclusion and the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

On this occasion, several CRDC initiatives in the field of educational and social inclusion were presented.

Mapping inclusive services in Cahul District

One of the initiatives presented was the process of mapping existing inclusive services in Cahul District, carried out together with local partners.

The process resulted in the development of the “Informational Guide to Local Services for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs”, designed as a practical information and referral tool for parents, professionals and public authorities.

The guide is already available and will be used to facilitate access to information about services available within the community.

The initiative to establish the Regional Platform for Inclusive Education was also presented. It aims to connect schools, kindergartens, local public authorities, social services and healthcare services from Cahul, Cantemir and Taraclia districts.

The process is currently at the stage of defining a clear framework for intersectoral cooperation through consultations and cooperation agreements among the actors involved.

Another example presented was the CREI – Resource Center for Inclusive Education, inaugurated in the village of Crihana Veche with the support of SAP Cahul within the A.R.I.P.I. project.

It is the first model of its kind implemented in a rural kindergarten in the region and provides an adapted environment and support for children with special educational needs.

Participation in this meeting provided an opportunity to present CRDC’s experience in developing local solutions for inclusion while also exchanging perspectives with organizations from Azerbaijan working on similar issues.

Such meetings help connect local initiatives with experiences from other contexts and create new opportunities for regional cooperation.

The visit took place within the project “Strengthening Civic Participation in Azerbaijan”, funded by the European Union and BMZ and implemented by GIZ, with the aim of encouraging cooperation between civil society organizations from the Republic of Moldova and Azerbaijan.