Due to the fact that all efforts and attention from public authorities (both local and central) and the private sector are directed towards medical risks (donations to hospitals or NGOs that raise funds exclusively for hospitals), the part of civil society that addresses the social services needs of vulnerable groups (children and families in poverty, families who have recently become poor, homeless people, patients suffering from rare diseases, LGBTQ + community, people with HIV / AIDS, etc.) is left without support, both in the continuation of their activities, as well as in making a smooth transition to digital interventions. The United Nations has already reported this global trend.

Romania and Moldova are among the countries most affected by COVID-19 in Central and Eastern Europe. In this context, our entire societies see their pillars of support shaken: both from an economic and social, cultural and environmental perspective. Ashoka Romania, with help from the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, aims to support civic society in Romania and Moldova in these difficult times to:

• Address the challenge of the technical transition to online
• Create new fundraising strategies
• Address current communication needs
• Supports the welfare of the organization
• Build a new cross-sectoral alliance to serve as a helping community (made up of civic leaders, journalists, business people, public authorities and Ashoka Fellows)
• We led an integrated capacity-building program for 30 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of which 20 are active in Romania and 10 in Moldova.

Participants had access to online tools, digital communication skills, fundraising courses, personalized mentoring, work / learning sessions with business leaders, journalists and Ashoka Fellows.

What were the eligibility criteria?

To be a Civil Society Organization established in Romania or Moldova, with an impact in those countries.

Your organization clearly supports vulnerable communities and individuals who have become vulnerable due to the current crisis

The representative of the organization that is part of this program should be fluent in English

What were the selection criteria?

The needs of the organization should be clearly and specifically stated in the application form

We aim to ensure that the cohort of selected organizations has the right mix of representation for different vulnerable communities.

We will assess the impact made by the applicant in the past and the potential impact for the present and the future. Thus, we also encourage newly established organizations to participate.
Which are the 30 organizations that benefited from the project?

• Public Association Ecology for Health
• Policy center for Roma and Minorities
• ADDPC - Association out of love and longing for the community
• International Voluntary Association of Moldova
• Fundatia Te Aud Romania
• FARA Foundation
• Pestalozzi Children's Foundation of Moldova
• Association Women for the Contemporary Society, Moldova
• AO Center for Social Justice EQUITY
• "AO ,, CASMED" "(Public Association Center for Socio-Medical Assistance at Home "CASMED" ")"
• "Eco-Razeni" Public Association
• Von Hippel Lindau Patients Association
• Autism Voice Association
• NEURO MOVE CMT ASSOCIATION
• A.O. "Moldius"
• Oradea Community Foundation
• CMU Regina Maria Foundation
• "MOTIVATION" Association from Moldova
• ARAS - Romanian Anti-AIDS Association
• Rădăuțiul Civic Association
• Auzi Intelegi Traiesti Association
• AO Support and hope
• Association of Alternative Methods of Social Integration
• Hope / UnLoc Empowerment Foundation
• Identity.Education
• Climb Again Sports Club Association
• For You Foundation
• Heart of a Child Foundation
• AO Cuget
• Peoples Development Foundation Cluj Branch

If you need more information you can contact us here: [email protected]