On site: Nișcani village, Călărași district

The Mayor of Nișcani face to face with community challenges

During a working visit to Nișcani village in Călărași district, we met with the multidisciplinary team comprising representatives from healthcare, social assistance, education, law enforcement, and the mayor, Mr. Petru Sorici. Together, they coordinate support initiatives for large families, young people, and elderly residents, striving to ensure the well-being of the village’s 1,944 inhabitants.

Although official records indicate a certain population figure, the reality tells a different, less encouraging story. Migration has deeply affected the community. Of the population estimated at 1,854 in 2004, nearly two-thirds of residents have settled abroad. The most vulnerable in this exodus are children left without parental care—some becoming parents too early—and elderly people living alone, often surviving through the kindness of neighbors, forgotten by those they once raised.

The mayor notes that those who remain in the village are attentive and responsive. Thanks to prompt community alerts, authorities can intervene in time to prevent tragedies: “Residents inform us, even if they ask to remain anonymous. The community is responsive. We are fortunate to have conscientious villagers—neighbors, teachers, the family doctor, the sector police officer—who react appropriately. Because of them, we can intervene in time and prevent situations that could end tragically.”

A house filled with smoke and an intoxicated mother

Social worker Ludmila Stratan, together with medical assistant Nadejda Stratan and sector police chief Sergiu Balan, shared examples where the multidisciplinary team’s intervention proved decisive. “We were alerted by a local resident about a possible carbon monoxide poisoning. We immediately went to the home with two nurses. We found a woman and her young daughter unconscious inside a house filled with smoke, the stove still smoldering. The first thing the nurses did was check if they were alive. Meanwhile, we contacted the mayor and the police chief. After evacuating them, we realized the mother was intoxicated.

We mobilized immediately to minimize risks for the children. The girls were placed urgently with an aunt, and we began working with the mother according to an action plan drafted that same evening.”

Paperwork, bureaucracy, and children living in toxic environments

Team members emphasized that while documentation is essential, immediate intervention must come first. “It would not have been fair to the children to sit and complete paperwork while they were at risk. We did everything possible in half a day to ensure their safety, and only afterward finalized the legal procedures.”

The mayor added: “It was already past 9:00 p.m. We had to inform both the Edineț and Călărași Prosecutor’s Offices. First, we isolate and protect the children; afterward, we complete the legal steps. Still, in such cases, having a psychologist would be extremely helpful.”

Teachers and support staff were involved, especially since the older girl has special educational needs and attends the school’s resource center.

Additional measures included medical evaluations for the mother so the younger child could attend kindergarten, enabling the mother to seek employment. Through a project in Călărași, three smoke detectors were installed in the home, and the mother was trained in their use.

The intervention proved effective. The mother realized she risked losing her children. That very night, she cleaned and repaired the house. “She worked all night to restore proper living conditions,” the social worker recalled.

The family remains under monitoring by social services and the police.

Children alone while parents are at home—or abroad

Another frequent issue involves school absenteeism caused by parental negligence. “Some parents claim their children are sick to justify absences, but we find them working in the fields or tending animals,” teachers explained.

Authorities intervene with police support when necessary. However, when parents migrate and fail to formalize guardianship, legal gaps arise. “We encourage relatives to establish guardianship, not to punish them, but because it benefits the family—especially regarding medical care and social support,” the mayor explained.

When children become parents to their younger siblings

One of the most sensitive cases involves three siblings left alone after their mother left for work abroad, instructing them not to inform anyone.

Teachers discovered the situation accidentally. Emergency intervention followed. While the parents refused involvement, a relative accepted guardianship. The father was legally required to contribute financially. “When parents do not cooperate, we turn to law enforcement,” the mayor stated, acknowledging that legal measures are not always sufficient for long-term solutions.

The importance of feeling supported

Despite support from school, healthcare, and social services, the psychological impact of abandonment remains visible. “The children suffer deeply. They struggle to understand their mother’s decision and fear being separated. They are extremely attached to each other,” the social worker explained.

Authorities allow them supervised visits to their former home but ensure they return each evening to their aunt’s house for safety.

Community members—teachers, librarians, neighbors—remain involved, checking in regularly and offering support.

In Nișcani, intersectoral cooperation is not merely a formal mechanism—it is a daily practice. Authorities, professionals, and community members share responsibility, stepping in whenever needed.

Because sometimes, what matters most is knowing there is a shoulder to lean on.