More parents to benefit from the PEACE Parenting education programme

Twenty child protection specialists from the Territorial Social Assistance Structures of Dondușeni, Drochia, Soroca, Florești, Ștefan Vodă, Anenii Noi, Căușeni and Bălți Municipality, part of the North-East, North–North-West and South-East Territorial Social Assistance Agencies, are participating from 29 September to 1 October in a training workshop for facilitators of the PEACE – Positive, Empathetic, Aware, Conscious and Empowered Parents parenting education programme.

During the workshop, participants are strengthening the practical skills needed to facilitate the programme while exploring key topics such as parent–child relationships, parenting roles and the influence of gender norms on child-rearing. Following the training, they will support parents and caregivers in their communities to adopt positive parenting practices, prevent situations of risk, and provide children with a safe and nurturing family environment.

At the opening of the workshop, Cristina Ursachi, Chief Consultant at the Child Rights and Families with Children Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, emphasized that supporting parents plays a key role in preventing the separation of children from their families and ensuring an appropriate environment for their growth and development.

“We want the specialists trained through the PEACE programme to provide practical support to families in their communities. The Ministry will continue strengthening the capacity of its territorial social assistance structures, including through enhanced cooperation with development partners and civil society organizations, to expand access to parenting education,” said Cristina Ursachi.

Viorica Dumbrăveanu, Child Protection Officer at UNICEF Moldova, highlighted that “Parenting skills development programmes are an essential component of family support services. They strengthen parents’ capacity to care for and nurture their children, help prevent situations of risk, and contribute to creating safe and protective family environments. UNICEF will continue supporting the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in institutionalizing and integrating these programmes into the child protection system, while expanding parents’ access to evidence-based interventions tailored to their needs.”

Daniela Mămăligă, Director of Partnerships for Every Child, stated: “Through the PEACE programme, we aim to reach more parents and support them in building healthy and positive relationships with their children. We will continue investing in the training of facilitators and in expanding parenting education programmes nationwide, so that more families can benefit from this support.”

The PEACE programme includes three sessions for parents, alongside interactive parent–child activities designed to strengthen family relationships. Participants receive age-appropriate materials and are encouraged to apply the techniques learned at home. The sessions are facilitated by two trained specialists and delivered in groups of up to 15 participants to ensure an interactive and effective learning experience.

The workshop is organized by Partnerships for Every Child (P4EC) under the UNICEF project “Better Care for Children”, implemented with financial support from the Government of Sweden, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova.