Youth Resource Center ”DACIA”

Youth Resource Center DACIA is a non-governamental institution, which was founded on 14 february2003, in a period with limited opportunities for youths from Republic of Moldova and during a period of transition from soviet system and development of our state. The Center was officially registered by Soroca Council on April 17-th, 2003. The main reason for creating this institution was to offer more opportunities to youth who want to build their future in Moldova, to learn democratic principles and to find out what it is to be a free citizen in your own country. The Center DACIA was among the first associations in Moldova, that based on public-private partnership has managed to create an institution providing youth-friendly services, developing youth policies from local to the republican level, being involved in organizing of the first Moldova National Youth Forum. In the cooperation with Soroca District Council, City Hall, with support of Social Investment Fund of Moldova, UNICEF and our founders there was officially opened the first Regional Resource Centerfor Youth in 2005 in Soroca, which continues its intensive work up to today. Centre DACIA developed programs of life skills activities in 2005, to promote healthy life style among young people on the principle of involving youth peer educators. Thus DACIA Center organized several summer schools and training. The purpose of training peer educators and priority og their further work was to prevent HIV/AIDS. Currently, the Centre is the only institution in the region that promote prevention of HIV/AIDS through youth, using interactive methods accessible to young people. Beginning with 2004 Centre DACIA supported and promoted in the region the Local Youth Councils and the creation of a regional network, including the award of 20 grants to local youth initiatives. This very initiative highly contributed to the change of community attitude towards the fact and the way of participation of the young people in solving their own problems and in decision taking process. DACIA Center trained 30 youth groups across the country in the creation and development of local councils, development and implementation of local projects in 2008. Currently DACIA Center is the official mentor of the Local Youth Council of Soroca, who are officially accepted by the District Council and is a real success in this regard. Centre DACIA offered consultations to 11 districts in the north the country to develop strategies and action plans on youth policy in 2006, which were officially approved by the Regional Councils decision. In Soroca district the strategy for period was on the responsibility of a significant number of partners, but the most important role in its achieving was on theDACIACenterpart, which conducted activities in proportions of 90% of plan actions. Center DACIA created a placement service in the center in 2005, offering the opportunity to assist the most vulnerable youth, orphans, from economically disadvantaged families or with the presence of domestic violence. Over 420 young people in a day-care and placement were assisted in reintegration into the community. As the service was centered on the professionalization, over 181 youths were trained and 128 young people received scholarships during 2009. Also Dacia Center offered consulting services and training to 11 social centers during the same year in Falesti, Drochia, Singerei, Hincesti, Stefan Voda and Baltsi, thus spreading its experience in social services for young people. Center Dacia created in 2006 a service of support for women, that assisted 8407 girls aged 16-25 years in 7 districts in the north of the country. Dacia continues its activity in supporting the young girls and women by divers project concerning civic participation and financial integration of women in society. Our Center is the key player in the region in the frame of National Campaign “16 days activities against gender based violence”. Center Dacia created a 100 % self -investment private company SC ARTDEDAL LTD, which is among the first models of social entrepreneurship in Moldova, aiming creation of new jobs in rural areas and getting our own income to achieve the statutory activities of the Centre. Centre DACIA has managed to implement during these years over 40 projects and is at the moment involved in realization of new initiatives that will offer our youths more opportunities of information, mobility, participation, leading a healthy style living and achieving a social and economical integration.