Maria had to face her anxieties, or her children would suffer.
Maria joined the URBAN Kids Centre in Chisinau in September 2024 together with her son, aged 3, and her daughter, aged 1.
At the time, both children were strongly attached to their mother, so much so that their social and speech development was being impeded. The family is like many in Moldova. Maria is primarily responsible for raising the children, as her husband works away from home for extended periods abroad. Maria recognised that her natural disinclination to social interaction had led to the family becoming very isolated and was now a serious problem for her children, so resolved to get some support.
Despite her discomfort, from the moment she joined URBAN Kids, Maria engaged actively in the programme, carefully listening to each lesson and consistently applying the recommendations provided by the educators. Positive changes soon began to appear.
Today, her son speaks in short phrases and simple sentences. He is able to participate in structured activities, has developed better concentration, and shows an understanding of the importance of completing tasks. Her daughter has become one of the most attentive children in her age group. She is gradually beginning to communicate with peers and is starting to speak.
In parallel, Maria herself has grown through the parent sessions, where she finds answers to her questions, is gaining in confidence, and receives emotional support. The URBAN Kids programme has become a space of growth not only for the children, but also for the parent too.
Our Moldovan partner organisation, Beginning of Life, supports dozens of families just like Maria’s. Some families just need a little bit of help; others have complex needs that are beyond their ability to manage by themselves. In a country where nearly half of working age adults earn their money abroad, Beginning of Life comes alongside families, providing support and friendship to single mothers struggling to keep their families together and for children who have fallen behind in their development and schooling. As Maria can testify, the Beginning of Life team are helping to make life bearable again, and even more; they are giving these children a future.
