Chisinau, 24 March 2026 – UNICEF and Moldcell Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a new partnership to promote inclusion and positive behaviors among children and adolescents through the Social Theatre initiative.
Launched in 2025, the initiative was designed to address bullying and discrimination in schools by engaging students in participatory performances and guided reflection. The initiative has already demonstrated a strong impact, contributing to significant shifts in attitudes, social norms, and self-confidence among pupils and teachers.
The intervention corrected key misconceptions: the share of pupils who recognized that disability is not an illness increased from 23.2% to 86.4%. At the same time, 90.2% of pupils rejected the belief that children with special educational needs are incapable of learning. Confidence to intervene in bullying situations also increased substantially, from 47.5% before the activity to 87.9% after, showing a growing willingness among young people to stand up for others.
Building on these results, the Social Theatre will continue in 2026 in 45 schools across 10 rayons, reaching 7,000 pupils, with the support of Moldcell Foundation. As a financial supporter and active partner, Moldcell Foundation will help bring Social Theatre performances directly to schools, ensuring more children have access to safe spaces for dialogue and reflection.
Through participatory performances and guided reflection, students are encouraged not only to reflect on real-life challenges, but also to become part of the solution.
“Partnerships with the private sector are essential to create lasting change. We are pleased to collaborate with Moldcell Foundation in supporting children and adolescents to grow in environments where they feel accepted, valued and empowered,” mentioned Maha Damaj, UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova.
“Through this partnership, we commit to empowering adolescents to lead by example, building a culture of respect and helping them make informed, responsible choices for their future”, mentioned Irina Strajescu, Executive Director, Moldcell Foundation.
As a powerful tool for inclusion, Social Theatre gives adolescents the opportunity to become co-creators of the performance, express their perspectives, reflect on the challenges they face in school and in their communities, and bring forward the voices of children who are often unheard, while promoting empathy, inclusion, and positive behaviors. It helps transform classrooms into safe spaces where diversity is understood and respected.
To ensure sustainability, five training-of-trainers sessions will be organized for approximately 100 participants, including members of Student Councils and school staff, equipping them with practical tools to address social issues through the Social Theatre approach.
The initiative is part of the national “Learning Together” campaign, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research, supporting the National Programme for Inclusive Education 2023–2027. The Social Theatre initiative is also supported by the Governments of Austria and Norway as part of ongoing efforts to advance inclusive education in Moldova.
By working together – public institutions, international organizations, and the private sector – we can help create schools where every child feels safe, respected, and included.