A premiere in Moldova’s higher education system. Students and academic staff at Moldova State University (USM) can now benefit from a specially designed center for the care of young children. USM, in partnership with UNFPA Moldova and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, has launched the USM Family-Friendly Center: Children Grow | Parents Work and Learn—an initiative aimed at facilitating the balance between academic and family life. Located in a historic building on the university campus, the Center was made possible with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency and Moldcell Foundation, representing an investment of approximately 1.6 million lei.
The Family-Friendly Center will provide childcare services for children up to 3 years old and is designed to support USM students and faculty. Currently, 55 students and 27 professors with small children are eligible to benefit from the facilities, which include a nursing room, play areas, a nap room, kitchen, and child-adapted restrooms.
USM Rector Igor Șarov and First Vice-Rector Otilia Dandara thanked the partners and emphasized that this project helps to strengthen the home-like spirit of the university community.
“We will be happy to hear children’s laughter—and why not their cries—on campus. Young families deserve support in every form, and we are proud that through this Center, we are taking a step forward in fulfilling that commitment,” said Igor Șarov.
At the launch event, the Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Alexei Buzu, also spoke:
“This week, the annual World Happiness Report was released, and Finland ranked as the happiest country and the best place to be a child. My ambition is for Moldova to also become a country where it is truly good to be a child. That is why investments in children are the most valuable. Opening such a child-friendly space at a place of work or study is a major milestone.”
The Minister further added that this Center should be the norm, not the exception, highlighting the need to expand such initiatives nationwide.
This initiative aligns with UNFPA’s ongoing efforts to promote family-friendly policies in the Republic of Moldova. The launch of the USM Family-Friendly Center marks the expansion of these interventions into the public sector, following successful implementation in five private companies, and responds to the need to help young parents balance academic and family responsibilities.
“Opening this Family-Friendly Center at the State University is a clear commitment to promoting family-friendly policies in Moldova—policies that help families harmoniously combine their professional and personal lives. Furthermore, the UNFPA-conducted Generations and Gender Survey shows that families in Moldova would like to have more children, but are often held back by the lack of nurseries, childcare options, and equitable division of family responsibilities. UNFPA firmly believes that all women should have equal opportunities to pursue both their career and family goals—not be forced to choose between being a mother and having a job, but be empowered to have both,” said Natalia Plugaru, UNFPA Moldova Representative.
The total investment in the Center is 1.6 million lei, and all facilities comply with Law No. 367/2022 on alternative early childhood care services and Government Decision No. 572/2023 on the framework regulation for their organization and functioning.
Irina Strajescu, Director of the Moldcell Foundation, shared the company’s experience in supporting employee-parents: “As a private company, we already provide family-friendly spaces and nursing rooms. All female employees are given the opportunity to work from home after giving birth. The golden rule when launching a service or product is to address a real need of the people. Life is about children, and they are our life. These small details make life so much better. We never stop being parents—in fact, we work even more efficiently when we know our children are safe and cared for.”
This initiative reflects the Moldcell Foundation’s commitment to supporting women in balancing their careers and family lives, by contributing to the creation of safe and supportive environments for raising children. The Foundation advocates for equal access for women to employment opportunities and develops sustainable solutions that empower them to build their future as they envision it—including the possibility to have as many children as they wish, in a safe and supportive community.The sustainability of the USM Family-Friendly Center will be ensured by Moldova State University, which has committed to continuing to provide these essential services to the academic community.