Into Moldova
To create opportunities for all who need them
Moldova is considered to be a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. The majority of trafficking victims are women and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Many Moldovan citizens, particularly women and girls, are trafficked to other countries in Europe, particularly Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Additionally, Moldovan men, women, and children are also subjected to forced labor within the country and in Russia. Poverty, lack of employment opportunities, and weak law enforcement are factors that contribute to the high incidence of human trafficking in Moldova. Preventative action is required.
The graduating class in Moldova
Uncover the Importance
In today's world, where human trafficking is a growing problem, children who have experienced abuse and poverty are particularly vulnerable. OGI aims to provide support to child welfare professionals and foster families who may be uninformed, overwhelmed, and underfunded in order to ensure the safety and stability of the children in their care.
In countries like Moldova, where war and extreme poverty have created instability, OGI offers vital support and training to foster families to help them care for and protect adopted children and their families. Preserving families is crucial in protecting children from falling prey to traffickers.
Children from war-torn regions around the world who have faced abuse and poverty are among the most vulnerable and are in dire need of care from foster families and child welfare professionals. However, when these caregivers have also experienced trauma, they require additional support and guidance to effectively care for the children in their charge.
Our Process
OGI with Open Kitchen is dedicated to providing essential education and training to equip these caregivers with the tools they need to protect children from the dangers of human trafficking, which preys on the young and vulnerable. With OGIs help, these caregivers can provide stability and safety to the children they care for, and help prevent them from falling prey to traffickers.
We Listen
In creating sustainable paths to societal change, we focus on harm reduction to respectfully integrate effective care into each culture we serve. This begins with listening and learning. We find out what child welfare professionals need, then determine how to fill those gaps.
We Train
Partnering with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University, we train social workers, therapists, governmental workers, healthcare professionals and foster parents in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) to address the specific, complex needs and fear-based behaviors of vulnerable children.
We Unify
We empower and invest in local NGOs, governments and foster families; leveraging these resources to support families by strengthening foster parent training and minimalizing failed foster placements.
We Invest
OGICW invests in training opportunities for local therapists in Eye MovementDesensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) certification. This vital therapy focuses on treating a range of behaviors and self-esteem issues linked to past traumatic events and current living conditions.
What we Offer
Beauty courses offer a wide range of options available, such as hairdressing, massage, eye lashes extensions, manicure/pedicures and make up. Each course has different duration ranging from 5 days to 2 months. Cost of the courses is 475 USD per person.
Our Impact in Moldova
Our team has successfully implemented the first use of TBRI® and EMDR in Romania. We provided EMDR training in the Romanian language to a diverse group of child welfare professionals. In total, 203 child welfare professionals were trained, including 25 government child protection staff and 82 state-registered foster/adopted caregivers. Additionally, we had the opportunity to deliver research-informed clinical training to 337 Child Welfare professionals at Children’s Emergency Relief International’s (CERI) 2019 conference in Moldova. We are proud of the impact we have made in the child welfare community in Romania.
In the Works
Our team is currently working on several initiatives to continue our impact in the Moldovan child welfare community. We are proud to have received recognition and endorsement from the Moldovan government for the impact of our training programs. We are dedicated to ensuring maximum success in the implementation and sustainability of our trainings and all our programs are evaluated accordingly. Additionally, we provide post-training support and implementation strategies to all professionals and foster parents to ensure that they can continue to make positive changes in the lives of the children they serve.
How can you make an impact?
Donations play a crucial role in the success of our programs. They allow us to provide essential resources and support to the individuals we serve. Without the generosity of donors, we would not be able to provide the necessary training, education, and support services that are vital to the rehabilitation and reintegration of vulnerable youth and survivors
Sponsoring people for one of OGI's programs is an important way to support vulnerable individuals and families and help prevent human trafficking. It allows for the provision of vital education and training to caregivers, as well as resources and support for those at risk of falling victim to traffickers.
You can sponsor an Open Kitchen student for $790
You can sponsor an Open Education student for $3150
You can sponsor an Open Beauty student for $475