A New Life, a New Profession, a New Opportunity with the Budești – Casa Părintească Association

Originally from Budești, Maricica Proca chose to return to her hometown after finishing university, with a commitment to develop it. Activist, teacher, director of the local Children and Youth Center, volunteer, and President of the Budești – Casa Părintească Association, Maricica puts it simply: “I want, when I can no longer work, to benefit from quality public services and to live in dignity in my community, alongside others who can enjoy access to water, sewerage, and activities for all ages. If you do nothing, nothing happens. If you want more and better, you have to get involved, work, and make changes.”

The association she leads has transformed the community through various projects focused on local infrastructure, activities for all age groups, gender equality, and the equitable division of household chores. Most initiatives are implemented in three villages: Budești, Tohatin, and Cruzești. According to Maricica, without engaging the neighboring communities, it is harder to make meaningful changes, especially when addressing mindsets, stereotypes, and behavior. After intense work during the pandemic, the refugee crisis emerged, and Budești – Casa Părintească cooperated with local authorities to support women and children seeking refuge in Moldova. Through conversations with these women, Maricica realized that they wanted to work and needed new professional skills that would be useful in Moldova. Discussions were held with businesses and local authorities, and with support from UN Women and financial assistance from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), 30 women — half of whom are refugees — are now being trained.

“All cooking, hairdressing, or pastry-cook courses conclude with a certification. Women need to have confidence and certified skills to find employment. All of them, if they wish, will be able to work locally because we have made sure that there are job vacancies for them. This is why we work closely with local authorities and businesses. Women need to be informed about existing opportunities, and we help them take advantage of them, including through these trainings,” Maricica says.

A proud mother of an 8-year-old, she speaks fondly of her extended family: “We are all involved — my husband, parents, and child. It's very important, not just that my family supports me, but that people see a model that inspires them: examples of women leadership, united families. It’s otherwise difficult to convince people, especially in rural communities where trust is essential.”

The Association’s plans go further, focusing not only on work with women, including counseling and consultations on all available public services but also on efforts to improve and make these services more accessible. Maricica is also involved in creating a tourism route that connects the three villages, continues to work toward greater paternal involvement in child-raising, and organizes summer camps and training sessions. “I don’t have the right to give up; we must succeed, and we must succeed at home because we are the ones who build the future,” says Maricica.

UN Women and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund have been strong supporters of Budești-Casa Părintească since 2022, backing the integration and empowerment of both refugee and local women.