In Cahul, a child-friendly room is giving mothers more opportunities to learn and work

For many mothers in the Republic of Moldova, a lack of childcare services can mean having to give up a job, further education, or a new opportunity. In Cahul, the child-friendly room at the Inotek Center provides real support to women attending the Center's courses and its employees. 

“As a mother, I felt at peace. My children were safe, and I was able to devote myself wholeheartedly to the learning process,” says Ludmila, 34, one of the beneficiaries of the Inotek center and the mother of two boys.

A sophomore at the Faculty of Law of the “Bogdan Petriceicu-Hasdeu” State University in Cahul, Ludmila participated in digital skills development courses organized by Inotek. She lives in Cahul with her two sons, Nichita, 7, and Max, 10. Her husband is working abroad, and with no close relatives nearby, she takes care of the children on her own. 

Nevertheless, Ludmila is actively involved at home, at university, and in the community. She hopes to continue growing and participating in other Inotek courses. Initially, Ludmila would come with her two children, who would wait for her until the end of the course. 

"Then Ms. Rodica, the deputy director of the Inotek Center, saw my children and asked, 'Did you know we have a children's room?' I was amazed. During class, my children remained there, and I was able to focus on the learning process," she says. 

The space offers children the opportunity to socialize, break up their daily routine, and spend time in a safe, comfortable, and friendly environment. Equipped with toys, books, and other resources, the space stimulates children's curiosity, creativity, and development. Meanwhile, mothers like Ludmila can take courses at the Inotek Center to develop new skills, step outside their comfort zones, and grow personally and professionally. 

Moreover, the space may also be used by the children of Inotek employees. Drăgălina Gurduza, the communications manager at Inotek, has three children: a son in eighth grade and two daughters, one in fifth grade and one in third grade. 

"This room is a wonderful opportunity for mothers who wouldn't otherwise be able to leave the house and attend a class in person rather than online. At the same time, it gives them peace of mind knowing their little ones are nearby and in a comfortable space. It’s also a chance for them to break out of their routine, interact with other women, and grow,” notes Drăgălina. 

As a single mother, Drăgălina balances her professional work with the responsibilities of caring for her three children. At Inotek, she can focus on her work knowing that after school her children can come to the child-friendly room, where they spend time with other children, including those of her colleagues.

With financial support from Sweden, UN Women has equipped the space with child-friendly furniture, toys, books, and other necessary resources for play, learning, and rest, investing over 300,000 lei. Through these investments, UN Women promotes and expands childcare services for children up to three years old and raises awareness about the importance of these services for families and women’s participation in the labor market.

To date, UN Women has supported the creation of four child-friendly rooms in public institutions in Chișinău and the renovation and furnishing of 15 nursery groups in several regions across the country. More than two million lei have been invested in developing these services. 

For many women, access to childcare can make the difference between staying home and moving forward. Spaces like this show that when children are cared for, mothers have more freedom to learn, work and build their future.

This article was produced as part of the “Together We Grow” campaign, launched by UN Women in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, with financial support from the European Union through the EVOLVE4GE project, the Swiss Cooperation Office through the “Women for Peace and Prosperity” project, and Sweden.