Getting to grips with technology by Serghei Mihailov, Moldova
Due to the ongoing crisis caused by the global spread of COVID-19, Moldovans are fearful of their future. BOL has been able to prepare and deliver 390 food parcels and hygiene kits for mothers with infants.
Many thousands of people have lost their jobs and social assistance from the government is still insignificant when compared with the impacts of the crisis. Although the number of COVID-19 related deaths being reported in Moldova is relatively small, the true scale of the disease is likely to be much greater. In this context, the Beginning of Life (BOL) team in Chisinau has adjusted its programmes and projects to comply with the restrictions, and in order to reach people in need despite lockdown and curfews. For deprived families, BOL has been able to prepare and deliver 390 food parcels and hygiene kits for mothers with infants. The Early Learning Centre and Psychological Art Studio have adapted to provide online classes in combination with special toolkits distributed each week for families to use at home. Teaching materials are now prepared in a form that can be used by people on their own or in a group at a distance. Also, there are organised meetings using Zoom with leaders and trainers who are working online with different groups.
For most of the people, this is a totally new way of facilitating ministry Educational projects related to schools and community have continued through social media, YouTube and Zoom. Employing this new form of communication with youth and teens has required creative solutions. These new arrangements were welcomed not only by the children and youth but also by their parents who also stay at home. The BOL team continue to learn the specifics of working with people online and are getting to grips with the new internet tools. There have been additional costs to make these changes, however, they have avoided making major deviations from the agreed budget.
BOL Art therapy studio goes online 9
