For many children, the hours after school are more than just free time – they are an opportunity to discover new interests, strengthen their knowledge, build friendships, and feel safe. Yet in many rural and vulnerable communities in Moldova, such opportunities remain limited due to the lack of accessible afterschool programmes.
The "BOOST: Building Opportunities for Outstanding School-Time" project aims to change this reality. By supporting local organisations, strengthening professional capacities, and involving children themselves in shaping activities, the project works to expand access to high-quality, inclusive extracurricular education across the country.
Our impact
Bringing afterschool opportunities closer to children
Access to afterschool programmes should not depend on where a child lives. To reach children in communities where such opportunities are scarce, the project provides grants totalling EUR 500,000 to ten local civil society organisations, enabling them to establish and run afterschool programmes in rural areas.
Together, these initiatives will reach approximately 2,500 children across 13 districts in Moldova, focusing on those aged 7 to 14 and from vulnerable families who often have limited access to learning opportunities beyond the classroom.
"This project is strategic for our organisation because it allows us to contribute to better education and help create a safer and more supportive environment for children, especially those from vulnerable families," says Natalia Rosca from the Institute for Rural Initiatives.
The funded initiatives focus on creating spaces where children can learn, explore, and connect with others. Activities include:
- safe and structured environments for afterschool learning
- homework support and academic reinforcement
- STEAM and digital education activities
- arts, sports, and creative workshops
- initiatives that strengthen children’s wellbeing, resilience, and social inclusion
Parents and teachers are also encouraged to take part in community-level educational initiatives, helping create a supportive environment around children’s learning. In total, the project aims to engage over 600 parents through information sessions and consultation activities.
Strengthening capacities for sustainable programmes
Creating quality afterschool programmes requires more than funding alone. For this reason, the project also invests in strengthening the capacities of the organisations and professionals who work directly with children.
Participating organisations receive a comprehensive capacity-building package that includes:
- training for teachers and facilitators delivering afterschool activities, with at least 130 professionals strengthening their skills through training, mentoring, and practical tools for non-formal education
- ongoing mentoring throughout implementation
- guidance on child protection and children’s participation
- financial management support
- peer learning opportunities that allow organisations to exchange experiences and good practices
At the same time, the project contributes to improving the broader environment for extracurricular education in Moldova. This includes analysing the national legal and policy framework regulating extracurricular and afterschool services and developing recommendations to improve both quality and accessibility.
A study visit to France provided project partners and national stakeholders with the opportunity to explore concrete models of organising and financing extracurricular programmes, meet public authorities and service providers, and identify practical approaches which can inform the development of afterschool services in Moldova.
When the project concludes, successful approaches and lessons learned will be shared with the Ministry of Education and Research, with the goal of expanding effective models to more communities across the country.
Children’s voices at the centre
An important feature of the BOOST project is the active involvement of children and young people themselves.
A Child and Youth Advisory Board brings together young people who monitor how well the project responds to children’s needs. This participation mechanism is integrated across all BOOST sub-grant initiatives, ensuring that children are involved throughout the process – from providing feedback on activities to assessing their relevance and quality.
Members of the Advisory Board have also carried out a national study on participation in afterschool activities in Moldova, gathering the views and experiences of 4,639 respondents, including 2.761 children.
Loredana, one of the young researchers involved in the study, shared one of the key findings: "Some of the main reasons why children in Moldova do not participate in afterschool activities are lack of time, high costs, distance, and lack of information. Many children would like to participate, but they simply do not have the necessary conditions and opportunities."
By listening to children’s perspectives and supporting local organisations, the BOOST project seeks to ensure that more children across Moldova can benefit from safe, engaging, and meaningful extracurricular experiences.
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The “BOOST: Building Opportunities for Outstanding School-Time” project is funded by the European Union and implemented by Terre des hommes Moldova in partnership with Junior Achievement Moldova and the Alliance of NGOs Active in the Field of Social Protection of Children and Families (APSCF).
