Support for refugees from Ukraine and vulnerable Romanian families

After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, CONCORDIA reacted promptly and started providing emergency aid for refugees from Ukraine in the neighbor countries Romania and the Republic of Moldova as well as in Bulgaria and Austria.

Thanks to this support, we were able to reach 575 individuals, thereof 267 children, fleeing the war in Ukraine by offering emergency relief, protection and social assistance. Activities included emergency shelters, social tickets and food packages as well as psycho-social support and recreational and leisure activities. As the war continued and challenges with the daily influx of refugees to Romania persisted, CONCORDIA decided to continue its interventions and, based on the signing of a strategic partnership with Kindernothilfe, was able to enter into the second phase of EMPROSS, with a 2-years project and an even higher amount of funding.

Focus on integration

While the measures in the first phase of the humanitarian support focused primarily on direct and quick aid to refugees, the current project – EMPROSS II – focuses on integration into the host community by providing medium-term transit accommodations, job counselling, language classes as well as financial aid and goods provision. The project introduces a focused 6–8-month programme tailored to each family's specific needs, emphasising on job integration for parents and childcare solutions, if needed. Furthermore, CONCORDIA organises joint recreational and educational activities for children and youth from Ukraine as well as from marginalised Romanian families, fostering mutual understanding and tolerance.

The project activities are being managed from Bucharest and are serving individuals from Bucharest and surroundings, mainly from Prahova, Ilfov, and Dambovita counties. While the CONCORDIA facility Casa Iuda serves as transitional accommodation centre as well as place for counselling activities, a second facility, Casa Paul – also located in Bucharest – is used for offering learning spaces and job-coaching interventions. 

CONCORDIA aims to reach a total number of 680 individuals, with a minimum share of 50% being children under 18 years old. While the majority of the target group are refugees from Ukraine, the project includes also Romanian families from marginalised backgrounds who are either already participating in CONCORDIA’s programmes or who will approach CONCORDIA during the project’s duration.