Mastercard, Edenred, Pluxee, and Up Romania announce a donation of 525,000 RON to Save the Children Romania to support the operation of the Golescu Grant Day Center throughout the year. Inaugurated in April 2024, the center serves as a crucial pillar in supporting the children of Ukrainian refugees who have found a second home in Romania, as well as Romanian children from vulnerable backgrounds. The donation ensures the continuity of integrated services provided to children and families at risk of social marginalization, facilitating their access to education, counseling, and psychosocial support.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, over 6.6 million Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania. As of mid-November 2024, according to UNHCR, 172,570 Ukrainian refugees were still in Romania, approximately two-thirds of whom were women and one-third children. Many of these families, most of them single-parent households, face difficult circumstances, making support crucial for their integration into the host community. Surveys indicate that while the majority hope to return to Ukraine, only 14 percent intend to do so in the near future due to concerns about safety, access to jobs, basic services, and education.
To support the socio-economic integration of these families, Save the Children inaugurated a day center in April 2024 within the Golescu Grant complex, a space provided by the 6th District City Hall through the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection of District 6. The center offers a safe environment for both Romanian and Ukrainian children from single-parent or economically disadvantaged families and helps parents access the labor market through a wide range of services, including educational support (homework assistance, Romanian language courses, and support for distance learning), recreational and social cohesion activities, daily transportation and meals, as well as integration and financial independence support.
“The day center addresses overlapping needs, both those of parents, who need to work to provide for their children, and those of the children, who require socio-emotional support, educational integration, and, above all, a sense of safety,” said Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of Save the Children Romania.
Since its opening, with the support of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the Proiect Voiajor Association, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), 307 children and 514 adults, both Ukrainian and Romanian, have benefited from the center’s services. Every day, dozens of children participate in educational and recreational activities in a safe and stimulating environment that supports their development, while their mothers have the opportunity to build a more stable future by integrating into the labor market.
“The day center plays a crucial role in supporting vulnerable families, providing not only a safe and educational environment for children but also valuable resources for parents, helping them access the labor market and improve their living conditions. Cross-sector partnerships are essential to the success of this center and demonstrate how we can create sustainable solutions through collaboration. These efforts not only have a significant impact on communities but also contribute to building a more resilient and inclusive society, capable of effectively responding to the diverse needs of those in difficulty,” said Ioana Gorgăneanu, Vice President, Head of Marketing & Communications Southeast Europe, Mastercard.
The “Enabling Financial Security for Vulnerable and Displaced Workers ” program, initiated by Save the Children, the Proiect Voiajor Association, and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), was launched in August 2023. The initiative provides Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable Romanians with support in finding suitable employment, along with free childcare services. More information is available at https://jobs4ukr.com/together.
