The Day Care Center Model in Odobești tackles child poverty and educational inequality in rural Romania by combining tailored support services with community and political engagement.
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF CHILD POVERTY
With over 40% of Romanian children living in poverty and many facing hunger and illiteracy, CONCORDIA created an innovative Day Care Center Model to address the crisis at a local level. Partnering with the Mayor of Odobești and supported by European Structural Funds, the project delivers daily tutoring, psychological counselling, hot meals, and life skills training. By offering individualised care and academic support, the centre improves school attendance and personal development for children most at risk of dropping out.
PARTNERSHIPS THAT DRIVE COMMUNITY CHANGE
The model fosters collaboration between local politicians, families, and service providers to build long-term support networks and promote inclusive development. Parents are actively involved, and local authorities help sustain the initiative, creating a blueprint for rural social innovation. At least 350 children and families will benefit by the end of the programme, with results already showing increased family stability, improved living conditions, and a stronger commitment to education among residents.
A GATEWAY TO HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY
Far more than a care centre, the Odobești project equips children with digital and practical skills, opens them to new cultures through international volunteers, and nurtures talents in arts and sports. It introduces rural youth to future career paths—some experiencing computers or tractors for the first time—and gives families a reason to believe in long-term change. As the only centre of its kind in the region, it ensures equal dignity and opportunity, helping children escape poverty and lifelong social exclusion.
