Final Project Grant Report

Basic Information

OSI Grant ID#: OR2013-07064

Grant project title: Media Promotion of the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

Project funded by: Health Media Initiative / Open Society Foundations

Organization name: Keystone Human Services International Moldova Association (Keystone Moldova)

Contact person: Ludmila Malcoci, Keystone Moldova Executive Director

Total grant awarded: $34,887.11

Grant start and end date (month/day/year): September 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014

Report due date: April 1, 2014

Report submission date: March 21, 2014

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

C4A-MD - Community for All – Moldova Program

HMI/OSF - Health Media Initiative / Open Society Foundations

JMSG - Joint Media Strategy Group

Keystone Moldova - Keystone Human Services International Moldova Association

MLSPF - Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family

ToR - Terms of Reference

Narrative Report

I. Project purpose

This initiative was focused on addressing the attitudinal barriers in society toward people with disabilities through working with the media (Print, Radio, TV, and New Media) and using personal storytelling.

The long term goal for the project was a self-advocacy movement established and empowered to promote social inclusion of people with disabilities. The short term goal was to support self-empowerment and societal inclusion for people with disabilities in Moldova. Objectives:

- Increase the skills and abilities of people with disabilities in storytelling to advocate for their own rights by involving them in media activities.

- Promotion of social inclusion through developing and disseminating media materials about people with different abilities (with a focus on their capabilities and humanity).

- Increase awareness and understanding of the human rights of people with disabilities through development and implementation of a media campaign.

II. Activity summary

The project activities included three main components: 1. Organizing a storytelling workshop for people with disabilities to document their personal testimonies on video and audio, as well as developing and implementing a national media campaign to disseminate these stories. 2. Holding a photo exhibition "The World, the Way I See It", as well as producing and disseminating an annual photo calendar. 3. Improving mainstream news coverage of people with disabilities - through education of student journalists and a journalism prize.

The main activities that have been completed during this grant period are as follows:

1. Organizing a storytelling workshop for people with disabilities to document their

personal testimonies on video and audio, as well as developing and implementing a

national media campaign to disseminate these stories.

Storytelling workshop for people with disabilities.

Aimed at developing the skills and abilities of people with disabilities in storytelling, a 3-day training in

storytelling was organized during 12-15 November, 2013 (Annex 1 – Agenda). The training was held

at Purcari Hotel in Purcari Village, Stefan Voda District. The Community Centre for Children and Youth

with Disabilities (CCCT) provided support in identifying the participants for the training.

Nine (9) people with different types of disabilities and 2 support people participated in this training

(Annex 2 - Participants list). The training was led by the Communication Department team (Natalia

Raileanu, Communication Manager and Lina Malcoci, Media Specialist).

During two of the training days, participants learned how and why to tell personal stories for advocacy purposes, and on the third day, personal stories told by the participants were recorded on video and audio to be disseminated in the media. Personal stories shared by participants focused on situations of discrimination and stigma faced in the institution and also in the community; described the life in the residential institution in contrast with the life in the community; and shared their dreams to be achieved, etc.

Pictures from the training can be seen here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/109135890104965404319/albums/5949101092989450305?authkey=C

P64_f2UkYL27QE

In order to increase the social activism of people with disabilities, the participants in the storytelling

training were invited to join the media campaign which was initiated by Keystone Moldova.

Developing and implementing a national media campaign to disseminate personal

stories of people with disabilities.

In December 2013, Keystone Moldova organized a media campaign called, “Show you care!”, aimed at increasing societal awareness towards the rights of people with disabilities and encouraging people to stand up for human rights and take a position on the discrimination situations they witness (Annex 3 – Media campaign). A partnership with a TV channel and a Radio station was established to ensure the dissemination of the personal stories throughout the country - Radio Noroc and National TV Company Moldova 1. Both companies have large audiences which represent the campaign’s target groups. Each media company agreed to create a short rubric in their program to promote the campaign. The campaign was focused on disseminating personal stories of people with disabilities, so that individuals are presented in a positive and valued way that tells the story of their life but does not represent them only as a person with disability. Media campaign objectives: - To raise awareness and understanding and to promote community integration by sharing personal testimonies of people with disabilities and parents of people with disabilities; - To increase human rights-based coverage of issues related to intellectual disability in the media. Both media companies provided support in the production and dissemination of the video and audio materials during the campaign. For this purpose, journalists from Moldova 1 TV Company and Radio Noroc met with participants and recorded the stories – on November 15, 2013. On December 2, 2013 the media campaign “Show you care!” was launched on Radio Noroc and on national TV Moldova 1, in the show “Buna dimineata” (“Good morning”) with the participation of Ludmila Malcoci, Executive Director of Keystone Moldova, Natalia Raileanu, Communication Manager, Mariana Morari and Ana Chiricioc – participants in the campaign. All of them talked about the campaign and the goals to be achieved by sharing personal stories. The campaign ran from December 2 – 13, 2013. Seven (7) personal stories shared by people with disabilities were disseminated on the radio and 5 stories – on TV.

On December 13, in the last day of the media campaign, Ludmila Malcoci, Executive Director of Keystone Moldova and Natalia Raileanu, Communication Manager participated again in the show “Buna dimineata” (“Good morning”) on TV Moldova 1 and talked about the events that have been organized during the campaign and the future plans. During all these activities, annual calendars with photographs taken by children and adults with intellectual disabilities were disseminated as a tool for raising awareness. All these events were promoted on social media. Here are the links of the video stories promoted on Moldova 1 TV channel: - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-2-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 33:15) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-3-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 15:45) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-4-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 30:05) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-5-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 29:00) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-6-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 44:55) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-9-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 18:55) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-10-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 31:45) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-11-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 19:50) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-12-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 27:00) - http://trm.md/ro/buna-diminea-a/buna-dimineata-din-13-decembrie-2013-partea-i-a/ (minute 30:00) The dissemination of the video and audio stories has been done also through: - uploading the videos on youtube.com and inclusion.md websites; - copying the video stories on blank DVD’s and distributing them to journalists from the print and electronic media outlets; - presenting the video stories during different training and awareness-raising activities organized by Keystone Moldova and also during the media campaign. The main results of the training and media campaign activities are as follows:

People with disabilities became aware about the power of their personal stories and how the

skills of storytelling would be helpful in speaking up for themselves and defending their rights

effectively. In this order, some people have started to actively share their personal stories to

mass-media (for eg. Mariana Morari) and advocating for their rights.

Volunteers (support people) learned how to tell a powerful story and how to support people

with disabilities to speak out about their life and the difficulties they face.

2. Holding a photo exhibition "The World, the Way I See It", as well as producing and

disseminating an annual photo calendar.

Keystone Moldova launched the 5th edition of the photo exhibition “The World, the Way I See It”, on December 3, 2013, as a part of this media campaign, aimed at promoting positive images of persons with intellectual disabilities by highlighting their abilities in order to raise awareness about their social inclusion. Seven young men were trained and received instructions on how to use photo cameras. Several field visits were made for this purpose. After that, they were encouraged to take pictures of the most relevant persons, moments, places and things for them personally. The 40 best pictures were selected and printed; and the frames for pictures and pictures support racks were procured. The photographs were presented in the exhibition (http://keystonemoldova.md/en/news-and-events/article.php?id=132) and will be included in the calendar for the next year (2015).

As has become an annual tradition, the photo exhibition was held in the hall of the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family, which is Keystone’s partner. The authors of the photographs, their parents and relatives, representatives of the MLSPF, NGOs working in the field of social protection, and journalists attended the exhibition’s opening. Each author of the photographs received a diploma of merit, copies of his works and a digital photo camera. Regarding this event, 7 stories were developed and diffused in mass-media: 1. http://www.trm.md/ro/social/lumea-vazuta-prin-obiectivul-tinerilor-cu-dizabilitati/

2. http://www.jc.md/tineri-cu-dizabilitati-isi-exprima-viziunea-supra-lumii-prin-intermediul-fotografiei-

vezi-foto

3. http://news.portal-start.com/post/lumea-vazuta-prin-obiectivul-tinerilor-cu-dizabilitati

4. http://www.mpsfc.gov.md/md/newslst/1211/1/5602/

5.

http://www.radiochisinau.md/lumea_asa_cum_o_vad_eu_de_ziua_internationala_a_persoanelor_cu_d

izabilitati-11079

6. http://staging.yam.md/ro/story/1681128

7. http://beneficiu.blogspot.com/2013/12/vrem-sa-avem-aceeasi-viata.html

The exhibition was also presented on December 10 at the national event on human rights organized by the UN office in Moldova. Also, a photo calendar for 2014 was developed - http://keystonemoldova.md/assets/documents/ro/communication-materials/poster_bags_tipar.pdf. The calendar includes the best pictures made by children and young men with intellectual disabilities and presented during the photo exhibition in the previous year 2012. For this purpose, a design and layout consultant was hired and the Bons Offices printing house was selected through a tender. 300 copies of the calendar were printed and disseminated to local and central public authorities, mass-media representatives, Keystone Moldova partners, donors, etc. Up to the date of this report, 43 children and young men have been trained in using a digital photo camera; 5 photo exhibitions have been organized and 3 photo calendars have been printed and disseminated throughout the country.

3. Improving mainstream news coverage of people with disabilities - through education of

student journalists and a journalism prize.

Education of student journalists.

In order to raise awareness and information about human rights and intellectual disability among

student journalists, Keystone Moldova established a partnership with the Journalism faculty from the

State University of Moldova. This is the most important academic institution in the country that

provides qualitative professional education in journalism and mass communications. With the support

of the Dean of the Journalism faculty, we managed to get the approval to include this training session

in the study program of the second-year students, within the Social Journalism course.

Thus, an informing session for student journalists was organized during October – December 2013. Seminars have been organized twice per month, 3 hours each. In total, 5 seminars were held (Annex 4 - Schedule training session journalism).

During the informing sessions, students were informed and trained on the following topics: - What is disability? - Types of disabilities. - Who are people with disabilities? - The effects of social devaluation of any group of people and how to work against its negative effects. - Communication with people with intellectual or multiple disabilities. - Professional standards in developing media materials about people with disabilities. - Legal and personal data protection. Informed consent, etc. The seminars were led by the Communication Manager and members of Keystone Moldova team (Eliza Caus, Services Development Specialist, and Ina Crasnojon-Laba, Psychologist). The media materials developed within Keystone Moldova such as films, personal audio stories, pictures, etc. were used in this training session. Also, the announcement about the contest on the best reports related to disability was disseminated. Around 60 students were trained and attended each seminar during this training session. Following-up this activity, field visits were organized for students in order to know and communicate with children and adults with disabilities living in social services or families. Thus, students were invited to participate at the launching of the photo exhibition “The World, The Way I See It!” and encouraged to develop media materials about this event. Also, a visit to the Community Home in Hansca Village, Ialoveni District was organized on January 29. In total, 15 students met people with disabilities in the field with Keystone Moldova support. As a result, 10 stories about people with disabilities have been developed by journalism students:

1. http://alinanicolai.blogspot.com/2014/02/zimbetele-sincere-nu-sunt-conditionate.html#links 2. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/09/interviul-zilei-9-decembrie-2013-2-2/ 3. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/09/buletin-de-stiri-6-decembrie-2013/ (minute 0:35) 4. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/05/buletin-de-stiri-5-decembrie-2013/ (minute 0:50) 5. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/03/buletin-de-stiri-3-decembrie-2013-2/ (minute 0:40) 6. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/danut-copilul-din-internat/ 7. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/viata-de-scticla/ 8. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/795/ 9. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/798/ 10. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/sondaj-de-opinie-2/

During the training session, two evaluation questionnaires were applied in order to assess the

participants' attitudes about people with disabilities (first questionnaire – before the training session

and the second – after the training session). The results of the evaluation questionnaires showed the

influence and the impact of the information and methods used in the seminars on participants'

attitudes. Due to the training session, the acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities has

increased and social distance between respondents and people with intellectual disabilities decreased.

The responses showed a considerable change of participants’ attitude towards disability - only 38% of

the total number of responses had negative connotations and 62% - positive.

Also, the Guide for journalists on communication with and about people with disabilities (Romanian

version) was reprinted in 150 copies in order to promote a correct language and image in the media

about people with disabilities and developing the skills of journalists in communicating and creating

media materials about people with intellectual disabilities. The Guide will be distributed within the

Journalism Faculty student body.

Contest on the best media materials.

In September 2013, Keystone Moldova launched a national journalism competition called “We have

the same rights. We want equal chances!”, aimed at promoting and increasing the human rights-based

intellectual disability coverage in media. Journalists from all media outlets, as well as students from

journalism faculties were invited to participate. In this order, the Announcement and Regulation

(http://keystonemoldova.md/ro/tenders/tender.php?id=31) of the contest was developed and

disseminated on Keystone Moldova websites, on social media, and sent by email to the journalists

included in the Communication Department database. Contest was open from September 15, 2013 -

January 31, 2014.

A Selection Committee (Jury) was established in order to decide on the submitted materials to be awarded. The members of the Jury were: 1. Ludmila Malcoci, Executive Director of Keystone Moldova 2. Georgeta Stepanov, Dean of the Journalism and Communication Sciences Faculty at the State University of Moldova 3. Vasile State, Director of the Electronic Press Association from Moldova (APEL) 4. Natalia Răileanu, Communication Manager, Keystone Moldova 5. Eliza Caus, Services Development and Social Role Valorization Specialist, Keystone Moldova. The Jury members met on February 10, 2014 and decided on the qualification of the participants in the

competition and selected the best journalism submissions to be awarded. Thirteen (13) people

submitted applications to the contest and 2 of them have been disqualified by the Jury (Annex 5 -

Journalist competition list). Two applications in the Radio section were disqualified for not meeting the

requirements of the competition.

Proceeding under the assumption that only one application was admitted in the Radio section, and

only two applications in the TV section, the majority of the materials in the Print and online media

blogging section has been very professional. The Jury decided to offer two third awards in this

category and one grand prize.

Thus, eight awards have been offered to journalists from different media: 4 from the print and online

media, blogging; 1 from Radio and 2 from TV; and also the grand prize was awarded by the Jury to a

journalist from the print media.

The winners were announced in a ceremony at the Codru Hotel on February 21, 2014

(http://keystonemoldova.md/ro/news-and-events/article.php?id=149). Here are the winners:

Grand Prize (650 USD including taxes):

- Lilia Zaharia, reporter at The Association of Independent Press.

The First Prize (500 USD including taxes):

- Polina Cupcea, “Ziarul National” newspaper (Print and online media, blogging section)

- Rodica Vornices, Canal X” regional TV channel (Television section)

- Tamara Grejdeanu, Radio “Free Europe” (Radio section)

The Second Prize (350 USD including taxes)

- Svetlana Corobceanu, “Jurnal de Chisinau” newspaper (Print and online media, blogging section)

- Liuba Șevciuc, Publika TV (Television section)

The Third Prize (200 USD including taxes)

- Mariana Galben, “Info Prim Neo” News Agency (Print and online media, blogging section)

- Tatiana Scutaru, “Ziarul National” newspaper (Print and online media, blogging section

As a result, journalists documented, developed and published / broadcasted 75 media materials with impact on the situation of persons with disabilities in Moldova and thus brought public attention to their stories:

1. http://ziarulnational.md/parcari-amenajate-doar-pe-hartie/ 2. http://ziarulnational.md/legea-cu-handicap/ 3. http://ziarulnational.md/sclavi-in-r-moldova/ 4. http://ziarulnational.md/la-78-de-ani-ingrijeste-de-fiica-de-57-de-ani/ 5. http://ziarulnational.md/fotbalistul-din-carucior/ 6. http://ziarulnational.md/angajatorii-orbi/ 7. http://ziarulnational.md/educatia-incluziva-din-hop-in-hartop/ 8. http://ziarulnational.md/spitalul-fantoma/ 9. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/danut-copilul-din-internat/ 10. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/viata-de-scticla/ 11. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/795/ 12. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/10/20/798/ 13. http://timoftidaniela.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/sondaj-de-opinie-2/ 14. http://ipn.md/ro/societate/59197 15. http://ipn.md/ro/societate/59302 16. http://ipn.md/ro/societate/57419 17. http://ipn.md/ro/special/59235 18. http://ipn.md/ro/societate/59163 19. http://ipn.md/ro/societate/58465 20. http://tineri.md/index.php?pag=blog&opa=view&u=119&id=505&l=ro 21. http://www.civic.md/interviuri/22624-elena-ratoi-persoanele-cu-dizabilitati-vor-sa-se-simta-

utile.html and http://tineri.md/index.php?pag=succes&opa=view&id=504&l=ro 22. http://www.civic.md/interviuri/22888-emma-matreniuc-lumea-vrea-exemple-de-success-ale-

persoanelor-cu-dizabilitati.html 23. http://www.civic.md/interviuri/22936-mariana-matfei-ciocan-jurnalistii-ar-trebui-sa-reprezinte-

persoana-cu-dizabilitate-din-perspectiva-reusitelor.html and http://iulianam.com/index.php/intrebari/166-mariana-matfei-ciocan-despre-cum-trebuie-incurajate-de-pres-persoanele-cu-dizabiliti.html

24. http://www.civic.md/interviuri/23043-mariana-morari-persoana-cu-dizabilitati-este-in-primul-rand-persoana.html and http://tineri.md/index.php?pag=blog&opa=view&u=119&id=503&l=ro

25. http://tineri.md/index.php?pag=succes&opa=view&id=502&l=ro 26. http://www.civic.md/interviuri/23051-tatiana-bezerdic-despre-toleranta-si-pasiunea-pentru-

hande-made.html and http://iulianam.com/index.php/intrebari/165-tatiana-bezerdic-despre-toleran-i-pasiunea-pentru-hand-made.html

27. http://api.md/upload/files/actdiscr1_rom.pdf (published in 17 local newspapers) 28. http://api.md/upload/files/actdiscr2_rom.pdf (published in 17 local newspapers) 29. http://www.investigatii.md/index.php?art=748 30. http://api.md/news/view/ro-expertii-solicita-modificarea-urgenta-a-legii-privind-sanatatea-

mentala-242 31. http://www.gliadrochiana.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=681:copiii-foti-

elevi-ai-colii-internat-din-arigrad-reintegrai-in-familii&catid=31:noutati&Itemid=46 32. http://www.jurnal.md/ro/news/tanara-care-si-a-invins-dizabilitatea-1157263/ 33. http://www.jc.md/traficata-de-tigani-miluita-de-primar/

34. http://www.jc.md/s-a-pricopsit-cu-skoda-din-banii-destinati-copiilor/ 35. http://www.jurnal.md/ro/news/luxul-alesilor-pe-banii-copiilor-nevoiasi-1160814/ 36. http://www.jc.md/medicii-scosi-basma-curata-in-cazul-lilian-caldarari/ 37. http://www.jc.md/scrie-i-mosului/ 38. http://www.jc.md/campanie-jurnal-scrie-i-mosului/ 39. http://www.jc.md/campanie-jurnal-scrie-i-mosului-2/ 40. http://www.jc.md/campanie-jurnal-scrie-i-mosului-3/ 41. http://www.jc.md/campanie-jurnal-mos-craciun-e-cel-mai-bun/ 42. http://www.jc.md/mos-craciun-e-cel-mai-bun/ 43. http://www.jc.md/si-totusi-mos-craciun-exista-2/ 44. http://ziarulnational.md/inviat-de-doua-ori-dupa-accidente-rutiere-luptatorul-din-danceni/ 45. http://ziarulnational.md/alina-fata-din-parc/ 46. http://ziarulnational.md/moldoveanca-de-la-sorbona-care-vrea-sa-revina-acasa/ 47. http://ziarulnational.md/viata-bate-filmul-arta-cu-gura/ 48. http://ziarulnational.md/reportaj-copii-printre-copii/ 49. http://trm.md/ro/loc-de-dialog/loc-de-dialog-din-3-decembrie-2013/ 50. http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/25117549.html 51. http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/25164701.html 52. http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/25247072.html 53. http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/25081061.html 54. http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/25188830.html 55. http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/25174725.html 56. http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/25223013.html 57. Radio Plai, 28.12.2013 58. Radio Plai, 14.12.2013 59. http://www.canalregional.md/index.php/buletine-de-stiri/item/352-buletin-de-%C5%9Ftiri-

4decembrie-2013 (the story can be watched in the middle of the newscast) 60. http://www.canalregional.md/index.php/emisiuni/item/512-nevazatori-sortiti-fata-concurentei-

piata-muncii (Duplex Chisinau - Briceni) 61. http://www.canalregional.md/index.php/social/item/792-prin-tacere-auzit 62. http://www.canalregional.md/index.php/social/item/697-scumpa-ca-ochi-din-cap 63. http://www.canalregional.md/index.php/social/item/779-locul-compiuterului-pentru-nevazatori 64. http://www.canalregional.md/index.php/social/item/895-dizabilitatea-tine-acasa 65. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZmnzKIswaw or http://www.publika.md/drama-copiilor-

condamnati-gresit-sa-traiasca-in-internatele-pentru-persoane-cu-deficiente-mintale-video_1664111.html

66. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9PxORo-7SI or http://www.publika.md/o-sansa-in-loc-de-mila-metoda-inedita-a-unui-antreprenor-prin-care-ajuta-mai-multe-persoane-cu-dizabilitati-din-razeni-video_1732421.html

67. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPh4_wXxHI8 or http://www.publika.md/victimele-violentei-in-scoli-din-cauza-batailor-multi-copii-ajung-la-spital-cu-traumatisme-grave_1687851.html

68. http://www.publika.md/are-o-singura-dorinta-de-craciun-o-copila-de-11-ani-vrea-sa-poata-merge-pe-picioarele-ei--fara-ajutor_1740061.html

69. http://www.publika.md/video-liceul-pro-succes--locul-unde-copiii-cu-nevoi-speciale-se-simt-ca-acasa--sunt-deosebiti-fiindca-sunt-ai-nostri_1709561.html

70. http://www.publika.md/liceul-din-stefanesti--exemplu-pentru-alte-scoli--copiii-cu-nevoi-speciale-se-simt-aici-ca-in-familie_1603641.html

71. http://alinanicolai.blogspot.com/2014/02/zimbetele-sincere-nu-sunt-conditionate.html#links 72. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/09/interviul-zilei-9-decembrie-2013-2-2/ 73. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/09/buletin-de-stiri-6-decembrie-2013/ (minute 0:35) 74. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/05/buletin-de-stiri-5-decembrie-2013/ (minute 0:50) 75. http://radioundalibera.com/2013/12/03/buletin-de-stiri-3-decembrie-2013-2/ (minute 0:40)

Analyzing the media materials submitted to the contest, we found that the media attention to disability significantly increased. Also, there is evidence of a rights-based approach in portraying people with disabilities in mass-media now; and this was complemented with a qualitative in-depth approach of the theme – in over 70% of cases.

Complementary activities:

a) Opening Doors for Europe’s Children campaign.

In 2013, Keystone Moldova joined the Pan-European Campaign Opening Doors for Europe’s Children

- http://www.openingdoors.eu/ and http://www.openingdoors.eu/where-the-campaign-

operates/moldova/. The Opening Doors campaign operates at EU level and in 12 countries across

Europe, calling on the EU and national governments to prioritize the transition from institutional to

family-based care.

In this order, during the project term, the Communication Manager participated in the meetings of the

campaign team in Moldova and contributed with recommendations to the promotional materials to be

distributed within the campaign in Moldova.

Also, the 10 personal stories shared by parents from the advocacy group were translated to English

and printed in order to be disseminated through the country and abroad within this campaign.

The campaign culminated with public discussions in the Moldavian Parliament on the

deinstitutionalization issue on November 20, 2013. The message transmitted by NGOs to the

members of the Parliament and Government is that the funds should be spent on the transition from

institutional to community based care (de-institutionalization). During this activity, the communications

materials (including pictures with people who used to live in residential institutions and 10 personal

stories shared by parents from the advocacy group) have been presented and disseminated.

b) Maintaining Keystone Moldova websites and Facebook page.

During the project term, the Communication Department continued to update the contents of the

inclusion.md and keystonemoldova.md websites. The new information (news and reportages) were

translated to English and posted on the websites. Twenty (20) news/stories were developed and

posted on keystonemoldova.md, inclusion.md websites and on social media. Also, the content for the

new version of inclusion.md is being developed and posted on the website.

Meanwhile, the number of Keystone Moldova Facebook page fans considerably increased during the

current reporting period (September 2013 – February 2014) – from 352 to 749 fans. This achievement

is due to the qualitative content disseminated on Keystone’s Facebook page, active presence, and

promotion. For more details, please see https://www.facebook.com/keystonemoldova .

c) Capacity building.

During the current reporting period, the Communication Manager participated in 2 trainings for

capacity building and also led / co-led 2 trainings for journalists, Keystone Moldova staff and staff

working in social services. 35 people have been trained by the Communication Manager.

Capacity building of the Communication Manager. From 19 to 20 December, 2013 the

Communication manager participated in a two-day training on social media, organized by

Soros-Moldova Foundation in Chisinau. The training was provided by the consultants from

MediaPoint Company – Radu Lisita, Viorel Rodideal and Andrei Fornea. During the training,

the Communication Manager developed her skills and capacities in using social media

effectively and running an online campaign.

Also, from 6 to 7 February, 2014 the Communication Manager participated in the training in

easy-to-read materials and self-advocacy, provided by the "De partea ta" NGO from Timisoara,

Romania. At the training, she learned how to support people with disabilities in self-advocating

and how to develop an easy to read text or information.

Capacity building of journalists. On January 31, 2014 the Communication Manager co-led the

training in communication for journalists working in the local mass-media. The training was held

in Chisinau and 21 people participated. At the training, participants learned how to

communicate with people with intellectual disabilities and developed their skills in developing

non-discriminating media materials about these people.

Capacity building of Keystone Moldova and social services staff. From 10 to 12 December,

2013 the Communication Manager led the training in self-determination for the staff working in

social services and Keystone Moldova staff in Chisinau. 14 people participated. At the training,

participants learned what the concepts of self-determination and self-advocacy means and

developed their skills in providing support to the beneficiaries in self-determination.

d) Promoting the social inclusion and Keystone Moldova / C4A-MD activity in the media.

The Communication Department facilitated the participation of the Keystone Moldova team in different

broadcasts and the promotion of Keystone Moldova activity in the media. During the term of the

project, the Communication Department was involved, along with the C4A-MD team, in the planning

and organization of four public events on launching of the new developed social services within C4A-

MD program, participation in fairs, etc. These events were promoted at the national and local levels

through mass-media. Press-releases, articles/reports and news about these events have been

developed and disseminated to the media.

As part of C4A-MD activity plan, the Strategy on promoting the Respite social service was developed

and approved.

Also, two slideshows presenting the C4A-MD program and the Equal Access to Education project

through a general perspective were developed and presented at national and international events.

In addition, the Communication Department provided support to the Keystone Moldova Labor Inclusion

program in promoting the social businesses, particularly in identifying the brand name and the logo for

the hand-made bags; developing the promotional stories and developing and printing a promotional

poster - http://keystonemoldova.md/assets/documents/ro/communication-

materials/poster_bags_tipar.pdf, which will be displayed in the Petrom’s shops to increase the sales of

handbags produced from recycled materials.

Meanwhile, the short video “I can work!”, developed by Keystone Moldova, was presented within the

fourth edition of the Festival “Films without Barriers”, on November 29, 2013. This Festival is organized

by Motivation Moldova once in every two years and highlights the difficulties that people with

disabilities face and how they overcome these problems.

Two short films on Compliance rules within Keystone Human Services have been developed and

submitted for the Compliance Video Contest 2014.

As a result, our target groups (people with disabilities and their families), Keystone Moldova and

donors became more visible in the Republic of Moldova and particularly in the field of social protection

of persons with mental disabilities.

e) Documenting stories about people who left Orhei Institution and promotion in the media.

The Communication Department facilitated the communication between the mass-media and the

people who have left the Orhei Institution and their family members in order to show to the public the

changes that have occurred in their lives after returning in the community.

As a result, on November 3, 2013, a comprehensive report about the violation of human rights of

people in residential institutions and the life stories of people who used to live in Orhei Institution and

their parents was developed and distributed within the program “Moldova, tara de minune” -

http://www.publika.md/editie/_1331_2619671.html . Another program “Moldova, tara de minune”

presenting the abilities of people who used to live in Orhei Institution to work and be economically

active, was diffused on November 15, 2013 -

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=462574550514236 .

III. Future work, changes, and challenges

The future work is based on the Project proposal objectives and will be focused on the

following activities:

1. Organizing media campaigns on raising awareness through promotion of the positive stories /

messages of people with disabilities in the media.

2. Developing information / promotion materials about the new social services.

3. Developing video films on the life of persons living in the community and supported by new

services.

4. Providing media support to launching events at rayon level.

5. Maintaining inclusion.md and keystonemoldova.md websites and various pages on social

media platforms.

6. Continue to support the media activities of Keystone Moldova / C4A-MD Program.

Financial Report

See the Excel file annexed to the report.