LocationsEconomic independence – The key to surviving and preventing gender-based violence
December 10, 2024
Angela Țîgan, Hagimus village, Căușeni district. She grew up in an environment marked by domestic violence, which she also experienced in her first marriage. She firmly believes that there is always a way out of difficulties, but it becomes much more challenging if a woman is not financially independent.
A passion turned into a business, training followed by employment opportunities, a secure job – for some women, financial independence means much more than just an income; it is the key to overcoming challenges they face, including avoiding or surviving gender-based violence. Many women in at-risk situations need both immediate and long-term counseling and support to achieve financial independence, especially if they live in rural areas or come from environments where violence has taken deep root.
"It felt like a breath of fresh air." That's how Mariana Grosu from Soroca describes her experience of getting a job after her childcare leave. Mariana never imagined how challenging it could be to secure employment. Her university degree in finance and prior work experience seemed irrelevant once she mentioned having three young children. "I spent a year and a half looking for a job. They would tell me: We don’t have any vacancies. We don’t hire mothers with three children. We might consider those with one, but three—no,” Mariana recalls.
"A mother is the one who cooks, educates, counsels, and teaches. When a woman works and has an income, she steps into the world. Staying at home makes her dependent on her husband," Mariana adds.
Through social media, she learned that the “Dacia” Center could guide her in finding a job. Shortly after counseling, Mariana secured a position as a salesperson in a neighborhood grocery store, where she says she found a second family.
Assisting women into employment - "no easy task"
Mariana is one of the 77 women, including refugees from Ukraine, assisted by local NGOs in finding employment as part of a project supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the German Government. In just nine months, the team at the "Dacia" Center helped 35 women from Soroca secure jobs. In just nine months, the "Dacia" Center team has helped 35 women from Soroca to get a job. "It's not an easy job," says Stela Babici, the Center’s administrator, highlighting the significant effort required in both relationships with employers and beneficiaries. "What is certain is that when a woman gains financial independence, the community benefits as well."
Stela Babici believes that women from rural communities are the most affected, as job opportunities are limited in villages, as are services for women facing violence.
To ease the transition, the "Dacia" Center provided salary supplements for the first months of employment, during the probation period. "This support, even just a few hundred lei, really makes a big difference. It helps women cover at least their transportation costs, especially those commuting from villages," says Stela Babici. "It’s much-needed assistance when you’re in need," confirms Mariana, who benefited from this supplement.
"Almost all graduates have been employed"
Women who lack formal education, practical experience, or who wish to retrain, attended digital literacy courses or professional training. Since most potential employers in Soroca mentioned a shortage of cooks, the team at the "Dacia" Center decided that it was time to organize specialized training. They partnered with the local vocational school and 20 people became certified cooks. "Almost all the graduates have been hired, by both public institutions—kindergartens and schools—and private businesses," says Stela Babici.
Employment assistance, career counseling, entrepreneurship courses, digital literacy and business start-up support are all activities carried out with the support of UNDP and the German Government. The project was carried out in collaboration with four other local organizations in different regions of the country, involving mobile teams. These teams, consisting of a lawyer, a psychologist and a social worker, organized meetings with groups of women from violence-vulnerable backgrounds in rural areas, providing them with information on how to overcome gender-based violence and how they could achieve financial independence.
"A small income and the assurance that they can cover their basic needs"
"The idea of income-generating activities has caught on very well in our district. Information about this possibility has been disseminated to all the town halls in the district," says Ludmila Afteni, the administrator of the “Tighina” Psychologists' Association in Căușeni, where another mobile team, supported by UNDP and Germany, was active. As a result, 30 women participated in entrepreneurship courses, and 10 of them were helped to start small businesses.
Since there are not always employment opportunities in all localities, income-generating activities—also known as household-level businesses—were explored as alternatives.
Women were encouraged to engage in activities that they could manage on their own. "This allows women to have even a small income initially and the assurance that they can cover their family's basic needs with that money," explains Ludmila Afteni.
This is also the case for Angela Țîgan from the village of Hagimus, Căușeni district. "When a door opens, you become braver and see that you can achieve something on your own and not stop," says Angela, a mother of four young children, about the help she received in turning her passion for baking cakes into a small business that ensures her family’s financial survival.
Angela grew up in an environment marked by domestic violence, which she also faced in her first marriage. She is convinced that there is always a way out of difficulties, but it becomes more complicated if a woman is not financially independent. "Women in our villages face financial difficulties, in rural areas it is even harder to find a job, which is a barrier to taking a step, to leaving a relationship—you’re, as they say, tied up with your hands and feet."
Angela received the necessary equipment for her business, while she participated in entrepreneurship courses. "I realized I needed equipment to get a better result. I really wanted this machine, and I was so happy, I had positive emotions. The advice and guidance matter. When you don’t know, you might make more mistakes, but when you’re informed, you avoid them. At first, I was also afraid, wondering if everything would go well, but now I’ve overcome it. This motivates me to keep going and not stop here," says Angela.
Economic security helps limit the source of abuse
The results of these initiatives appear after a short time and are transformative not only for the woman involved, her family, but also for other women around her who are encouraged to follow her example, says Viorica Boșcanean, a psychologist with the mobile team from the “Tighina” Psychologists' Association. "Women who have received comprehensive assistance - those who have found jobs, started their own businesses, or attended training - are already more determined, stronger, and have developed or strengthened their decision-making capacity. The fact that they started earning their own income has also helped them limit the source of abuse," explains the psychologist.
Empowering women economically is crucial in giving them the chance to claim their rights, build a safe and dignified life, and contribute to the creation of resilient communities, explains Vitalie Frecăuțeanu, Project Coordinator at UNDP Moldova. "Financially independent women have more opportunities to overcome situations of abuse and break the cycle of violence. This economic security can make the difference between vulnerability and survival, which is why it must be a central component of dedicated services, especially for supporting survivors of gender-based violence," concludes Vitalie Frecăuțeanu.
Violence against girls and women remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violation globally, and the Republic of Moldova is no exception.
Gender-based violence can be prevented and there is more evidence than ever about what works, with economic empowerment of women being one of these solutions. Economic empowerment of women and girls continues to be a priority for UNDP and the initiatives developed in Moldova. The effort is focused on increasing access to resources, reducing social inequalities and strengthening inclusive institutions. Through collaboration with the private sector, the aim is to expand financing opportunities, training, and support the development of skills needed for the future labor market, adapted to new technologies.
