Keystone Moldova Receives Commendation from the President of Moldova
The News
Keystone Moldova English and Keystone Moldova Romanian
Keystone Human Services (KHS) is a non-profit organization that is a part of a global movement to provide support and expertise to people with disabilities.
For immediate release
June 1, 2022
For more information, contact:
Kris Weaver, KHS VP of Development
Office: 717-232-7509
Email: [email protected]
Keystone Moldova Receives Commendation from the President of Moldova
Harrisburg, PA—Keystone Moldova, a subsidiary of Keystone Human Services, is honored to receive a commendation from Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, for its work supporting refugees from Ukraine.
Keystone Moldova is leading the national response to include refugees with disability in relief efforts. It is part of the UNHCR interagency mechanism, leading the national taskforce on disabilities. Keystone Moldova has restructured its existing Hotline Support Service so refugees, their families, and caretakers have free access to information, counseling, and referrals to other services.
Mobile Teams, including social workers and medical professionals, are mapping the needs of refugees with disabilities staying in shelters and homes throughout the country and helping people access food, hygiene supplies, medicines, and accessible transportation. Because many people will stay in Moldova rather than return to Ukraine, Keystone Moldova is working with the government to build an inclusive infrastructure and social services that account for the needs of refugees with disabilities.
At the border crossing in Palanca, Keystone Moldova has partnered with IsraAID to operate one of the few tents where children and families can stay together as they take time to play, rest, eat and prepare for the next part of their journey.
“We’re honored to receive this recognition from the President of Moldova,” said Charles Hooker, President and CEO of Keystone Human Services. “Keystone Moldova has been a trusted NGO in Moldova for twenty years. The team at Keystone Moldova has mobilized their expertise in inclusion to ensure that refugees with disability receive the support they need so far from home.”
Below is the English translation of the letter from Maia Sandu:
The President of the Republic of Moldova
Keystone Moldova
Dear Members of the organization Keystone Moldova,
Thank you for the important work you have been doing in recent months to provide support to Ukrainian refugees after their country was hit by the war. I appreciate the dedication with which you have given your resources, time and energy to help these people – most of them women, children and the elderly, far from home.
You, through your kindness, care and openness, have offered refugees a welcoming and warm stop in Moldova, a safe shelter in our country. We have shown that we are a small country, but with a big heart. The generosity of Moldovan volunteers has rightly become known and appreciated all over the world.
The exemplary mobilization and the organizational capacity that you have shown during this period, together with other fellow citizens of ours, gives me hope. I strongly believe that together we can change our country for the better, we can build here a free, peaceful and prosperous society, a welcoming and warm place, a corner of heaven, where you want to live and build your future. Thank you very much!
With appreciation,
Maia Sandu
Donations to support the work of Keystone Moldova can be made online. The greatest need is unrestricted funds to give Keystone Moldova the flexibility to address the ever-changing needs of refugees with disability.
###
About Keystone Human Services
KHS is a multi-national human services organization based in Harrisburg, PA. KHS operates in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, the Republic of Moldova, and India, providing advocacy, services, and supports in early childhood education and family support, mental health, autism, and intellectual, developmental, cognitive, and physical disability. We build communities where everyone can thrive, direct their own lives, establish homes, find meaningful work, pursue education alongside their peers, and fill valued roles in the community. In addition to operating as KHS, KHS provides services through Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD), Capital Area Head Start (CAHS), Partnerships for People, Key Human Services, Keystone Autism Services, Keystone Moldova, and Keystone Institute India.
More information can be found at KHS.org
About Keystone Moldova
Keystone Moldova was founded by Keystone Human Services International (KHSI) in 2003. Keystone Moldova and KHSI work collaboratively with the Government of Moldova, Multilateral Donors, Non-governmental Organizations, and Advocates to develop inclusive, community-based services for people with disability.