The 2009 Soroptimist International President's Appeal
Hopes and dreams for everyone  
The purpose of the project is to prevent human trafficking from Moldova by providing life-skill education and sustainable living conditions for vulnerable children.
 
For the 2009 Appeal, President Hanne Jensbo (at right) has chosen to adopt a highly successful anti-trafficking project run by the SI Union of Norway with SI clubs in Moldova for the last 4 years. Further funding is urgently needed for the project to continue.
The Need:
Moldova is small republic with a population of only 3.5 million, bordered by Romania and the Ukraine. It remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent slight progress in its economy. 2005 statistics showed that 29.5% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Largely owing to poverty, Moldova is a major source and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; Moldovan women are trafficked to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe; girls and young women are trafficked within the country from rural areas to Chisinau; children are also trafficked to neighboring countries for forced labor and begging
Young girls living in boarding schools are particularly exposed to the dangers of trafficking. Some are there because their parents are among the half million Moldavians who have gone abroad to find work. By the age of 16 they have left school, have no support and often, nowhere to live.
The Projects include the following activities
Target Group 1:
 Life-skill education is a development program fro preventing social problems and achieving good social integration.  The program includes topics like career guidance, health care, sexual education, violence at home, communication with public officers.
The children learn to take responsibility for themselves and to be able to make their own decisions and the follow the promises of the pimps. 
Target 2:
Higher education - the girls are given career counseling and support during the application process.  During the years of education they receive housing allowances to renovate their rooms and living support for which they learn to plan and keep account.  Social assistants are monitoring and helping them all the time.
Target 3:
Support to victims of trafficking, who have managed to go back to their home country and need support to return to a normal life.
 

Every year, on Human Rights Day (December 10) the President of Soroptimist International selects a project that provides direct assistance to women in extreme need.