Good afternoon, dear children, parents and teachers!
In every great story, there is a hero who must face a challenge, and ultimately grow. Sometimes the hero makes mistakes. Often, they are misunderstood. But they evolve. And they inspire those around them to see the world differently. This year, we are inviting Moldova to take part in such a story — not on screen, but in our schools, our homes, and our communities. Last year we launched the “Learning Together” campaign — a communication initiative focused on social and behavior change to promote the educational inclusion of children with disabilities and special educational needs.
This campaign is about more than awareness. It's about rewriting a script that has, for too long, cast too many children — children with disabilities, ethnic minority backgrounds, and refugees — as secondary characters in the story of education. But they are not secondary characters, they are protagonists. Just like every child.
Thanks to the growing support from families and educators, we are seeing progress. In just a few years, the number of caregivers choosing mainstream education for children with disabilities has nearly doubled — from 23% in 2018 to 40% in 2024. Sixty percent of teachers now say they are open to inclusion. At the same time, the latest data reminds us that discrimination is still real — and it grows more visible as children advance through the school system. Disability remains one of the leading reasons children face exclusion. It happens in the silent moments when a child is left out, and in the louder ones — when bullying leaves marks we cannot always see.
That’s why we need more than just policy changes or ramps and resources — we need to shift mindsets. Behavioral science tells us something powerful: people often see themselves more clearly in fiction than in fact. We learn empathy from characters, we feel safe trying out new responses when the stage is a rehearsal, not real life.
That’s why, as part of this campaign, we are using Forum Theatre — a compelling, evidence-based approach that brings real-life issues to the stage, then hands the script to the audience. In this method, students, teachers, and parents don’t just watch scenes of bullying or discrimination — they step into them to practice interventions. They test out ways to support a classmate, stand up to exclusion, or reframe a harmful belief. In a Forum Theatre performance everyone becomes a changemaker.
Over the next year, with our partner DIALOG ALTERNATIV, we will bring this initiative to 60 schools across 10 rayons. Almost 5 thousand children and adolescents will take part in these performances: to build empathy, resilience, and the courage to challenge the status quo — not just in the theatre, but in their everyday lives.
We are creating a culture where inclusion is not an exception, but an expectation. Where every child is seen, valued, and supported — no matter their ability, background, or journey.
So let us all be part of this transformation. Let us be the characters in this shared story who stood up, spoke out, and made space for every child to learn, grow, and thrive. This is not just theatre — it’s a rehearsal for real life. Thank you.
