In September 2021 the Council of Europe project Combating violence against children in the Republic of Moldova organised three two-days trainings "Protective teachers, protected children. Preventing child sexual abuse in kindergarten. Kiko and the Hand training for kindergarten teachers". The trainings were attended by 50 educators and managers of kindergartens from several regions of the country.

The Kiko and the Hand trainings were delivered by the national consultant Daniela Simboteanu. The trainings aimed to improve the skills of professionals to detect and prevent child sexual abuse, as well as to provide them with tools to address children, parents and kindergarten administration to combat this phenomenon.

The training were based on the Training of Trainers Manual addressed to kindergarten and preschool teachers. This Manual was developed within phase I of the project Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse in the Republic of Moldova, as an attempt by the Republic of Moldova to put into practice the provisions of the Lanzarote Convention, that is to translate it into practical guidance and resources for kindergarten and preschool teachers and other professionals working with children between the ages of 3 and 6. The Training of Trainers Manual is inspired by the Council of Europe awareness raising materials on Kiko and the Hand, which help children understand that their bodies belong to them, that there are good and bad secrets and good and bad touches.

The Training of Trainers Manual was coordinated with and approved by the Ministry of Education and Research.

The activites fall within one of the Project’s intermediate outcome 4 “Improved skills and know-how of professionals to respond to violence against children and promote child-friendly practices.”