The Automobile Club of Moldova, in partnership with EASST and its partner organisations, is launching a project dedicated to keeping children safe on their journeys to sports training.

For a child, the journey to training should be as safe as the pitch they are about to play on. This is the idea behind “Beyond the Gate”, a new project launched in the Republic of Moldova by the Automobile Club of Moldova (ACM) and EASST - the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport - to make children’s journeys to sporting activities safer.

The project focuses particularly on girls who play football, seeking to identify and reduce the risks they face on their way to training and back home.

The initiative forms part of the “Legacy for the Future” partnership, supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children and the adidas Foundation, with support from the FIA Foundation.

In the Republic of Moldova, the project is being implemented in partnership with the Moldovan Football Federation (FMF), the National Police’s National Inspectorate of Public Security, and two sports clubs Dacia Buiucani  - Chisinau and FC Baghira – Comrat Sports School.

An event dedicated to children’s safety and girls’ football

The launch event brought together representatives of partner institutions and women’s football, road safety experts, coaches, parents and community members.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from representatives of the partner organisations:

Dănuț Stelian Oprea, Technical Director of the Moldovan Football Federation;

Corrine Vibert, Director of Communications and Advocacy of EASST;

Rafaela Machado, Programmes Manager of FIA Foundation;

Tatiana Mihailova, CEO of the Automobile Club of Moldova;

Pavel Apostol, National Public Security Inspectorate.

Among the guests were the project ambassadors, football players of Moldovan national teams, Natalia Munteanu and Daniela Mardari, who attended the launch to support the initiative and its message: every child should be able to get to training and return home safely.

The speeches highlighted the importance of cooperation between the sports sector, public authorities, non-governmental organisations and the community in creating a safer environment for children.

The project’s name, “Beyond the Gate”, conveys a simple but essential message: responsibility for children’s safety does not end when they step onto the football pitch.

The journey to training and the journey home are part of every child’s sporting experience.

As part of the project, the girls from Dacia Buiucani and FC Baghira will take part in road safety education and awareness activities. They will also play an important role in identifying the problems and risks they encounter on their daily journeys to training.

At the same time, coaches and club representatives will help assess safety conditions around sports facilities. The issues identified will be brought to the attention of local authorities, with a view to finding solutions that improve infrastructure and make journeys safer.

Road safety figures further underline the need for such action.

In 2024, 447 children aged 17 and under were killed or injured in road crashes in the Republic of Moldova. This is equivalent to approximately 40 football teams. Almost 40% of the victims were girls.

Children often travel to training on foot, by bicycle, by public transport or with their parents. In many areas, however, road infrastructure does not provide sufficient protection for pedestrians, and crossing streets or travelling along busy roads can pose serious risks.

The situation becomes even more challenging during the colder months, when visibility is reduced and many children have to travel home from training after dark.

Safer journeys mean more opportunities for children

Through “Beyond the Gate”, ACM and its partners aim to make road safety an integral part of children’s access to sport.

No child should have to choose between their passion for sport and their own safety.

For girls, a safe route to the football pitch can mean more than preventing a road crash. It can mean greater independence, more confidence and more opportunities to take part in sport.

Transport and travel safety are recognised as significant barriers that can limit girls’ and women’s participation in sport. Improving travel conditions can therefore directly help create an environment in which girls’ and women’s football can thrive.

The project launch is only the beginning.

In the coming months, ACM, EASST, FMF, the National Public Security Inspectorate and the partner clubs will work together to identify risks, raise awareness and promote solutions that can make children’s journeys to sport safer.

Because football begins on the pitch, but the journey to the pitch begins with safety.