Chisinau, June 16 (Infotag). SDC Moldova, the local bureau of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, has embarked on a new phase of its NGO Small Grants Program. Mr. Sergiu Buruiana of the SDC Moldova told a news conference in Infotag today that the budget of this 5th phase to work in 2006-2006 will be 190 thousand Swiss francs ($152 thousand equivalent). The Swiss Agency’s main partner in the Program implementation is the Moldovan non-governmental organization of CAMIB, which provides technical and administrative support as well as program management for the candidates. Since the start of the NGO Small Grants Program a total amount of $450,000 has been allocated to implement humanitarian projects all over Moldova, including Transnistria region. “Heretofore, our main attention was focused on social-sphere projects. Grants varied from $5 thousand to $15 thousand in size. At selecting beneficiaries, priority is given to rural non-governmental organizations, for in Chisinau or Balti cities there exist more possibilities to receive funding from other donors”, said Sergiu Buruiana. Non-governmental organizations from Transnistria are also invited to submit their projects for financing, he said. The capacity of about 40 Moldovan non-governmental organizations has been strengthened for four consecutive years thanks to grants provided by the SDC. The said grants are to enable the NGOs to provide services to the most vulnerable segments of society, gain credibility within the community and improve cooperation with local authorities and partners as well international donors. The SDC representatives also announced the start of a social integration program for vulnerable and disabled children in Moldova. SDC is to invite 1200 children from Moldova to a recreational Summer camp in Molovata Noua (on the Dniester River). In order to stimulate physical, cognitive and early childhood social development, the SDC has supported Summer camps for vulnerable children for five consecutive years. This year the focus is on the social integration of disabled children. The Summer camp is structured in 6 modules, each hosting 200 children. Of this number, half will be disabled children with locomotion, mental, speech or hearing difficulties. A small group of disabled children from Belarus will be invited to join the camp in August. The project is implemented in close collaboration with the Department of Social Assistance of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection as well as the Ministry of Education, local and district Social Assistance Units and the SDC's Cooperation Office in Minsk. The project also has the support of the Swiss organization PLUSPORT (sport for the handicapped). The presence on location of PLUSPORT will promote reflective, innovative and involved behaviour through specific multi-sport and theatrical programs. The strength of PLUSPORT lies within its organization, but their core competence is continuous knowledge support of trainers of handicapped people. Two interns from PLUSPORT are to accompany the local educators in order to transfer knowledge of the latest educational methodology in sports and theatrical activities with disabled children.