Orange Foundation brings FabLab to the Model School program, giving students spaces for creativity and innovation
The national Model School program is entering a new phase through the direct involvement of the Orange Moldova Foundation in developing educational infrastructure. Through dedicated investment in digital fabrication laboratories, or FabLabs, the Foundation contributes to strengthening hands-on learning and developing technical skills in the schools selected within the network.
Olga SURUGIU, CEO of Orange Moldova:
"Orange develops infrastructure and connectivity nationwide, and a natural next step is to invest in the skills of those who will create tomorrow’s technologies. FabLabs bring the full process of design and prototyping into schools, giving students practical experience and technical discipline. Through the Orange Moldova Foundation, we take an active role in transforming education and supporting long-term performance."
The FabLabs at Ion Pelivan Theoretical High School in the village of Răzeni, Ialoveni district, and Alexei Mateevici Theoretical High School in the town of Șoldănești are the first two laboratories launched by the Orange Moldova Foundation in 2026, together with its partners, as part of the project “Support Initiative for the Model School Program in Moldova.”
Dan PERCIUN, Minister of Education and Research:
"The integration of FabLab laboratories into the Model School network is an important step in modernising education. These spaces help students learn through practice, experiment and create. Young people develop useful skills and relevant competencies for the future. FabLabs bring technology closer to students and help them move from theory to practice. At the same time, these laboratories foster critical thinking, creativity and an innovative mindset."
The inauguration event in Răzeni was attended by Valentina Olaru, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Research, Ludmila Nistorică, Chair of the Board of the Orange Moldova Foundation, Christian Luginbühl, Senior Vice President ESG & Large Projects at Orange Group, Petru Beregoi, Vice President of Ialoveni District, Olga Balmuș, Head of the General Directorate of Education in Ialoveni, alongside the teams of the Orange Moldova Foundation, TEKEDU, and representatives of the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF).
Stela JEMNA, Country Representative in Moldova, UMAEF:
"Through this project, we aim to create the conditions and tools needed to shape a generation prepared for the future, not the past. We want FabLab spaces to become true hubs of creativity and innovation, where young people develop critical thinking, digital skills and competencies relevant to a constantly changing labour market. It is essential that they are equipped with the knowledge and tools of tomorrow, so they can confidently respond to the challenges of a new era."
The FabLabs are fully equipped with 3D printers, a laser cutter, robotics kits, electronics and microcontroller sets, as well as educational drones. These spaces are designed for active learning and will also be integrated into Technological Education classes through digital design, prototyping and testing.
Teachers completed five training modules in digital fabrication: Drones, Robotics, 3D Printing, Electronics, and Laser Cutter. Delivered with the financial support of UMAEF in collaboration with the Orange Foundation, this training ensures the effective use of the equipment and its immediate integration into the educational process. Students will be able to go through the full technological creation process, from idea and design to building a functional prototype.
The inauguration in Șoldănești brought together Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research, Olga Surugiu, CEO of Orange Moldova, Stela Jemna, Country Representative for Moldova at UMAEF, Aliona Pînzari, President of Șoldănești District, Boris Volontir, Head of the Șoldănești Education Directorate, Diana Oprea, Head of the Methodological Centre within the Șoldănești Education Directorate, Rodica Grosu, Principal of Alexei Mateevici Theoretical High School, and Diana Tulbea, member of the Parents’ Representative Council. In the coming period, other schools across the country will also be equipped, while the total investment of the Orange Moldova Foundation in this project exceeds 4 million lei this year.
The Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF) contributes to the refurbishment and equipping of the FabLab spaces in the two schools involved in the project. At Ion Pelivan Theoretical High School in Răzeni, UMAEF’s support of USD 18,000 helped finance the modernisation of the space and the integration of Globisens educational technologies. At Alexei Mateevici Theoretical High School, the USD 12,000 contribution covers equipping the laboratory with educational tools, including Globisens and Ozobot technologies.
Through this initiative, Orange demonstrates that access to technology and modern skills should not depend on location. Students in communities such as Răzeni and Șoldănești benefit from the same advanced educational infrastructure as those in urban centres.
The Model School network aims to modernise selected schools through upgraded infrastructure and innovative teaching methods. In this context, FabLabs are digital fabrication spaces dedicated to applied learning, prototyping and developing students’ technical skills.
The laboratories are being developed with the financial support of the Orange Moldova Foundation, within the project “Support Initiative for the Model School Program in Moldova”, implemented by the Information Technology Development Association TEKEDU, in partnership with the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF), under the aegis of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.
