Moldovan Christian Aid

Within October 15-22, 2013 period BFW editor Karin Billanitsch and photographer Uta Wagner visited parishes from Edinet town, Varatic & Rotunda villages, where they met the implementing teams, interviewed program beneficiaries and volunteers as well as other program stakeholders.

Work visit was organized to collect information about activities of “Empowering Christian youth to promote homecare services in Moldova” Program implementing by MCA in partnership with Diocese of Edinet and Briceni. Program implementing by MCA in Moldova is one of 10 projects implementing abroad chosen for the Bread World Project Magazine of 2014/2015.

During October 3-8, 2013 period, 18 representatives of Church of Sweden visited Moldova. MCA partners visited projects implementing by “Calauza”& Nica NGOs in partnership with “St. George” fraternity in Drochia rayon, “St. George” convent from Suruceni village, 2 shelters run by “Beginning of Life” NGO in Chisinau, Lutheran community in Camenca, “Casa Marioarei” shelter for victims of domestic violence, shelter for victims of human trafficking etc. Moldovan partners expressed their sincere gratitude for the support of the social initiatives offered by the Swedish partners so far & appreciated openness, loyalty & respect shown by the guests during the visit.

On September 30, 2013 international and local partners of MCA gathered for the 2013 Annual Meeting. Meeting participants discussed MCA annual reports per programs, audit report, & procurement policy; MCA networking & plans for the future, as well as most important changes in strategies of international partners for 2014-2016 period. Within October 1-4, 2013 period were organized visits to the project sites & meetings with the implementing partners.

Within July 15-20, 2013 period about 79 youngsters participated at Volunteer Summer School organized by Moldova Christian Aid in partnership with Diocese of Edinet and Briceni under "Empowering Christian Youth to deliver and promote Home care services for elderly people" Program, implemented with financial support from BFW (Germany). “Nașterea Domnului” Orthodox Monastery from Zăbriceni village kindly offered its facilities for the event.

During the 2013 Summer School young volunteers have learned new topics on homecare, as well as updated those studied earlier. Experts from Homecare Association have moderated 24 training sessions. Video presentations were combined with interactive actions & outdoor activities.

Social video was a new issue introduced by the organizations this year. Youngsters enjoyed sessions on social photography and video moderated by experts from Youth Media Centre. Participants had the opportunity to apply acquainted knowledge in practice and elaborated two films about the most interesting activities of summer school as well as prepared a photo exhibition.

His Beatitude Bishop of Edinet and Briceni Nicodim visited Summer School on July 18, 2013. He blessed and welcomed young volunteers and encouraged them for more active participation in social activities implementing in their parishes.

On July 16 and July 19, 2013 were organized contests “ Create and Amaze!” Young volunteers had the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity and talents; best performances were nominated via common voting. In leisure time youngsters play chess, mini golf, badminton, Frisbee, done kiting.

Organizations collected feedback from participants every day. It will be carefully analyzed and considered for the next actions preparations. Skills developed within 2013 Summer School will help young volunteers in further development of Program activities, of promotion social events organized by their communities as well as in increasing of the youth participation.

On April 3, 2013 at the premises of "Inaltarea Maicii Domnului" monastery from Cimislia town was organized first basic training for clergy under "Mobilizing church networks to prevent Domestic Violence in Moldova" program implementing in 2013 in partnership with Diocese of Cahul and Comrat. 25 representatives of Cimislia and Basarabeasca deaneries participated at the training event. Training sessions were moderated by the experts from "Casa Marioarei", shelter for victims of domestic violence based in Chisinau. All participants received informational materials: "The church says NO to Violence" book, booklets, statistics and other useful information. The importance of the topics discussed was proven by the life stories brought by the trainees. Training results were reflected in evaluation forms completed by the participants.

On December 11, 2012 Moldovan Christian Aid gathered representatives of partner organizations implementing social projects within "New reporting criteria and methods" seminar. At the discussions participated 18 people representing diverse projects co-funded by MCA. The main topic of the discussions was the new methods and criteria of narrative and financial reports requested by the international partners, focused on qualitative results achieved and impact assesment.

All participants agreed upon the necessity of elaboration and introduction of a special  sociological research platform reffering to specific  methods and tools.

Within 26-30 November 2012 period, Moldovan Christian Aid has hosted international workshop "Exchange and support networks for the use of the Handbook 'Make change yourself' with young people in threir communities" conducted by International Academy for Diaconal and Social action for Central and Eastern Europe. The activity conducted intended to draw out the strategies and develop a process for the ethical use of the Interdiac Handbook "Make change yourself" and to create a support and exchange network for the multiplicators.

The concrete aims to be achieved were mentioned:

• To develop cooperation between organizations which will be involved in the networking, learning and development processes for using the Interdiac Handbook on local, regional and national level,
• To define the ways in which the Handbook  can be used,
• To create and support network for the multiplicators via Interdiac,
• To set up the process of capacity building of the trainers,
• To create a comprehensive documentation of the knowledge, skills and competences that will reflect the working and learning processes throughout the life of the project and beyond.

The project is a learning, networking and development action with 12 partner organizations from countries like Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Great Britain, Estonia, Armenia, Belorussia, Serbia, Finland and Czech republic. The training was held within "Sf.Gheorghe" convent, Suruceni village.Thus, the participants had the possibility to get acquintace with local traditions, religion ambiance and life style. Also, Moldovan Christian Aid had organized study visits to three community centers working with children and youth facing social problems:

1. Begining of Life NGO, Chisinau
2. Youth Media Center, Chisinau
3. Community center for children and youth, Chisinau

Dear partners and friends!

We are happy to announce you that our  visiting address has been changed to Bucuresti street, 60/1, 2nd floor, apartment 16. Tel:+(373)-22-000270

You are always welcome!

Within October 20-21, 2012 period, 29 volunteers from Hincauti, Rotunda, Scaieni, Taul, Edinet and Donduseni participated at study visit to Romania.

The study visit was organized by MCA under "Empowering Christian Youth de deliver and promote homecare services for elderly" Program, supported by Bread for the World(Germany). The group visited social center "Sf.Ilie" from Miclauseni, shelter for elderly "Fericitul Ioan Paul al II-lea" from Butea and center for elderly "Sf. Imparati Constantin si Elena" from Bucium.

Visitors were invited to the Round Table entitled "Developing care services for the elderly- youth in action" organized by Romanian Orthodox Youth Association from Iasi. Young volunteers benefited from the possibility to communicate with their peers, share their experience and received some suggestions on organizing care services at community level.Participants enjoyed friendly atmosphere and constructive dialogue.

More similar study visits will be organized in the forthcoming period to provide other volunteers the opportunity to learn from existing experience and get more competence, develop necessary skills and establish collaboration with Christian youth from other countries.

List of the projects approved in second wave of 2012, within “Mobilizing church networks to prevent Domestic Violence in Moldova” program:

• Info campaign in 50 schools of Edinet rayon, by “St Vasili” orthodox parish from Edinet
• Info center for 20 youngsters in Ceadir lunga by ”Generatia Sanatoasa”  NGO;
• Info campaign for children placed at the centre for children in disstress in Cahul, orthodox parish “Sf Arh. Mihail and Gavriil”  from Cahul;
• Support for the families affected by domestic violence in Abaclia village, orthodox parish “St.Mihail si Gabriel”   from Abaclia.