Looking from far away, one may get the impression that the trees got caught up in a dance to hide a deep lake in the middle, just like a blue eye bathed in sunlight. This is what the cherry orchard belonging to brothers Gheorghe and Vasile Grosu nearby Fundul Galbenei village, Hincesti district looks like. Six years ago, this place was covered with fallow land and vineyards, forgotten by all. The Grosu brothers decided to set up a modern cherry orchard and bought 15 ha of land, being attracted by the beauty of the scenery and the advantageous location of the agricultural fields, with good water discharge in case of heavy rains. They knew from their own experience that access to water is the most important thing for a farmer, especially in the conditions of the Republic of Moldova, which is severely affected by drought. While this place allows collecting easily rainwater for irrigation, just as they have seen at some successful producers in Europe. It took them three years to plant the entire orchard with cherry seedlings brought from Italy, digging meanwhile a water storage basin. Although the basin would be full of water after every rain, the farmers did not succeed to use it fully, as it would disappear in the ground. It was only this year when their dream to implement an innovative orchard irrigation technology came along, thanks to the technical expertise and a US$30,000 grant awarded as part of a public call for proposals conducted by “Promotion of climate change and disaster risk reduction solution in the water and civil protection sectors for enhanced rural resilience” project, implemented by UNDP and financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation. The basin has been recently launched into operation and the farmers from this area already look longingly at the “treasure” from the cherry orchard, with is endowed with open-and-shut hydro-technical equipment, a geomembrane ensuring waterproofing when coming into contact with the soil, water pump, etc. Built with money awarded via the grant and their own contribution, the basin has an area of 3,000 square meters and a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters of water, being able to ensure the irrigation for an entire orchard. The specialists have estimated that the water stored in the basin would be enough to maintain the fertility of the orchard even during the driest year. “The principle for our irrigation system operation is very simply, efficient and cost-effective: the rainfall water gets naturally stored in the basin, and after being settled and filtered, it is pumped in water tanks on the crest of the hill, and from there, it reaches under pressure and through pipes the entire territory of the orchard. It is an environmentally friendly practice, which allows us giving up wasteful practices,” says Vasile Grosu, one of the two owners and founders of the GG Prim Ltd Company. Drip irrigation ensures not just a rich harvest, but also the quality and necessary shape of fruits. And that’s because the rainwater represents a cheap and reliable source of clean water, substantially cleared of salinity. The trees heavily loaded with fruits serve as a real evidence in this respect. Although it is still a young orchard, Vasile Grosu estimates that this year they will harvest about 12 tons of cherries per hectare. “Nowadays, the quality of fruits is the main factor ensuring sales and determining the price. Some years ago, we took the decision to plant a cherry orchard, as there was deficit of such fruits on the market, meaning that there were more buyers than sellers. Today the things got reversed and only those who offer qualitative goods win,” mentions the entrepreneur. Harvesting will start in several days, engaging up to 300 seasonal workers. The big, fleshy and sweet cherries will take the road towards Russia, and a part will be exported to European countries. “Our fruits are very popular in Russia. We hardly succeed to cope with the high demand. Besides being so tasty and nice looking, our cherries meet all the quality standards,” says the farmer. To ensure the corresponding quality, the owners strictly observe several simple rules. First of all, they look after the orchard all over the year, and to do this, they have bought a milling machine, which saves time and resources for hoeing. Secondly, they use only natural fertilizers, spray the trees with bio solutions, form and maintain the crown of trees according to a technology taken over from some foreign farmers. Recently they bought an anti-birds cannon – a special device which produces strong sounds to scare the unwanted birds. “Have you seen the nicely blooming roses planted at the end of every row of cherry trees? They are like an indicator for us that the orchard is healthy, the roses’ leaves get immediately stained if a disease spreads over the trees”, says Vasile Grosu. According to him, all these factors determine the quantity and the quality of fruits, but water is in the top of the list and plays a determining role. “We are very pleased with the expertise and the assistance provided by the project. In this way, we will be able to develop our business and harness the huge investment made until now and, at the same time, we will be able to help people from the neighboring villages,” tells us Vasile Grosu. This is because the rainwater storing basin has one more objective: it will serve as a water supply source, if needed, for the intervention vehicle of the community-based rescue and firefighting post. The rainwater storage basin of the GG Prim Ltd Company is one of the 10 basins built with the financial assistance provided by the Austrian Development Agency from the Austrian Development Cooperation funds in Cantemir, Criuleni, Hincesti, Leova and Ungheni districts. The basins are built in the framework of the “Promotion of climate change and disaster risk reduction solution in the water and civil protection sectors for enhanced rural resilience” UNDP project, as an efficient and sustainable measure for rural communities’ adaptation to climate changes.

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 "closed several doors" for Aliona Secrieru, one of them being the door of her own butcher’s store on the territory of Cantemir town market, where the inhabitants of the whole district do their shopping. For three years, the shop has been the only sale unit for fresh pork originated from her own farm in the village of Stoianovca. "When the state of emergency was introduced, it seemed as if the sky fell on our head: the market was closed, together with our store, the sales stopped, and the prices for animal feed stuffs jumped up by about three times.  That's how our family, formed of four persons, suddenly remained without any source of income for several months and with enormous expenses, because almost 200 pigs of the farm had to be fed everyday", the entrepreneur recalls. The pandemic gave the entrepreneur a tough lesson, as well as a new impetus for business development and market diversification.  "There is a good saying that when one door closes, another one opens. In our case, the way out of the situation came from Cantemir Territorial Employment Agency, where we found out about a project funded by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and carried out within the Local Employment Partnership (LEP) in Cantemir district.  It seemed as if the Project has been set up to meet our needs: it provides training, mentoring and subsidies for business development and employment of unemployed persons", says Aliona Secrieru.  She entered the competition announced by the Project on the same day when she found out about this opportunity. Together with other 72 entrepreneurs from Cantemir district, Aliona Secrieru was selected as a beneficiary of the Project and participated in a training on entrepreneurship. ”It was a comprehensive training course, useful and practical for myself. I have no higher education, I learned the necessary things along with the development of my business, therefore the seminars helped me to professionally deal with some fiscal and legal issues related to my business, especially during the pandemic”, mentions the entrepreneur. This is how she discovered and at present is using the digital marketing and the online sales possibilities.   With the help of her mentors, Aliona prepared a business development plan, which she submitted to the competition organized by the Project.   "During the last year, once again I get convinced that we have to produce own feed for animals and always have reserves in the barn, if we want to be successful.  Thus, using the sum of 78 thousand lei received within Cantemir LEP and our own contribution, we plan to build a warehouse and procure the necessary equipment for the production and storage of pigs’ feedstuffs. This will help us save money on food, provide pigs with natural and healthy mixture and create one more job, in addition to the four existing ones. It is wonderful that there are such Projects, which, in addition to supporting women entrepreneurs, give them the opportunity to help other people who are searching for a job. This is how we develop our business at home, together with our loved ones, and we are not forced to go abroad and look for work", Aliona Secrieru tells us. She believes that the support provided by the International Labour Organization within Cantemir LEP will not only help her overcome the consequences of the pandemic crisis, but will bring her closer to achieving her dream: to expand and modernize the farm according to the European standards. In the entrepreneur's view, the compliance with standards is the secret of a business success. "We raise pigs without acceleration, i.e., they are fed on time with a natural mixture, without additives. The animals are kept in healthy conditions, because we have a sewerage system and we respect the hygienic and ecological norms.  We also have our own animal slaughter unit. All these things give us the opportunity to sell high quality meat and to have permanent customers ", says Aliona Secrieru. Three years ago, the entrepreneur started her business as a peasant’s household with only a few breeding pigs.  One year after, she built the animal slaughter unit, opened the butcher shop, she moved on and registered an individual enterprise and now there are about 200 pigs in the farm.  However, as the demand for high-quality pork is growing, Aliona Secrieru plans to expand her farm. "However, it is not enough to wish something; you still need money, knowledge in entrepreneurship and, of course, a lot of patience to deal with all bureaucratic procedures. The only assistance that I have received so far, has been given by the International Labour Organization and the National Employment Agency, this being a valuable help for us because it is offered in the period of acute crisis", says Aliona Secrieru. The entrepreneur considers that the development of small businesses, such as hers, contributes to the well-being of the region in general, this being a tangible path to overcoming any economic crisis, even the one caused by the pandemic.

Eight years ago, a car accident drastically changed the destiny of Oleg Oborocian, resident of the village of Cârnățenii Noi, Căușeni district.  At the age of 31, Oleg had to learn to walk again being forced to use a wheelchair.  Later on, he learned to live alone, after his wife, together with their two children, had left him. He looked for a job for a long time, because his disability pension, worth 1600 lei, was not enough for living.  Nevertheless, he failed to get a job, even though he has a profession and work experience.  "I am a veterinarian and I worked at the pig farm in the village, then as a veterinary inspector in Causeni district.  After most of the farms had been closed, and there remained very few animals in the villages, I also went to work in Russia, as many other people. Soon, however, I returned home, because my salary and working conditions there were below any expectations. Until the car accident that immobilized me in a wheelchair, I worked at the railway station in the town of Căinari. After that, all the doors and opportunities closed in front of me", says Oleg Oborocian. Despite the difficulties, he did not allow despair to take hold of him. He found solace in work, remembered his old passion for beekeeping, and had set up a small apiary near the house. While studying veterinary medicine, he attended a training course in beekeeping, and in his free time, he regularly helped a relative to work in the apiary. That is how he got a taste for beekeeping and acquired the necessary skills, but he has never thought that this passion would become a life-ring for him and the only source of income. Although he owned the apiary, he failed to register the business, given the multitude of needed documents and his immobilization status. ”Beekeeping has proven to be a normal modality for a person with special needs, like me, to organize his/her thoughts and earn money.  I learned to do most of the work on my own, and when I couldn't do it, I call on my neighbours or parents", tells us Oleg. But he did not get to enjoy the fruits of his labour. Last year, due to the severe weather conditions, his bees perished. Nonetheless, luck smiled on him from another side. He found out about a competition of grants to start a beekeeping business, run by the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the Local Employment Partnership (LEP) in Causeni district, and he thought it was the time to transform his passion into business. He looked for more information, attended all information sessions and trainings organized within the project, developed a business plan and joined the competition. He was extremely happy this spring when he found out that he is one of the 25 grant winners, which will allow him to buy 10 hives and as many bee families. Within the project supported by the ILO, Oleg, like the other beneficiaries, will be helped to register his business, to obtain all the sanitary-veterinary certificates and the necessary passports for the apiaries. There will also be an opportunity to access other state subsidies for the development of his business or to cover the losses, in case there will be other unfavourable years for beekeeping. Oleg believes that the help provided by the ILO represents an encouragement and brings hope for better times to the people with special needs. "When life hits you, there always appear someone to help you get up. With the help of the ILO, I will set up an exemplary business, I will hire some people and so I will be able to earn a living on my own and be able to help my children, as well”, says Oleg Oborocian. Business development in beekeeping is one of the most active initiatives of the Causeni LEP, launched at the end of February 2021 by the International Labour Organization. Causeni LEP aims to expand 50 small and micro enterprises of the district, create and formalize 145 jobs, launch 60 start-ups in sectors with job creation potential, as beekeeping.  The budget for the implementation of Causeni LEP is approximately 146,529 US dollars. The ILO provides support amounting USD 129,879, of which over USD 80,000 is provided by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of the Austrian Development Cooperation for various lines of intervention.

After 13 years of marriage, Natalia Pruteanu from Causeni city, put an end to domestic violence.  She broke the vicious circle after a period of physical and verbal violence she was subjected to together with her five children.  She felt she had no strength to resist nor saw any hope for a change.  Episodes of violence became more frequent and more violent.  Being guided by the social assistant of the town, Natalia turned to help at the “Pro Familia” Maternal Centre.  For eight months, the Maternal Centre became a warm and welcoming home for her and her children.  In addition to shelter, she benefited from psychological counselling and legal assistance for issuing the protection order against her husband and initiation of the divorce process. Natalia also benefited from a social package that included food and hygiene products, needed for her and the children.   “This period was for me like a breath of fresh air and a chance to heal my wounds.  Otherwise, I don’t think I have would escaped from the hands of my husband, neither me nor my children.  Even after the divorce, he continued to threaten me and told me that I have no other choice than to return home”, she explains.   At present, Natalia, at the age of 34, lives with her children in an old house, crammed together with her elderly brother and sick parents. Nevertheless, it is not the small living space that was the most difficult for her, but the fear of her violent husband and the lack of perspectives.  With an allowance of approximately 3000 lei, she makes both ends meet only with difficulty.  At the end of this year, when the youngest member of the family will reach three years of age, she will be deprived of this source of income.  The Coronavirus pandemic has made her life even harder: “Since the online learning was introduced, I have to share a phone among two schoolchildren, and the phone being an old model crashed periodically.  Older children have no place where to do their homework in peace and quiet, because we all stay in one room”, the woman tells us.  At the moment, Natalia has no other source of income than the children’s allowance and no job to earn a living. After graduation from high school, she worked part-time in construction, at first in Moldova, then seasonally in Russia. Now she has no possibility to go to work abroad due to COVID-19 restrictions and because her small children cannot be left alone.  Despite developing some skills in construction, she does not have qualifications in the field nor the necessary set of tools that would get her employed with proper documents or enable to work on her own.  Despite the difficulties, Natalia believes that life has just begun and that she will be able to raise her children with dignity. The newly found confidence comes from the opportunities offered by a project of the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the financial assistance of the Austrian Development Agency from the funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.  Natalia wants to start a business that  provides services in the field of construction. Thanks to this project, together with 10 other women in difficult life situations, she will benefit from a complete package of assistance. She will benefit from an entrepreneurship training, legal assistance for business registration and receive equipment needed for her business activity. Once the business is launched, she will have a stable job at home, will pay the social security contributions and benefit from a health insurance policy.  “Repairing and renovating houses is all I know to do best of all. If before it was hard to find work because I didn’t have the necessary qualifications and equipment, now I think I will have more orders and opportunities. I will be able to do the work much faster and earn a better income, while being at home, together with the children”, says Natalia Pruteanu. She recognizes that she had never dreamed of being so lucky but she believes that this project is a reward for all the troubles that she went through. I will help fulfil her biggest dream – to become the master of her own life.