More projects are initiated by migrants and communities within Diaspora Days

Migrants returned home met in the heart of the city, at the main traffic circle, where, together with the local authorities’ team danced a hora of Ialoveni natives from all over the world. The design and floristic decoration of the roundabout land shaft is one of the 15 projects implemented by the Ialoveni Hometown Association in partnership with local authorities, during the first year of their cooperation.

“Many natives, although far from home, are always present through their thoughts, and in case of Ialoveni, with their actions. Our local administration and Hometown Association are permanently in contact with our Diaspora abroad. During the first year we successfully finalized many joint actions, and, most important, procured a tower crane for high works, extremely necessary for the city”, noted Sergiu Armasu, mayor of Ialoveni city.

The symbolic event was succeeded by the meeting of the Hometown Association of Ialoveni natives residing abroad. Participants analyzed achieved results and approved the next year’s work plan. Among planned activities are setting and equipping a local park, organization of a summer camp for migrants and local children, implementation of charity initiatives and supporting local pupils with scholarships etc.   

“Organization of Diaspora Days became a tradition in Ialoveni -  a reason to engage more natives in our city’s development. It is encouraging that migrants’ involvement is contagious, so that even migrants’ children care about the city and return here yearly for their summer vacation”, said Tatiana Vrajmas, President of the Hometown Association of Ialoveni natives residing abroad.

More and more natives showed their enthusiasm to involve in their hometown’s development.

“It is pleasing to see that citizens are gathering around concrete projects implemented in a transparent manner, meant to truly change the life of people in the community”, told Ghenadie Balaur, established in Canada. Together with his brother Igor, Ghenadie has already launched a few projects in the field of sport, with relevant necessary sport equipment donated.

During August, MiDL partner localities planned a wide variety of activities meant to inform and engage migrants in setting local services for children and elderly, developing the local infrastructure, setting local businesses with migrants’ investments. These events are possible due to the cooperation of local authorities with the 25 Hometown Associations launched in 2016 with the support of UNDP Moldova, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Other 15 hometown associations are expected to be created in 15 new partner localities of MIDL second phase.

“It is important that mayors from 25 MiDL partner localities understood the role and potential of migrants’ engagement in local development and knew how to build confidence with the diaspora, resulting in notable changes at local level”, said Olesea Cazacu, MiDL Project Manager.

Access here the calendar of activities dedicated to Diaspora Days, organized in August, so as contact data of persons responsible at local level.