Dumitru Zaporojan has returned to Moldova to develop crafts

From his passion for processing sheep skins, Dumitru has created a business.

He is known all over the country as the folk craftsman from the south, who transforms sheep fur into bundițe, a unique item of clothing.

"I was abroad for a certain period of my life, there I lived with someone who was in the business of processing hides. I asked the respective craftsman about his work; I told him that I was curious how this is done. He gave me to read about it and I cleaned a couple of hides. After that I decided to return to my native country, as I wanted to become an entrepreneur and develop this business," Dumitru Zaporojan recounts.

After returning to the Republic of Moldova, Dumitru built a leather processing machine by himself with the money he earned abroad, with which he created his first works. He also makes slippers and carpets from leather sheep.  

"Everyone is looking for the southern fur, because it is the warmest, especially since I process it medicinally so that it has no odor," Dumitru says.

Dumitru Zaporojan is the president of the livestock Cluster "Bacii Sudului", financially supported by the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF. 

The cluster received support worth EUR 100,000, with the help of which its members purchased several machines, including a mobile slaughterhouse, benefit from training and study visits. 

"I bought a granulator and a pelletizer to use wool, I said let's get a granulator to try to use wool as fertilizer. I saw that in the European Union they do this," explains Dumitru Zaporojan.

The young entrepreneur wants to stay at home to expand his business. He wants to continue to promote the dying craft.