Telenesti town has a new multifunctional sports facility thanks to the engagement of the natives living abroad

The outdoor multifunctional sports facility has a mini-football, basketball and volleyball field built in accordance with the most modern technologies. Fitness equipment is planned to be added soon.

“The South part of Telenesti town is a very populated area, with 750 residents including 230 young people and 125 children whose one or both parents are abroad.  However, there is no proper leisure, sports and social infrastructure in this area. Hence, the children including those without parents were forced to play in the road or were forced to travel long distance to go to a well-equipped facility. The elderly were also deprived of social life”, said the Mayor of Telenesti town, Vadim Lelic.

The facility has an area of 1,700 square meters, and is the biggest sports facility in town. It can accommodate national and regional competitions.

“This cooperation is proof of the fact that we - those who are away from the community - and local administration can be a force. We are glad we can support our locality including by raising professional athletes”, noted Mihai Roscovan, President of Telenesti Natives Association.

The total project budget accounts to over MDL 1,071 million. The contribution of residents was MDL 110,796. The Government of Switzerland contributed with MDL 370,587 and Telenesti Mayoralty offered MDL 414,594. The Moldovan Football Federation provided MDL 176,085.

“We are very happy that Telenesti, as other 22 localities in the country, guided by the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova, learned how to involve the native population in local development in a transparent and participatory way. Or, when about 40% of local population resides abroad, it represents a force that generates useful results for the community”, declared Valeria Ieseanu, Head of Programme, UNDP Moldova.

The construction of the sports facility was done by the Telenesti Mayoralty, in partnership with the Telenesti Natives Association, and the support of Migration and Local Development Project (MiDL) implemented by the UNDP Moldova, and financial assistance provided by the Government of Switzerland. Thus, 23 mayoralties, in partnership with the Natives Associations, launch infrastructure projects implemented thanks to online contributions of residents living abroad, in order to solve local issues and develop their communities.

In summer  of 2017, other 15 localities were selected based on a competition to be beneficiaries as part of Phase II of the MiDL Project.