Moldova

Community Description
Soldanesti is a small town situated in a valley in northeastern Moldova. The scenic location is surrounded by a forest and vistas of rolling hills.

According to census data, this district capital consists of 6,278 residents and is the commercial center for the 32 surrounding villages.

The community's main source of income is centered on local entrepreneurship through the town market and local businesses. The latter are located in the center of town, which acts as a meeting point for residents.

Soldanesti residents experience many problems due to extreme poverty. These include poor sanitation, poor water infrastructure, domestic violence, and alcoholism. For the past few years, local government and community activists have worked endlessly to the improve conditions of their community.

The town sanitation department has been re-structured to meet residents' needs and a new social assistance center has been constructed to combat social issues.

Each week thousands of residents from Soldanesti and surrounding villages come to the center of the town to socialize and buy industrial and agricultural goods. Locally-grown fruits, vegetables and farm animals are sold in a central open-air market.

Although produce and other food products are sold here 7 days a week, the public and vendors have no access to clean water.

Project Description
The purpose of this project is to provide the center of town with access to a public running water supply. A gazebo-like space will be built in the center of Soldanesti, 75 ft from the market. Fixtures will be installed and connected to the public water supply and sewage systems.

The project plan has been approved by the district council office and will require a maximum of four weeks to complete.

An area 4 by 2.5 meters area has been selected for the project site, based on its proximity to the market entrance, where all fresh foods are sold, as well as its proximity to the underground water source that will be used for the project.

The space will include a tile base supporting a sink, water fountain, trash can and bench. The area will be shaded by a metal and plastic roof structure, but will otherwise be open-air.

Soldanesti’s Public Works Department will provide labor for the construction under the direction of Mayor Alexander Tinica and Public Works Department Manger Serafima Focsa.

Workers will install a 20 mm underground pipe from the water source to the project site, and connect it to the water fountain and sink.

A 50 mm drainage pipe will be installed and connected to the city drainage system.

Project Impact
7,000 people will benefit from this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Katherine Rose

Comments
This project will provide vendors and their customers with a sanitary environment in which to sell and buy fresh fruits and vegetables. It will give the citizens of Soldanesti the opportunity to wash their hands and food before eating as well as provide those working and shopping at the market with potable water.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$0.00

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW

Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.

Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.

Dollar Amount Needed
$500.00

Community Description
Leova is located 100 kilometers south of Chisinau, the capital of Republica Moldova. The city is located along the river Prut which divides Republica Moldova and Romania.

Moldova has 40 Raions, or administrative divisions. The city of Leova is also the Raion Center of the Raion of Leova. The Raion, one of the largest in Moldova, has a population of approximately 51,770 people in 2 cities and 36 villages.

Leova’s production sectors are:

Industrial - there is a winery in the city;
Agriculture - producing wheat, corn, various berries, sunflowers, pumpkins and watermelons;
Animal Husbandry - including cows, pigs, sheep and goats.

The Jail at the Police Station in Leova serves the whole Raion of Leova. It is in deplorable condition and is unfit to house those who are in the penal system.

Leova is a relatively safe Raion. Most crimes committed are thefts, physical assault, fraud and robberies. Some of these crimes are as a result of alcohol abuse by the offenders. Some are committed by the younger population who are unemployed.

The jail is meant to be utilized to house those citizens who are awaiting trial for their alleged crimes. The conditions are such that, at this present time, inmates are not housed there for a long period of time and have to be transported back and forth each day to the city of Cahul, 70 kilometers to the south.

The Jail was constructed in 1986 and no repairs or improvements have been done on the lock-up facilities since then. There are no kitchen facilities with running water to prepare meals for inmates and the sanitary conditions are not up to code.

Project Description
This project will provide the Jail with running water in the kitchen, repair the shower, and provide proper toilet facilities.

Project Impact
The project will benefit 45 inmates at a time. As the typical stay of each inmate is short, a conservative estimate would be that 450 inmates will be served in the average year.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Suzette Brathwaite

Comments
This project provides water for inmates, who represent an unserved portion of the often overlooked service sector of Leova. It will not only improve the hygiene and sanitation of the facility, but will also make the criminal justice system more efficient.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$50.00

ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW

Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.

Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.

Dollar Amount Needed
$450.00

Community Description
Cotiujeni Mari has a population of 3,650 people. Social problems in the village include high rates of unemployment and alcoholism. The local government estimates that over 50% of school-aged children have one or both parents working or living abroad. This leaves many children in vulnerable positions, often being raised by elderly grandparents or relatives.

Every family in the village participates in subsistence farming, and most families have another small source of income. Additionally, like many other rural Moldovan villages, Cotiujenii Mari is isolated from the world and the rest of the country. Government assistance to schools and organizations can take years and many necessities are left ignored for extended periods of time.

Cotiujenii has a lyceum with 365 children from grades 1-12.

Additionally, the village has the Pacurasii Day Center, which was started in 2003 with the financial assistance of international donors by a local non-governmental organization. The mission of the center is to better the lives of people in the community with special needs.

The center is open to children in grades 1-7, and employs one full time teacher and two assistants. It operates through funding from The Ministry of Social Protection for Families and Children of the Soldanesti region.

Additionally, the center provides an alternative education for moderately to severely disabled children and affords after school care, food, and educational assistance to vulnerable youth.

Nine disabled students go to the center five days a week and 19 children attend the center after their school day for assistance with homework, a hot meal, and to learn social skills in a loving environment. These children come from the poorest home situations in the village, the majority of them without parents.

Project Description
This project is to purchase and install a water pump to supply water for use by the Pacurasii Center from a recently-built on-site well.

This project became critical when, several weeks ago, the existing pump for the previously used water source, ceased to function, leaving the center without running water.

The center was built in a renovated building in 2003 and was equipped with electricity, gas heat, and running water. Two toilets, two hand-washing sinks, a shower, and a large sink for the kitchen were installed during this construction with the hope of providing children with sanitary conditions at the center.

The original well that was shared with the community failed to provide water of the quantity and quality needed by the center.

In the fall of 2009, a project called “The Gift of Water” was started, with the goals of improving water conditions, and providing education for the community. The objectives included constructing a new on-site well, purchasing an institutional-sized water pump, and completing a seminar with parents about the Gift of Water.

The parents and community members donated their time and expertise in the fall of 2009 to construct the new well. This project to purchase and install the water pump will make the well functional for the needs of the center.

In addition a seminar will be given for the families to learn the importance of drinking clean water at home, using water for dental hygiene, and using water to wash bodies and hands to prevent the spread of communicable disease.

Project Impact
28 children and 3 employees will be direct beneficiaries of this project. An additional 75 family members will benefit indirectly from this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Judie Wurm

Comments
This project will guarantee the flow of water necessary for the children to use for washing and bathing, for hygienic purposes in the toilets, and for use in the kitchen.

The community and the center staff have already done a tremendous amount to keep the center operating cleanly and efficiently. By providing an on-site well, they have gone a long way toward meeting their objectives. With just a little help, in the form of a needed pump, there will be significant impact on the wellbeing of the participants.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Judie Wurm of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Judie and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Moldova.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.

Community Description
Corlateni is located in the northern part of Moldova in the Riscani region, with a population of 5,500, according to census data. Within this population 1,100 members of the community attend the local schools.

In the Liceul of Corlăteni there are currently 678 high school students. There is also a primary school with 422 students, from grades 1-4. In the high school and elementary school, there are 50 teachers and 23 technical employees.

Currently there is no running water in the high school to allow students to wash their hands. Keeping hands clean has been identified as one of the most important steps that can be taken to avoid sickness and the spread of germs to others.

Project Description
This project is to provide a water supply to the school cafeteria for use by the students. Sinks will be installed in an old WC, and the necessary plumbing work will be done to make the sinks functional for use by the students. A pump will be installed in the school well, to pump the water to the cafeteria.

In addition, students, faculty, staff and the community will be taught about hygiene and public health.

The Liceul of Corlăteni, the PTA, and community members will be involved in the implementation of the project. These people are active in the school community and are committed to making the school a safer place for students, staff and faculty.

Project Impact
422 elementary students, 678 high school students, 50 teachers and 23 technical staffers will directly benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Shannon Cagney

Comments
The installation of running water will reduce the spread of germs in the school. This is especially important because of the current flu epidemic in Moldova.

The project serves a large number of students in urgent need of water for proper hygiene. It has local support, and it provides an easily accomplished permanent solution to a significant public health problem.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Shannon Cagney of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Shannon and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Moldova.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.