Santa is here! Big celebration at the Charity Centre for Refugees!

With the support of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the implementing partners - Charity Centre for Refugees and Ave Copiii - organised on December 27, a beautiful, artistic and cultural, educational and fun celebration dedicated to the winter holiday season.

Its beneficiaries were primarily refugees and 
asylum seekers in Moldova and their children, who enjoyed a veritable feast program. Around the Christmas tree, decorated with toys and beautiful colored lights, gathered girls and boys eager to met Santa Claus and to receive the deserved gifts.
With ribbons in their hair and dresses white as snow, girls danced with Snow White, and then, together with the boys, they called and met Santa Claus.

A nice initiative, transformed over time into a tradition, supported by the wives of diplomats accredited in Republic of Moldova

The International Women’s Club of Moldova organized, on 3^rd December, the XV edition of the Winter Charity Fair. This beautiful initiative, transformed over time into a tradition, belongs to the wifes of diplomats accredited in Republic of Moldova.

The opening of the Fair started with a beautiful concert of traditional dances, songs and carols, the special guest was well known and appreciated singer Geta Burlacu. Entertaining program, various cuisines of different nations and the winning lottery were part of the rich agenda proposed by the organizers. Traditionally at the Fair were the representatives of international institutions and embassies of different countries, residing in Chisinau – USA, Romania, Ukraine, Turkey, China, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belarus and others, in total over 40 institutions. 

Football Against Racism in Europe Action in Razeni, Republic of Moldova

The FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) network dedicated itself to fight racism and xenophobia in football across Europe, through co-ordinated action and common efforts, at local and national level, to bring together all those interested in combating discrimination in football. This year the FARE network supported the Charity Centre for Refugees initiative in the Republic of Moldova to bring together local communities from two villages and refugees residing in this country. On October 23, 2011, a FARE football tournament was organized in Razeni village, where teams from Mereni, Razeni villages and the UNHCR/refugee team participated. 

Blood Donation Action

On the occasion of the UN week, at the initiative of the Charity Centre for Refugees with a strengthened support of UNHCR Moldova, a Blood Donation Action was held at the National Centre of Blood Transfusion (NCBT) on October 20, 2011. A refugee group of initiative expressed an interest in donating their blood to Moldovan citizens, thus proving that blood has no nationality, religion or race and that to give your blood costs nothing and it can save many lives no matter where you come from. Republic of Moldova received the refugees becoming a hosting and carrying country, that is why they decided to make a good cause for its benefit. 

Mass-media and Refugees

On 7 October, this year, a group of students – journalists of the Free International University of Moldova (ULIM), which are attending the course Mass media and refugees, have visited the Charity Center for Refugees (CCR).

Eager to learn more about the activity of this non-governmental organization, they communicated with the refugees and have enriched their knowledge about asylum, and found out outstanding details about the refugees lives.

An awareness-raising visit to a lyceum in Cimislia, R. of Moldova

On October 6, this year, teams from the Charity Center for Refugees (CCR), in collaboration with the Society for Refugees (SR), with strengthened support of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized an awareness-raising visit to the Theoretical Lyceum “A. Puşkin” in Cimişlia. The purpose of the visit was to inform students and teachers on asylum practices and refugees situation in R. Moldova, especially because in this high school some of the children of the big refugee family from Kirgizstan continue their studies.

Unity through Diversity Festival

On September 18, 2011, Bureau of Interethnic Relations with the support of Ministry of Culture and Chisinau Mayoralty held the Republican Festival of ethnicities entitled “Unity through diversity”, where about 48 ethnocultural organizations, including the Charity Centre for Refugees, participated. After the floral tribute to the monument of Stefan the Great the official opening ceremony followed starting at 10:30 am at the Square of Europe. The festival program included a festive concert, visits to the ethnic courts, exhibits of national clothing, books, artworks and handicrafts.

Announcement

          The Public Association “Law Centre of Advocates” is looking for a qualified person for the vacant position of Legal Counselor under the EU/UNHCR-funded Local Integration Project for an initial period of 3 months, with possibility of extension. This is a part time (70%) position.

          

            The applicants should meet the following criteria:

• university degree, preferably in international law or human rights law
• at least one year of relevant legal experience
• fluency in Romanian, Russian and English. Working knowledge of one or more additional languages including Bulgarian, Gaguzian, Romani, or Ukrainian is an asset.
• ability to work independently and as part of a team
• ability to maintain high level of accuracy in carrying out the assigned tasks
• excellent communication skills
• computer skills
• willingness to work with people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds

          Adheres to the core values of the United Nations; in particular, is respectful of differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status

         The Law Center of Advocates is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

         The Legal Counselor will be primarily responsible for:

• providing legal  counseling on the rights of refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection, in particular, socio-economic rights, naturalization procedures, access to labor market, entrepreneurship, etc.
• providing legal assistance to stateless persons and other vulnerable groups who have difficulties legalizing their status in Moldova
• assisting refugees, beneficiaries of humanitarian protection and stateless persons in finding durable solutions
• providing statistics on the assisted cases
• performing other duties as assigned.

Interested candidates are invited to send their curriculum vitae by e-mail to: law-center@tmg.md  by 21 September 2011 the latest. For additional information please call +373 22 21 37 09.

Circus without Borders performs in Moldova

On August 26, 2011, at 5 p.m., the Circus without Borders, invited by Charity Centre for Refugees and Bureau for Migration and Asylum, performed for asylum seekers and the local population. The show was held on the stadium near the Temporary Accommodation Centre for Asylum-seekers. More than 150 children and their parents enjoyed the show, presented by 5 circus performers from France. Circus without Borders comes annually to Moldova and each time gladdens the audience with a new program.  

Roundtable at the Temporary Accommodation Centre on Independence Day

On August 26, 2011, at 2.30p.m., at the initiative of CCR and Society for Refugees with the support of Bureau for Migration and Asylum, a roundtable on the occasion of 20th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Moldova was held at the Temporary Accommodation Centre (TAC). Asylum seekers, who are residents of TAC and team of Circus without Borders, who later this day hold a circus performance, were present at the meeting. Mr. Dumitru Maxim, director of the Society for Refugees, communicated asylum seekers and guests from France about the history of the Republic of Moldova and described in details that period of time, when Moldovan population was struggling for its independence in the 1980-90-s. After the roundtable all those present, about 30 persons were served with biscuits, fruits and juice.

Iftar at the Charity Centre for Refugees in Moldova

The Charity Centre for Refugees monthly organizes different social, cultural and religious events, such as celebration of 8th of March, Easter, International Children’s Day, Christmas, New Year etc in order to facilitate the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers. In such events, as a rule, the local population takes an active part which leads to a cultural exchange among the participants.

One of such celebrations was the Iftar, held on August 20, 2011, in the CCR at the initiative of refugees and asylum seekers, where about 60 persons were present.

Excursion to Capriana and Hincu Monasteries

Exploring Moldovan Sightseeings

On July 30, 2011, an excursion to Capriana and Hincu monasteries was organized by the Charity Centre for Refugees.  83 representatives of refugee, asylum seeking community as well as the local population and NGOs staff took part in this event. CCR holds such excursions every year in order to familiarize its beneficiaries with the Moldovan history, culture and traditions and, therefore, to facilitate their integration. During the excursion, the guide provided information about the history of the monasteries and answered several questions.

Round tables on Constitution of the Republic of Moldova and discrimination

On July 26, 2011, the Charity Centre for Refugees in collaboration with the Chisinau Tolerance Club represented by Ms. Kira Kreiderman, Tolerance Club project coordinator, organized a roundtable on Constitution of the Republic of Moldova.

As all the refugees who want to obtain Moldovan citizenship have to pass State language and Constitution examinations, they showed interest in this topic of discussion. Mr. Veaceslav Ţurcan, Director of the Associate Attorney Office "Veaceslav Ţurcan & Co" was invited for the meeting with the refugees, where about 30 refugees and asylum seekers took part. 

Reception at the UNHCR office

At the initiative of the Charity Centre for Refugees, a reception was organized at the UNHCR's Office to congratulate those 7 citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who obtained the citizenship in the last two years. Representatives of Executive Office of the President, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Chisinau Mayoralty and Refugee Directorate of the Bureau of Migration and Asylum were also present at the meeting. All those present congratulated the former refugees and stateless persons and expressed a hope for a fruitful collaboration in the future.

Meeting with the president of Football Association of Moldova

On June 18, 2011,  at the initiative of the Charity Center for Refugees, with strengthened support of UNHCR Moldova and the Ministry of Internal Affairs there was organized a football tournament on the occasion of the World Refugee Day. Football Federation of Moldova, in the person of its president Mr. Pavel Cebanu, showed his willingness and supported this initiative assigning referees for the game and donating footballs to the refugee community.

The World Refugee Day in a new format

For more than 10 years people all over the world celebrate the World Refugee Day on June 20. In the Republic of Moldova this day is celebrated every year differently. In 2011 it has been decided to hold a football tournament, dedicated to this day. This event was organized at the initiative of the Charity Center for Refugees, with strengthened support of UNHCR Moldova and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Teams from various ministries, the diplomatic corps, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassies of the USA and Great Britain, UNDP, IOM, UNHCR, Border Agency, Millennium Challenge Corporation, the refugees and migrants, were invited to compete for a coveted trophy.

Celebration of Africa Day

In the refugee community in Moldova there are representatives of different cultures, however the most numerous are the African natives. At the initiative of the Charity Centre for Refugees there was organized the celebration of Africa Day at the beginning of June.

On their day, refugee children visited ZOO

To celebrate International Children Day NGO Charity Center for Refugees (CCR) together with the Bureau of Migration and Asylum (BMA) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, organized a trip to the Zoo in the capital, for all interested refugees and asylum seekers from Moldova. The trip has become an exiting event for about 30 refugee and asylum seeking children, their parents and older friends. According to Mr. Ahmad Djavid Paknehad, president of CCR, children from refugee families, although not at the first trip of this kind, remained with pleasant impressions and are eager to come back to visit animals and birds here. Because we were here in lunch hours, children were served with sweets and refreshments drinks provided by CCR volunteers with financial support of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Moldova.  

Moldova celebrates the International Children's day

Annually on June 1^st Moldova celebrates the International Children's day and this year was not an exception. Municipal Direction for Children Rights Protection with the support of IOM (the International Organization for Migration), Mary Kay, Ave Copiii, and the Charity Center for Refugees, has organized the festive program for a thousand of children from Moldovan socially vulnerable families, as well as for the children of refugees.

Day of Europe in Moldova

UNHCR staff and refugees

Chisinau mayor Mr. Dorin Chirtoaca visiting UNHCR tent

On May 7, 2011, at Great National Assembly Square, the citizens and international organizations of Republic of Moldova celebrated the Day of Europe. The celebration was meant to bring the European Union closer to the Moldovan citizens by celebrating its common values.

The refugees are interested in learning Romanian language

 On April 8, 2011, at Free International University o Moldova (ULIM) there was held a ceremony of handing over the certificates of attendance to a group of Romanian language learners within the refugee and asylum seeking community in the Republic of Moldova.

Lessons were organized within the Local integration Project, with the financial support of European Union, implemented and co-financed by UNHCR Moldova.

Moldova is ready to provide shelter for vulnerable people

CHISINAU, Republic of Moldova, March 24 (UNHCR) - By the end of 2011 about 10 families of refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection in Moldova will benefit of housing areas which follow to be rebuilt within the Local Integration Project in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine funded by the European Union, co-financed and implemented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Moldova.

GIFTS DAY AT THE CHARITY CENTRE FOR REFUGEES

Smiles and joy at the Charity Center for Refugees. Nearly 40 children have received toys and clothes as gifts. The gifts have arrived in Moldova thanked to a donation made by several U.S. citizens.

Artyom Gasparean is a 4 years old boy of a refugees family from Azerbaijan. He chose three teddy bears, a horse, a drum and a coloring book from the box with toys. "I like very much teddy bears ... I also took one for Karen," says the boy, which hasn’t forgotten to take toys for his big brother. Artyom remained excited of the drum he received, he said that he will certainly learn how to play on it.The one who came up with the initiative to make such a donation is Alex Demkin-Dick, a 19 years old young man, a volunteer at the Millennium Challenge Fund in Moldova. Alex says that his past has made him to help children from refugee families. The young man lived for 4 years in an orphanage, reason which makes him to understand very good the difficulties and shortcomings that have the refugees children.

Celebration of International Women’s Day

In many countries of the world, the 8th of March is considered to be the International Women’s day. Moldova does not make an exception and here this day is widely celebrated.

On the 4th of March 2011, on the occasion of this important day, with the support of UNHCR in the Republic of Moldova, the Charity Centre for Refugees organized a celebration for refugee and asylum seeking women and their daughters on the premises of the CCR.

Martisori made by refugee children

On the 27th of February 2011, at 11:00, CCR organized the celebration of a traditional Moldovan festive day – Martisor.
Moldovans have a beautiful ancient tradition on the first day of March: Martisor. Its name is a diminutive from the name of Martie - the Romanian word for March.

From the ancient time people were celebrating the arrival of spring with long time forgotten rituals. They used small pebbles painted in white and red arranged alternatively on a string, this amulet being called Martisor. Nowadays "Martisor" is present in all Romanian regions but you can find a similar tradition in Macedonia and Albania too.

 In Romania this Amulet is a symbol of coming spring and joy. Exchanging them is a gesture of love, friendship, respect and appreciation. You can buy silky red-white threads (tied into a bow) and small plastic objects: flowers, horse shoes, leaves, bumblebees, animals, birds, tiny suns or stars, red hearts, and many others. People wear in the left side on their chests these amulets during nine days, starting from March 1st, of course.

            In order to familiarize refugees and asylum seekers with this beautiful Moldovan tradition, CCR invited children and adults to celebrate the beginning of spring. Mr. Valeriu Belagruda, the CCR extracurricular activities assistant, taught all those present how to make a Martisor, all the necessary materials being provided.