CCR celebrates Winter Holidays at “Licurici” Theatre

On Friday, December 26th, the Charity Centre for Refugees, an implementing partner of UNHCR, organized the celebration of Christmas and New Year at the Puppets’ State Theatre “Licurici”.

More than 300 children were invited, together with their families, to admire the show organized by the performers of the theatre.

The event started with a wishful welcoming, to refugees and asylum seekers’ community, by the Director of CCR, Mr. Djavid Paknehad, the  Director of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum, Mrs. Olga Poalelungi, and UNHCR Programme Officer, Mr. Dinu Lipcanu.

18th Winter Charity Bazaar

The Winter Charity Bazaar, organized annually by the International Women’s Club (IWC), gives visitors the chance to travel the world in few steps. Several stalls, selling traditional crafts, gifts, art and tasty food from many countries all over the world, were hosted by different Embassies.

Festival of Ethnicities 2014

Following its yearly tradition, the Festival of Ethnicities has once again gathered, under the motto “Unity through Diversity”, the representatives of the ethnic minorities and of the cultural organisations in a colourful event.

The festival was organised on Sunday, 21^st of September, by the Bureau of Inter-Ethnic Relations in collaboration with the Chisinau Municipality. Hundreds of people invaded the Public Garden “Stefan cel Mare” to admire the culture and the customs of the ethnic groups living in the Republic of Moldova. Every ethnic

Excursion to Tipova and Saharna 2014

The last inch of good weather has encouraged the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, to organize an excursion to Saharna-Ţipova monasteries. The initiative had the goal to acquaint newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers with the natural and historical beauties Moldova offers. Aiming at this, CCR invited Mr. Orest Dabija, a consultant in the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture RM, who agreed to guide the tour. Around 90 asylum seekers and refugees including children, CCR staff and EVS volunteers joined the excursion, discovering together the cultural heritage of Moldova.

Sport day for asylum seekers and international volunteers

Sport is a great opportunity to make friends and a way of getting people active and involved. Being moved from this belief, Ms. Sofia Gonzales, Spanish EVS volunteer currently working at the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, agreed in advance with the administration of the Temporary Accommodation Centre and on September 1^st took the initiative of organizing a sport event for the residents of the Centre.

A pleasant getaway to the greenery of the «Dendrariu»

On Thursday, 7^th of August, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) together with refugees, asylum seekers who are attending Romanian language classes at the Ion Creanga Pedagogical University and children participating in the Summer School visited the famous „Dendrariu” park in Chişinău, which was founded in 1973, on the former territory of the Botanic Garden. The 83 ha park is under national protection, because of the scientific and practical importance to the Republic of Moldova.

About 50 people took part in the visit and enjoyed the lovely weather, beautiful nature and the escape from the city noise. Besides that, the Romanian teacher, who also participated in the event, arranged a practical open-air lesson on the topic of nature.

CCR expresses its gratitude to the administration and Director of the park ‘Dendrariu’, Mr. Ion Uzun, for giving opportunity to refugees and asylum seekers to visit the park for free!

Traditional picnic in the village of Costeşti

     UNHCR Moldova together with its implementing partners hosted a perfect summer picnic for refugees, asylum seekers and local community. The event served as an opportunity to commemorate World Refugee Day in an informal meeting and to honour the courage and determination of families who have fled their homes because of persecution or violence. This year the traditional picnic took place on the 2nd of August in the village of Costeşti, district of Ialoveni.

       The picnic started with a briefing about the agenda of the day, a short introduction about the UNHCR support for persons of concern in Moldova and presentations of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum and UNHCR implementing partners: the Law Centre of Advocates (LCA), the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) and AVE COPIII.

Interview with Gabriela Roşca, a local volunteer at CCR

Gabriela Rosca, an 18-year-old Moldovan girl, who took initiative to become a volunteer at the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) and help vulnerable refugee/asylum seeker community during her summer vacation.

CCR appreciates efforts, help and work Ms. Gabriela did for refugee/asylum seeker children and women, and hopes to have her support in future.

1.Please give a brief description of the tasks involved in your volunteering position.

I think I will start with three words:”Helping all people”, with all that I can. My daily routine begins at 9.30, when I come to the Charity Centre, and every time I find there some of our children and start speaking with them. I ask, what their pleasures are or what they are interested in. During these hours I help CCR team a little bit and in the end of our day I prepare a sweet table for all the children. So, every day I come to the centre, I have to do a different work with different persons there. When I have free time, I communicate with refugees/asylum seekers and just stay and relax with other CCR volunteers.

Meeting with UNHCR persons of concern from Syria

On 24^th of July 2014, took place a meeting with Syrian PoCs organised at the initiative of UNHCR Moldova. The event was attended by the UNHCR Programme Coordinator, Mr. Dinu Lipcanu, the Director of Directorate for Asylum and Integration, Mrs. Ecaterina Silvestru, as well as representatives of CCR and Ave Copiii. There were present more than 30 refugees, asylum seekers and BHPs from Syria.

The overall objective of the meeting was to inform Syrian refugees, asylum seekers and BHPs about the emergency support grant offered by UNHCR Moldova. Mr. Dinu Lipcanu gave a detailed information about eligibility criteria, types of support (business,

Summer School for refugee and asylum seeker children

     In July 2014, the Charity Centre for Refugees, an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, gave start to the Summer School for refugee/asylum seeker children. This initiative aims to expand speech and Arabic language skills, to inspire and motivate towards creativity, art, music, history, multicultural background.

  Every Tuesday and Thursday, refugee/asylum seeker children have a programme with diverse activities. The day of the Summer School starts at 10 a.m. in the morning with Arabic language lessons given by Mrs. Amalid Karim, a refugee who worked as a teacher at primary and secondary school in Iraq. These lessons seek to boost the level of Arabic language in written and oral forms. But the most important is to help children not to forget their mother tongue, because may be one day they will have opportunity to return back to the country they were forced to leave. Besides that, children enjoy studying music taught by Mrs. Dima Deiri, a refugee from Syria. While participating in music activities, children are enhancing language and social-emotional development and increasing musical skills and knowledge.

      With the help of local and EVS volunteers, refugee/asylum seeker children have art lessons, where they express inspiration and creativity. During art activities, children make greeting cards, paint ‘mandalas’, create towns in 3D format, etc. Moreover, children and their parents have opportunity to watch films, cartoons or play different games. CCR is happy to see that children have fun creating and learning new things together at the Summer School.  The School day ends with some refreshments.

Dear Mr. Djavid Paknehad,

CCR team, local and European volunteers, refugee/asylum seeker children wish you days filled with much love, many wonderful surprises and lasting memories that will cherish many years ahead.

Refugee and asylum seeker children together with local and European volunteers prepared a special Birthday gift – a handmade postcard with messages written in different languages (Arabic, Romanian, Russian, Estonian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Armenian) and a ‘Happy Birthday’ song.

La multi ani!

Sincerely,

CCR team, local and European volunteers, refugee/asylum seeker children

Austrian Experience of Migrants' Integration for Ukraine and Moldova

23 – 26 June 2014, representatives of state authorities and civil society organizations from Ukraine and Moldova went on the migrants integration study visit to Austria. The Ukrainian delegation consisted of senior officials from the Ombudsman Office, the State Migration Service and the NGO “African Council in Ukraine”. Moldova was represented by officials of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum, the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family as well as the NGO “Charity Center for Refugees”. The visit was co-organized by the IOM Country office in Austria and provided an excellent opportunity for the guests to find out more about the work of the key institutions in the integration policy and practice of the country, including the federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, the Austrian Integration Fund, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, the Vienna City Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the NGO “Integration House” and Caritas Austria.

World Refugee Day in the Republic of Moldova 2014

        Every year on 20th of June, more than one hundred countries commemorate World Refugee Day. Thousands of people around the world take time to commiserate with forcibly displaced person, who fled across the border and were torn apart from their families. In the Republic of Moldova, this important Day has been commemorated since 2001, when Moldova acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and assumed the commitment to protect people, who were forced to leave their homes. On this occasion, UNHCR Moldova and its NGO implementing partners, together with the Bureau for Migration and Asylum put all their efforts to arrange a memorable day for PoCs and raise awareness about the growing number of refugees in Moldova and all over the world.

        World Refugee Day and commemoration of Convention took place on 19th of June 2014 at the Temporary Accommodation Centre and on 20th of June 2014 in the Stefan Cel Mare Central Park of Chisinau.  BMA and UNHCR Moldova together with its implementing partners organised a wide variety of activities under the slogan “A family torn apart by war is too many”. Visitors could read stories of the refugees in Moldova from the exhibition of photos. There was a possibility to play a table game called ‘Refugee Journey’ – the long journey of a refugee towards a safe place. Besides that, members of the public could enjoy tasting oriental
food: Uzbek pilaf and dessert ‘ChakChak’, Syrian round shaped cakes with meat ‘kebe’ and dessert ‘akras bi ajwe’, Shaorma etc. The dishes were prepared by refugees themselves.

A wonderful day at the Chisinau Botanic Garden – 17th May 2014

           Spring is one of the best seasons of the year to spend some time outdoors enjoying the weather, beautiful blossom of trees and flowers.  For that reason, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, together with the Temporary Accommodation Centre administration decided to offer a great day out to asylum seekers and invited them to the Chisinau Botanic Garden.

     With plants from all over the world displayed in a 76-acre oasis of gardens and glasshouses, the Chisinau Botanic Garden is an inspiration for gardeners and an exciting introduction to the natural world for visitors.  Many asylum seekers have not even heard about this place, so they had opportunity to explore the world of plants and history of magnificent Chisinau Botanic Garden with one of the guides. 

International Children's Day – 1st of June 2014

   International Children’s Day was established by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1925 as a day, which marks protection and welfare of children. It is now recognised on various days in many places around the world.  

  Moldova celebrated this important date on 1st of June with lots of activities in different places of Chisinau and other towns.

   As an annual tradition, on 1st of June 2014, the Municipal Department for Children’s Rights Protection with the support of different organisations including the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, organised a memorable event for children and their parents at the Zoo. The celebration included series of activities on the occasion of International Children’s Day entitled ‘That’s the way childhood is’. One thousand children including vulnerable communities, particularly refugee and asylum seeker children, orphaned, disabled and children with other difficulties joined. 

Workshop for the World Refugee Day at the Galata gymnasium

    On 20th of May, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, together with its European volunteers organised a workshop at the Galata gymnasium, where refugees and asylum seekers study. The main idea of this event was to gather local children, refugees/asylum seekers and prepare a poster for the World Refugee Day, which will take place on 20th of June 2014 in ‘Stefan cel Mare’ park. In addition to that, it was very important to send a positive message from refugees and asylum seekers towards local community and to find out about integration of refugee/asylum seeker children in schools.
      The workshop began with a presentation by CCR staff about refugees/asylum seekers, UNHCR and its partners. Children were attentive and very willing to answer the questions. After that, proceeded the most interesting part – painting a poster. The enthusiasm and interest of the children made the poster very colourful and carrying a very important message: ‘Our power is in friendship and diversity’. 

Family Day – 15th May 2014

  The International Day of Families is celebrated on the 15th May each year. It was introduced by the United Nations in 1993, in order to reflect the importance the international community attaches to families, and promote awareness of issues that affect them.

       This year, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) marked the occasion by inviting refugee families to take part in some of the festivities the city of Chisinau had to offer. Refugee families, staff and European volunteers at CCR joined many other local participants in front of the Maria Biesu National Theatre of Opera and Ballet for a small event commemorating families in Moldova. They enjoyed a performance of traditional Moldovan folk dance, performed enthusiastically (despite the rain!) by some local children. Speeches were also made by minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family, Mrs. Valentina Buliga and a representative of UNFPA Moldova, Mr. Ian McFarlane, showing appreciation for the strength and importance of families within Moldovan culture.  

     

Europe Day in Chisinau and Comrat – 10th and 17th May 2014

    On the 10th and 17th May 2014, in the framework of the EU-funded project, Quality Initiative in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus (QIEE) the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) and refugee community took part in Europe Day celebrations in the centre of Chisinau and Comrat, alongside its supporting organisation UNHCR Moldova. Europe Day is a European Union-led celebration of peace and unity, taking place on the 9th May each year.  It is celebrated across many countries in the European Union and its neighbours, raising awareness of the diversity of different European cultural highlights.

     Moldovan authorities and the Delegation of the European Union to Chisinau organised a ‘European town’ in the Central Square, full of stalls hosted by different European embassies and EU-related projects. Each stall had their own attractions; the British Embassy provided tea, the Spanish served paella and Spanish omelette, and the Belgians hosted a very popular barbecue! There was also a wide range of performances held on the main stage. The event was a great success, with hundreds of people attending and enjoying the spectacle, whilst also learning more about the European Union and its member states. 

    UNHCR hosted its own stall, alongside other UN agencies and international bodies. Visitors to the stall could collect a wide variety of information about UNHCR, refugees, asylum seekers and ask questions to staff and volunteers. There was also a quiz with questions related to UNHCR’s activities internationally and in Moldova. In addition, visitors could choose to have their names translated into Arabic and written in henna. There was also the opportunity to have different flags of the world face-painted by the European volunteers of CCR from the United Kingdom and Spain. All of these activities were very popular and successful, especially amongst children. There was always a queue of people waiting for their turn! UNHCR stall even received a visit from the Prime Minister of Moldova, Mr. Iurie Leanca, which was a great honour and privilege.

Easter filled refugees' and asylum seekers' souls with joy and peace

           On the 20^th April 2014, Catholic and Orthodox believers celebrated together one of their most important religious events of the year – the Easter holiday. To commemorate this occasion the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), in collaboration with the Metropolis of Moldova, organised an exciting and enlightening event for its partners, guests, refugees and asylum seekers.

      The Easter celebration began with a formal welcome; the CCR Director, Mr. Djavid Paknehad and the UNHCR Programme Officer, Mr. Dinu Lipcanu, wished all attendees peace, joy and cheer. The event proceeded with presentations by CCR staff and volunteers about Moldovan Easter traditions. After, refugees and asylum seekers took part in a short quiz. Correct answers were rewarded with small gifts - hence why many children were active and willing to participate in the contest! But the most special part of the event was the speech from the priest, Father Constantin, designated by the Metropolis of Moldova.  He talked about the spirit of the Easter celebration and Christian values,​​ with refugees and asylum seekers having the opportunity to ask him lots of different questions.  The discussion touched upon various aspects - the Christ’s Resurrection, Easter traditions, the meaning of Lent, the Holy Fire and many other topics related to Christianity. Moreover, Father Constantin told the story that 12 years ago, when he was a student at the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the Moldova State University, he had had the possibility to visit the Charity Centre for Refugees and participate in an event as a translator for refugees and asylum seekers. Father Constantin was very glad to remember that memory, but was even prouder now to be celebrating Easter with the refugees and asylum seekers in his present capacity as a priest.  

Ecological Action at the Temporary Accommodation Centre

On 5^th of April 2014, the Bureau for Migration and Asylum organised Ecological action for refugees and asylum seekers who live at the Temporary Accommodation Centre. All residents and administrators of the Centre gathered to demonstrate that they care about the place they live in. Thus, the whole area of the TAC was cleaned. Refugees and asylum seekers painted the walls, cared for plants, cleaned the playground for children.

In the framework of partnership with the Bureau for Migration and Asylum, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, also joined this civic action. After the hard work was finished, the CCR offered to all participants some traditional Moldovan placinte, fruits and sweets as a reward for their efforts. During the meal, residents and guests discussed daily life, state language classes, employment, films, sports, etc. 

Memorandum of Agreement with the Bureau for Migration and Asylum of the Republic of Moldova

Since 2003, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of  UNHCR Moldova, has maintained good partnership with the Bureau for Migration and Asylum (BMA) of the Republic of Moldova. In terms of this collaboration, the CCR has provided cultural, social and moral support to the residents of the Temporary Accommodation Centre.

On 18th of March 2014, the General Director of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum, Ms. Olga Poalelungi and the CCR Director, Mr. Djavid Paknehad strengthened this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Agreement, which foresees the present and future activities of the CCR at the Temporary Accommodation Centre. The document is valid for three years and can be extended upon the request of the parties.

Cinema for refugees, asylum seekers and local community at the TAC and CCR

The Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of the UNHCR Moldova, provides different support to refugees, asylum seekers and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection by promoting anti-discrimination and tolerance towards them, raising awareness, organizing cultural events, etc. One of the CCR’s objectives is to facilitate integration of the asylum seekers and refugees into the local society by raising awareness. Thus, on 29th of March 2014, the CCR presented two films about Chisinau - the capital of Moldova: "Chisinau in epoca moderna” and “Chisinau-capitala Europeana” to the residents of the Temporary Accommodation Centre (TAC). The purpose was to acquaint beneficiaries with the town they live in and introduce the most remarkable places of Chisinau.

         On 31^st of March 2014, the CCR received an audience of more than 90 children from the kindergarten, who enjoyed watching the American cartoons “Tom and Jerry” and the Russian cartoons “Nu Pagadi”.  The main idea was to familiarize little children with the community of refugees and asylum seekers, which subsequently will help to increase tolerance and anti-discrimination towards this vulnerable group of people.

International Day of Nowruz at the Charity Centre for Refugees in the Republic of Moldova in 2014

     One of the oldest Persian traditions that reached us from time immemorial is celebration of Nowruz-Persian New Year. In harmony with the rebirth of nature, Nowruz begins on the spring equinox, i.e. on 20th or 21st of March, when day and night are nearly equal. During this spring day, millions of people from Central Asia is preparing for the most important and most colourful event – the New Year celebration.

       To maintain the annual tradition of Nowruz celebration, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of the UNHCR Moldova, organised a memorable and enjoyable event for its guests, refugees and asylum seekers. The participants were able to admire the traditional Nowruz table of seven S’s - Haft Sîn, to be a part of the entertainment programme and taste traditional Nowruz food.

       The celebration of Persian New Year took place on 21st of March at the Charity Centre for Refugees. On this occasion, in the entrance hall of the office, the CCR staff laid a table with seven elements - Haft Sîn and exhibited flags of the countries where Nowruz is widely celebrated. The New Year table included crushed spice of berries (sumac) – symbol of the sunrise, sweet dry fruits (senjed) which represent love and affection, vinegar (serkeh) – patience and age, apples (seeb) – health and beauty, garlic (sir) – good health. Furthermore, it was placed a mirror on the table to symbolise reflection of the past year, coins for prosperity in the New Year, flowers to symbolise spring and candles for light and happiness. 

The Scientific Conference – International Pedagogical Practice on “Migration and Consolidation of Intercultural Dialogue”

Concerned about the issues of global migration and motivated towards strengthening intercultural dialogue, on 1st of March young students from different Moldavian lyceums and gymnasiums met for a Scientific Conference – International Pedagogical Practice on “Migration and Consolidation of Intercultural Dialogue” at the Lyceum of Academy of Sciences Moldova.

The participants of the conference were students of high schools, also guests from Georgia, Turkey, Canada, Romania, Japan and Germany, representatives from the United Nations, local associations and organisations, including the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR. The main topics discussed in the forum were negative and positive consequences of migration, intercultural dialogue and patriotism.

The Scientific Conference on “Migration and Consolidation of Intercultural Dialogue” took place in two parts. The first part of the conference was dedicated to a simulation of the United Nations meeting. Hence, students from the high schools imitated representatives from Moldova, Romania, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Germany, USA, Canada, Afghanistan, France, Russia, etc., with regard to the issues of migration, consolidation of intercultural dialogue and impact on society. Participants were asking questions and making conclusions about the ways of strengthening intercultural dialogue between people.

International Women’s Day for refugee and asylum seeker women

Since the early 20th century, International Women’s Day has been celebrated on 8th of March in many countries around the world. This day marks respect and appreciation towards women without regard to national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political divisions. In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR, created a great party for asylum seeker and refugee women.

International Women’s Day is an annual tradition of the Charity Centre for Refugees. This year, it took place on 6th of March 2014, on the premises of the CCR office. At the beginning of the festive part, all the participating women and girls were greeted and congratulated by the CCR Director, Mr. Djavid Paknehad. Moreover, the Director of the Asylum and Integration Directorate, Mrs. Ecaterina Silvestru, the UNHCR Assistant Protection Officer, Mr. Marin Roman and Ave Copiii Project Coordinator, Mrs. Cristina Bedros also joined in congratulating refugee and asylum seeker women on this special day, wishing them to be loved and respected not only one day a year.

“Martisor” workshop for refugees and asylum seekers in Moldova

 “Martisor” is a traditional celebration of spring on the 1st of March, which takes place in Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and other countries of the Southeast Europe. In Moldova and Romania this authentic feast is celebrated more than 2000 years. 

On this occasion, the Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) together with local and EVS volunteers organised “Martisor” workshops for refugees, asylum seekers and local people at its office. The event was attended by more than 10 participants. During the workshop, beneficiaries learned to make traditional “martisor” in the shape of little girl and boy, which later on different ethnic costumes were manufactured for them. The result was great, beneficiaries succeeded to make national costumes of Moldova, Afghanistan, India, Syria and other. Besides that, enjoying the process, refugees and asylum seekers created postcards with “martisor” which will be given to CCR guests and partners on the 1^st of March.