Celebrating the ending of Summer School for Refugee Children and National Holidays of Moldova

The Charity Centre for Refugees, Implementing Partner of UNHCR Moldova, organised on 29 August 2016 the celebration of „Independence” and „Our Language” Day and the ending of the Summer School for Refugee Children.

More than 60 refugees and asylum seekers attending the event found out the most important facts about the country where they live - Moldova. Thus, the participants, both children and adults, renewed their knowledge about our country. In this line refugee children sang the anthem of Moldova to honor the independence and national state symbols. In order to ensure that the information was understood, there was a quiz of questions. The participants who answered correct received presents. 

The International Children’s Day: A visit to Chisinau Zoo!

On Tuesday the 31th of May, the Charity Centre for Refugees organized a trip to the Chisinau Zoo to celebrate Children’s Day.
More than 25 beneficiaries, refugees and asylum seekers, children and their parents, set out to see the bears, lions, monkeys and all other animals that inhabit Chisinau Zoo. The event started at around midday with the gathering of all participants at the entrance.

After a short moment of greetings and some photos we all entered the zoo in search of our favorite animals. Thanks to the good weather and friendly atmosphere most beneficiaries spent a good great time together.

Christmas and New Year at Licurici Theatre

On Monday, 28 December, the Charity Centre for Refugees organized a Christmas and New Year’s party with performance at the Puppet’ State Theatre “Licurici”.

Almost 300 children with parents were warmly welcomed by the Director of CCR, Mr. Djavid Paknehad, the Deputy Director of the Bureau for Migration, Mrs. Ecaterina Silvestru and the Head of UNHCR Mr. Traian Turcanu. Thereafter some characters, including Santa Claus, Snow Maiden and a funny elf, took the stage and involved the attending children in various games. The

19th Winter Charity Bazaar

Sunday, 6 December took place an exclusive Christmas exhibition of handicrafts, souvenirs, traditional food, drinks, sweets and many other culinary goods within the 19th Winter Charity Bazaar organised by the International Women’s Club in Moldova.

The stalls of over 40 diplomatic missions attracted buyers with a variety of products that have not left anyone indifferent. Alongside the international representatives, Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) also participated in the event as an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova. The staff, EVS volunteers and some refugees helped to sell art crafts (Christmas cards, notebooks, trees, toys, etc.) handmade by refugees/asylum seekers all along the year in order to raise money for local charities.

Summer School for refugee/asylum seeker children

On 21 July 2015, Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR) gave start to the Summer School for refugee/asylum seekers children. The courses are designed around fun stories, games and creative activities that inspire children to improve their language skills and build their confidence.

Summer School takes place from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday on the CCR premises. During these days, children are having Arabic lessons taught by a refugee from Iraq. With the help of EVS volunteers and CCR representatives, refugee/asylum seeker children are having art lessons, playing sport games or watching cartoons.

Easter warmly hugged refugees

On April 15^th, Charity Centre for Refugees (CCR), an implementing partner of UNHCR Moldova, organized a joyful happening to celebrate Easter together with the refugees' community.

Despite their heterogeneous religious backgrounds, refugees and asylum seekers enjoyed the wishes of the priest Constantin Cojocaru who came back, for the second year in a raw, through the collaboration of CCR and Metropolis of Moldova, to delight the beneficiaries and their families with wishes and prays. The celebration was attended also by the Representative of UNHCR Moldova, Mr. Traian Turcanu, who, together with the Director of CCR, Mr. Djavid Paknehad, renovate his greetings for a happy and overjoyed Easter.

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.  

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.

Refugee celebrate the winter holidays

New Year and Christmas are two very important celebrations in the Republic of Moldova. Although many refugees coming from different parts of the world don't know much about these holidays, CCR always tries to bring them closer to the Moldavian traditions and make their life more enjoyable, as much as possible.

The celebration of the New Year and Christmas at CCR was not only one of the events we organized throughout 2013, but also a moment of reviewing our entire work carried out in 2013 and to analyze the refugee situation as a whole. Indeed, in 2013 the number of refugees and asylum seekers has largely increased, mostly as a result of the Syrian ongoing conflict. In this sense, of course CCR hopes to offer its maximum support to all the new comers, without forgetting the refugees that we already know for a long

time. Thus, this celebration was a perfect occasion to bring them all together in order to share with them our best wishes for the year to come. The Head of the UNHCR Office in Moldova, Mr. Octavian Mohorea, the Deputy Director of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum, Mrs. Ecaterina Silvestru, as well as representatives of other NGO partners and sponsors, joined us in the wishes of prosperity, good health and a smooth integration in Moldova addressed to the persons of concern. Along with that, CCR director thanked UNHCR for all its support in making this and all the other events possible. Some representatives of the refugee community also used this opportunity to thank UNHCR and BMA for helping them in whatever possible, in spite of the difficult times.

Eid Al-Adha celebration at CCR

Eid al-Adha is one of the greatest celebrations for all the Muslims around the world. In Arabic Eid Al-Adha means the Feast of Sacrifice, though it is also called "Eïd el Kébir" in North Africa, "Tabaski" in West Africa, "Tafaska" for the  Berber and "Kurban Bayrami" in Turkey and some post-Soviet countries. 

Muslims around the world gathered at mosques to mark the beginning of the three-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which this year began on Tuesday 15^th of October.

CCR is celebrating the International Women's Day 

Charity Centre for Refugees celebrates every year, the most important national and international holidays. One of the most beautiful and expected event- the International Women's Day- was celebrated this year,  without any exception, at the CCR office.

On this beautiful occasion, CCR prepared an entertaining program for all the guests, which included games, merry dances, songs and poems recited by the most little ones for their mothers, as well as gifts for ladies. The event was attended by about 80 people, both women and children as well as men. Men were actively involved in various competitions designed to entertain the beautiful ladies, while all the children were eager to congratulate their moms with a poem or a little song. The feast was embellished with two Indian dances, one being performed with the participation of the CCR Belgium volunteer.

Refugees in Moldova make Martisors

Martisor is a feast celebrating the arrival of the spring, which occurs in the tradition of Moldovans, Romanians and neighboring populations. On this occasion, the 1^st March, people exchange Mărţişors, symbol of the good and welfare.

Martisor itself is a little piece of adornment tied to a lanyard wove of a white and red thread. People wear Martishors during the month of March, as a sign of the arrival of spring. Besides Martisor, ladies often get early spring flowers, the most representative being the snowdrops.

On the eve of winter holidays, the Charity Centre for Refugees organized a beautiful celebration for children

On December the 26^th 2012, in the festivity hall of the CCR, dozens of children with their parents gathered together awaiting for Santa Claus and their well-deserved presents. At the event were present such important guests as Mrs. E. Silvestru, Deputy Director of the Bureau for Migration and Asylum, Mr. Peter Kessler, UNHCR Representative in Moldova, as well as our colleagues from UNHCR office and other NGOs partner. Before starting the program, guests addressed to all those present with the warmest greetings and sincere good wishes for the new coming year.