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.