Volunteers on the 2 week special, Moldova

By Scott McQuarrie, Programme Advisor

Two things struck me as I flew back into Moldova for my second visit. First was the intense heat! Had air traffic control made a massive error and sent the plane to Africa? Most of Eastern and Southern Europe had been consumed by a ferocious heat wave with temperatures reaching an extreme 45 degrees Celsius (113F). Just as well for my Scottish skin that I packed the Factor 40! Secondly what was the friendly person in the immigration queue saying to me in Russian? It sounded interesting whatever it was. Anyway I knew I was back in Moldova as a sense of excitement and confusion surrounded me.

My main role was helping set up a new sport project in Moldova. Having seen Moldova’s national team draw 1 – 1 with Scotland some time ago it occurred to me they must be pretty bad at football if they couldn’t beat my home country. Maybe the game was in need of some development? Joking aside, Moldova’s football structure, from national team to grassroots, is still in its infancy. Therefore work is needed at youth level to create a strong senior team. Our project aims to play a part in this process. Volunteers can now receive coaching methods from a UEFA qualified coach, train with the Projects Abroad football team (Eikomena PA) and help develop youth football by coaching children between 7 – 18 years old.

Scott playing a fine game of chequers

My trip also coincided with the volunteers undertaking a 2 week Care & Community placement. There were 7 volunteers helping in a variety of placements. Some were involved in helping disabled children at a local swimming pool, working at and orphanage and also a day care centre. The placement where I met volunteers Ryan, Alex and Rachael was at the Oncology Hospital, a children’s cancer hospital. Each volunteer was spending time with the children on numerous activities including colouring in, origami, and games. I played my part by being convincingly beaten at chequers by a young lad in the group. The children spend 2 weeks in the hospital and return home for 1 month on a cycle until their chemotherapy treatment is over. Doina, one of the project supervisors and also in remission from cancer herself, told me how disappointed the children were when she got delayed one day and couldn’t make it to the hospital. By contrast she also said how delighted the children were to receive personal attention from these volunteers. It was a real reminder to me that this is a worthwhile project for all involved, even if it is for a short period of time.

More after the jump…..

Scott and Igor in the new office, Moldova

I also helped Projects Abroad Moldova move into their new office. The office is now situated in the centre of Chisinau. It takes about 5 minutes walk from Stefan Cel Mare (the main street in the centre of town). It’s ideally located for cafes, bars, shops and banks. I’d also recommend visiting Restaurant Equator just around the corner – you have to take stepping stones over water to your table and then eat by a large waterfall.