Modernising Moldova

We reported in August and October on the aid provided to Ukrainians in Moldova, but the main purpose of the trip was to provide new washrooms and toilets for two junior schools in Moldova at Sloveanca and Mindresti Noi.

The Convoy

The convoy had brought the toilet partitions and doors, and the toilets, washbasins, hand-dryers and water-heater plus the hand tools needed to complete the work.  Barry had brought the four urinals, some pipes and his own tools. 

The plan was to spend a total of ten days, five days in Sloveanca followed by 5 days in Mindresti Noi.  Sloveanca was first and Barry and Jan arrived at the same time as the septic tank!  Straight to work and after the digger had excavated the hole, time to help the team install the tank ready for connection from the washroom.

The Team?  There were 16 people including 4 from Sweden, and 3 native Moldovans (excluding the two interpreters).  All are volunteers giving their time for nothing. 

There were two elements to the trip to Sloveanca and Mindresti Noi, apart from the distribution of Aid to Ukrainians reported last month.
•    Completion of  Washrooms and toilets
•    Distribution of Aid - food and clothing etc. to Moldovans in need.

The Washrooms

In both schools, the facilities were basically an empty shell with a water supply connection. The rooms had been built and partly prepared, with the floor tiled but not much else.

First step was to install the plumbing and then the electrics, including the water heater.  This was followed by completing the plastering of the walls.  Then install the white goods – urinals, toilet bowls, cisterns, wash basins etc, together with connecting the hand dryers to the electric power.  Finally, installation of the toilet cubicles and doors to complete a working facility with adequate privacy, and then making good.

The electricity supply had its challenges – at one point the circuit was blown because it was overloaded by all the hand-drill batteries being charged!! 

Each school washroom was completed in five days, and the children and local helpers were absolutely delighted.
As Barry reports, the caretaker at the first school had been brought up in the soviet era and believed all westerners were bad.  He completely changed his mind after the work was done – he was very emotional and couldn’t believe so many people would volunteer their time and support to help out his school.  (Probably a good thing he was impressed, he was a karate black belt!)

The Aid

The convoy had taken food, water and some clothing, plus a donated trampoline, and about 40 bikes to be given to local children, and even walking frames for the elderly.
As reported previously, the volunteers made up family boxes, empty banana boxes filled with water, food, etc for distribution to elderly Moldovan families at their homes in the villages, with local social workers identifying those with the greatest need.  The clothes were taken to a special shop in the villages and could be collected – for free.

Jan visited a local Moldovan hospital – a most moving experience.

The team left the two villages with the work completed, the aid distributed and with the heartfelt thanks of the villagers.  (Plus some souvenirs – Moldovan beer, Souvenir mugs and other items!)