Carmen Stadelhofer, Virtual, and Face-to-face Learning in Adult Education at Ulm University (ILEU) e.V. and DANET e.V.
ILEU e.V. and the Danube-Networkers from Ulm planned a journey to Moldova and Eastern Romania from 19th to 27th September 2017. From Bucharest, capital of Romania, the journey went on to Galati, Romania’s 8th biggest city located by the Danube, across Republic Moldova and onto the monasteries of Moldavia in North-eastern Romania. The Danube-Networkers visited cultural sights and scenic beauties at different places but it was mostly about encounters with the people living in Eastern Romania, in the Republic of Moldova, including Gagauzia and Transnistria, their living conditions, the political, economic and social circumstances, their connection to the Danube area and Europe.
ILEU e.V. and the Danube-Networkers from Ulm planned a journey to Moldova and Eastern Romania from 19th to 27th September 2017. From Bucharest, capital of Romania, the journey went on to Galati, Romania’s 8th biggest city located by the Danube, across Republic Moldova and onto the monasteries of Moldavia in North-eastern Romania. The Danube-Networkers visited cultural sights and scenic beauties at different places but it was mostly about encounters with the people living in Eastern Romania, in the Republic of Moldova, including Gagauzia and Transnistria, their living conditions, the political, economic and social circumstances, their connection to the Danube area and Europe
Here are some short reports about some journey’s highlights, the program, and more information in German under http://www.begegnungsreisen.eu
1. Visit of the Bread House Museum in Valeni, Moldova
During their journey to Moldova, the Danube-Networkers from Ulm visited the Bread House Museum in Valeni. It’s a small but very nice museum which represents a lot of traditions from the Valeni region concerning every-day life but also festivities and other occasions to make special bread. They explained rituals and introduced us to the typical music of this region related to festivities. We tasted bread and tea and had a very nice traditional insight of this village.
Link: http://bread-wine-herbs.tastes-of-danube.eu/bread/museul-de-paine-din-valeni-moldova/
2. Friendly welcome in the high school in Tigeshi, Moldova
In the frame of the Danube-Networkers’ journey, there was an encounter with the partners from the High School of Tigeshi, a little village in Moldova with which there have had relations for two years thanks to a Moldovan family living in Ulm. The group of 22 participants was greeted by the former headmaster of the High School who led the group through the village. Firstly, a welcoming bread was shared together with welcoming dances and songs performed by the local folklore group at the cultural center. Afterwards, the group visited the local museum and then the High School of Tigeshi where they were welcomed by all teachers and approximately 20 students who sang and danced for their guests. The pupils had also designed nice posters about Germany and Moldova. Thereafter, there was a convivial dinner together with the teachers during which there was a lot of singing. Later, drinks were enjoyed in the house of the family of the former headmaster tasting different Moldovan self-made wines. The atmosphere was marvelous and the hospitality was overwhelming. All participants of the journey enjoyed the insight into every-day life in Moldova. Thank you Ioan and Ioana who prepared this short, but impressive encounter in Tigeshi so well.
- The team of the Children House of the Agapedia Foundation in Chisinau, Moldova
The Ulm Networkers also visited the social project “Children House” of Agapedia Foundation in Chisinau during their trip to Moldova. The team takes care of little children between 1 and 3 years from very young mothers coming from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. It is a daycare where children who are too young to attend a public day nursery are being looked after from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They get meals and stimulation to learn how to handle every-day life but also to communicate, to cooperate which is very important for their future. The young mothers can use the time to make an apprenticeship. At the same time, they get introduced into child care and the practice of good family management by the nice caregivers. The visitors were very impressed by the well managed and very nicely decorated house and mainly by the friendly atmosphere and love shown by the caregivers.
4. Ulm visit of the Geriatric Hospital in Chişinău
On 22nd October 2017, during their journey through Moldova, the Danube-Networkers from Ulm visited the Geriatric Hospital with the palliative unit which is the only one of its kind in Moldova. Mrs. Elena Stempovscaia, founder of this hospital unit, and young doctors accompanied the group through the rooms which once were the first Jewish hospital in Chişinău and were lovingly renovated on a mall budget. The visitors were impressed by the great commitment of the doctors and nurses but they were also distressed about the mmeagerfacilities of the furniture and the medical devices. Once again they could see that the care of elderly is a big problem in Moldova because the middle generation mostly works abroad and hence the normal social environment of the extended family which obviously cared for the older people does not exist anymore. Here, Give a sign of friendship also applies which the Danube-Networkers from Ulm effectively implemented with a fundraising campaign after having returned home.
5. Visit the Eco Village Riscova, Moldova
The Ulm Danube-Networkers visited the Eco Village during their journey through Moldova. Here, young people try to build up a community with the principles of organic farming and marketing. Simultaneously, they offer a programme of seminars and qualification courses for pupils, adults, and multipliers in order to spread principles of organic farming and a healthy diet in Moldova. The aim of this small group which puts a lot of manual work into this project is also to strengthen social contacts inside the community of Riscova and to foster social entrepreneurship. Habitants of the village produce jams, pickled vegetables, soap etc. and sell them to guests and participants of the courses via Eco House. The group spent some very nice hours where they did not only get introduced to the philosophy of the project but also helped preparing lunch (Mamaliga) and harvesting grapes. We wish everyone involved in this project much luck for the future.
http://bread-connects.tastes-of-danube.eu/2017/10/19/visit-to-the-eco-village-riscova-moldova/
6. Visit in the La Salle High School in Pildesti
On 25th September 2017, a group of 22 Danube-Networkers visited the La Salle-High School in Pildesti, Eastern Romania. For four years, the High School has been an active member of the Network and engaged in several projects.
The headmaster of the school, Prof. Cristina Istoc, and Brother Vicentiu presented the school’s work, then a discussion about Europe, expectations and future plans took place together with the students. During the adjacent snack with the teachers, the visitors got informed about the educational system of Romania and the situation of the Catholic Diaspora in Eastern Romania. They learned that at this school the teaching of values plays a vital role and that one of the main goals is to enable the students to get a good degree that offers practical experiences in certain scientific and handicraft fields.
