Contact (person) 

To be able to help effectively people have to be provided – locally - with the right information. Therefore, the task of the contact in Moldavia is of vital importance. Pastor Peter Chiumac is very important to the foundation. Next to his pastoral and social activities he doesn’t mind a renovation or other practical activities.

Peter Chiumac has a valuable monitoring task and he has connections with the Moldavian authorities. Together with his wife, he lives in Balti. He is able to rely on a number of interpreters which makes the communication easier for the Dutch relief workers. In Moldavia people generally speak Russian. 

Management and Contact :

Chairperson:         F. Tjallinks

Treasurer:            W. Hart

Secretary:            N. v. Nugteren

General members: J. te Sligte, H. van Vliet 

The reason for choosing Moldavia 

Moldavia is smaller than the Netherlands and has about 4,5 million inhabitants. Since 1991 they are independent of the Soviet Union. Since Moldavia doesn’t have the materials, all energy has to be imported from the Ukraine, which is also the reason why there is no industry. They are dependent on the cultivation of fruit and vegetables. As a consequence of privatization, frozen prices and frozen interest, Moldavia is the poorest country in Europe. 80% of the population lives below the poverty threshold. Because of this, the weaker ones are let down most. Many elderly or handicapped people, and children as well, are left to fend for themselves. The foundation Holland-Moldova makes out a case especially for these people. 

Cooperation 

A cooperation with the Swiss relief workers was established in early 2007. Under the name of Christliche Ost Mission they provide assistance in Moldavia. From Switzerland a monthly transport of clothing to Moldavia did turn out to be remunerative. Together, they hope to render even more assistance in the future in the areas of microcredit and economical construction. 

Your support is essential

Holland-Moldova is a foundation and consequently is a non-profit organisation which is not commercially oriented. Even though the transports from the Netherlands have stopped it is still possible to help. Your financial support is still essential and of course very much appreciated.

The church in Hemmen helps Moldava.

`Look, these are the toilets in an orphanage. A toilet without  a lid for the girls and the boys have to use three dirty drains. The paint is flaking off the walls and it is hard to close the toilets off. You can’t smell the stench from a picture, but it is not hard to imagine.` They show me more pictures: the dining room which serves the same food almost every day and the playground equipment, in a reasonably good condition since these have been restored recently with help of the money the Holland – Moldova foundation donated.

I talk to Dirk Jan Franken and his son Edwin (13), who have been to Moldova from the 25th  April until the 2nd of May with a delegation of 16 people and an amount of € 1500 on behalf of the Reformed congregation in Hemmen. On invitation of the foundation they visited various projects in Moldova and saw with their own eyes that the money is well spent. In the past there frequently were food-aid transports from the Netherlands, but these have stopped. This is firstly because the transports costs are extremely high, and within the EU new rules have made the transports impossible. Secondly, it costs too much time to gather the goods as well as transport them and at the border it was often difficult. Now it takes you 2,5 hours to get to Moldova and the money can be used on site right away. From Switzerland (not an EU member country) an organisation takes care of clothing and goods transports to Moldova.

The poorest country in Europe.

Moldova has 4,5 million inhabitants and is therefore smaller than the Netherlands. Since 1991 he country is independent of the Soviet Union. There are no mineral resources. The energy is gotten from the neighbouring country Ukraine, but it often happens that the country is out of gas. Recently there has been a big gas explosion in the pipeline with as a consequence: no gas. No industry in the country. On a small scale the country cultivates vegetables and fruit. 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. Senior citizens, handicapped people and orphans are duped most.

Food

Led by Henk van Vliet (one of my former pupils), who is a member of the Board of the foundation, they visit various of the foundation’s projects. All of this has left a profound impression. Even on a 13-year-old. Edwin went to Metro (Macro) with us to buy food, which was used to put together food parcels. The food that is bought is nutritious and durable. Corn, rice, beans, macaroni, oil and sugar. All of this is loaded into the truck, made into parcels and distributed to the different villages. Beforehand the mayors have determined who qualified for such a parcel during this mission. The people are waiting for the truck with their ID cards. The people who have received a parcel are registered on a list. It takes only one stamp to provide the people with enough supply for a couple of weeks. It is touching to hear that when Edwin and Dirk Jan step out of the van for a quick ´Sultana´ snack, eager eyes look at the package. Dirk Jan splits it into four portions and treats the people to a part of his snack. They thank him heartily with a nod and beam with joy as they eat.   

Peter Chiumac

During a tour they meet Peter Chiumac. He is the contact on site. He knows the country, he knows what is needed, speaks the language (Russian), and has many contacts. He knows where the available money can be spent best. He is a pastor and next to the pastoral care he is also well educated in the areas of architecture and engineering. From Holland there is often contact with Peter and the foundation ‘Holland Help’, which he leads and which is part of the Holland Moldova organisation. Without Holland Moldova there is no Holland Help and vice versa. This Peter maintains contact with the government and when something does not suit him he calls the minister in question right away. A man of gold! He also does not mind doing some work himself. Thanks to him the playground equipment has been renovated, the toilets still have to be done. Renovation, paintwork, brickwork.. a lot has to be done!

Tabita

A visit is paid to Tabita, a home for the elderly. This home is successfully realized by volunteers from Holland. Holland ( and Switzerland) make sure they are provided with food, facilities and maintenance every month. The people have a carefree old age so to say, in comparison to the pitiable circumstances in which the ‘independent’ people live. These people live in small houses (or rather: shacks) with leaking roofs and no heating. Edwin shows me some pictures of the interiors. Indescribable! What strikes me is that often the children as well as the adults have satisfied, happy faces. Would that be for the picture or have they settled in their fate? Tabita has its 10th anniversary on the 19th of September and this will be celebrated with a delegation from Holland. When the people from Holland come to pay a visit, the gratitude can be read from the people’s faces.

Edwin and Dirk Jan can tell you much more about their experiences in Moldova, a country only 2,5 hours away by plane. Money is urgently needed to keep the people there going and the Reformed Church of Hemmen has a chance to do that. Your donation is very welcome as well, of course. Would you like to support the foundation ´Holland Help´? Then you can transfer an amount to account number 13.39.09.174 in the name of Kerkvoogdij Herv.Gem.Hemmen mentioning Holland-Help. Want to know more about the foundation?? Take a look at the website www.holland-moldova.nl.

Henk