Moving into life

Moldova | Moving into life

Moldova / Local & regional aid projects

The "Move a Family" project enables poor families to relocate from rural areas to urban areas and thus from vegetation to life. AVC humanitarian aid buys and renovates empty houses in order to give families new perspectives for their future.

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Initial situation and challenges

Moldova is also referred to as the "poorhouse of Europe". The per capita income in this country is just CHF 200 per month, around 20 times less than in Switzerland. One of the most blatant signs of Moldova's poverty is the way people live there. Often people live far out in the country and thus far away from any civilization. There is neither electricity nor running water. As well, firewood for heating is scarce, while the temperatures in winter sink to -30°C. There is no possibility to get a job, and as to going to the next market with garden products, the way is too far and the road too catastrophic. In many places, the state has also closed all schools - for economic reasons. Thus the children have no prospect of a school education and the downward spiral begins early in their lives to turn downwards.

Important facts
- Capital
- Chisinau
- Area
- 33 851 km2
- Inhabitants
- 3,4 millions
- Life expectancy
- 71 years
- Child mortality rate
- 12 (per 1000)
- Literacy
- 99,4%
- Religion
- 90,1% Orthodox
- 2,6% other Christians
- 0,1% Others
- 0,2% Atheists
- 6,9% unspecified

Capital
Chisinau
Area
33 851 km2
Inhabitants
3,4 millions
Life expectancy
71 years
Child mortality rate
12 (per 1000)
Literacy
99,4%
Religion
90,1% Orthodox
2,6% other Christians
0,1% Others
0,2% Atheists
6,9% unspecified

Aims

Families from poor backgrounds are given the opportunity to live in dignity.

AVC humanitarian aid...

buys and renovates houses with more connection to civilization
organizes relocations
helps to find employment

"The winter idyll is deceptive: At a minus 30°C room temperature people freeze to death for lack of firewood in their own homes."

Hans-Peter Lehmann, Project Manager Moldova

Commitment

Moving into life

The "Move a Family" project was launched in Moldova in 2016. AVC humanitarian aid looks out for families who suffer particularly from remoteness and poverty and enables them to "move into life".

In Sarata-Galbena, about an hour southwest of the capital Chisinau, we buy empty houses and land. In coordination with the families, the houses are renovated and the land is prepared for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables or for the keeping of animals. The men are supported in their job search and partially get the opportunity to participate in our own projects. At the new place of residence, schools for the children are once more within reach. The whole family thus receives support on their way out of poverty and towards a hopeful future.