About 80 children from the Moldovan diaspora have returned to Moldova to participate in the governmental program DOR, a name that breaks down as Diaspora, Origins, Return, while also being a reference to homesickness.
Joined by 20 other kids from Moldova proper, the young participants will engage for a week in creative, sportive, artistic, linguistic, history- and culture-learning activities. The kids will also go out on cultural trips and will meet various Moldovan personalities.
Run by the Diaspora Bureau, this year’s Program was officially inaugurated on Tuesday at the Holercani Pension in Dubasari.
The 100 beneficiaries were selected from among 197 applicants from 14 countries, including Canada, the Czech Republic, France and Portugal. The kids from Moldova were selected in a national creation competition where the participants were required to artistically portray their understanding of migration and homesickness, in an essay, poem, drawing or other creative form.
“The events that you will enjoy here are designed to familiarize you with our Moldovan traditions and cultivate them in you, to serve as a memento for you to remember our culture. It is very important that you know your origins, that you know where your parents were born and formed. And, of course, please come back home as often as you can!”, Prime Minister Pavel Filip told the participants at the inauguration ceremony. He added, however, that the phenomenon of migration is a serious issue for Moldova, and expressed his regret that not every conditions are in place yet for people to feel good in their home country.
Olga Coptu, the president of the Diaspora Bureau, said the program was designed to help the diaspora children create emotional connections with the home country. “After this program, I wish that you not only speak about Moldova in favorable terms, but also know more about our country”, she told the kids, adding: “I hope that this year you enjoy yourselves here so much that when you leave abroad, you take back with you not only the sentiment of dor for Moldova, but also your joyful emotions about the time spent here, at home”.
Patricia Zgardan comes for the fourth consecutive year from Portugal to participate in the DOR events. She says participating in the DOR Program has always been a unique experience for her. She loves the food, the atmosphere, the activities and the opportunity to make friends here. “I’d like to think that I could come and live here, but I don’t know if it’s possible. If I were to return, I’d have to go to school, but I’m not sure schools here are suited for my needs; in Portugal you get a different level of education”, said Patricia Zgardan.
Maria Covajiu lives in Moldova and she says she has a very good impression about this Program. She thinks that in order for people to return to Moldova, the government should offer more support and be more understanding, and the people here should be more united. “I’ve thought about emigrating too. The reason I’d like to leave is because I have a few complaints about how education is organized here. This is not to say I’m against the Bac exams as such, but I’d like to see teachers being surveilled by these cameras as they show what they know, and then tell us how they feel about it before imposing them on us”, said the girl.
Daniel Bargan, says he is proud telling everyone he is a Moldovan. Even if he was born in Greece, Romanian is his first language. He says he likes everything in Moldova, but especially the dances and the language. Daniel also says the DOR camp is the most interesting camp he has ever been to.
The fifth edition of the DOR Program is taking place during August 20-28. Started in 2013, it has had over 400 beneficiaries. The costs are covered by the government.
