A number of 3,400 Moldovans who left their home communities, from all corners of the world, contributed 1.1 million lei for their home communities via crowdfunding campaigns. The three-months fundraising campaigns were managed by local Natives’ Associations in close partnership with local authorities. In an interview for Radio Free Europe’s Moldovan Service, Olesea Cazacu, manager of the Migration and Local Development Project that is implemented by the United Nations Development Program, said the project is aimed at helping the local public authorities to benefit from migration, IPN reports.

According to Olesea Cazacu, those who left communicate less with the local authorities and the impression they form about the Republic of Moldova is often erroneous as they hear that nothing is done or things like this. By this initiative, the local authorities were helped to get in touch with these people, first of all online, so that they are connected to the home communities and see that the local authorities try to do something with the tight budgets. The authorities were encouraged to ask for support from migrants, and not only financial, and to also consult these about the local priorities as many of those who left think of returning home in the near or more distant future.

Olesea Cazacu noted that in the communities were such partnerships were established, the way the idea of involvement is understood has changed. “The people, when they take part in the first stages of implementation of a project will ask more about this later and this is seen very well. The people inquire what stage was reached, what was done with the money and how things stand. If a motor grader was bought to repair roads for example, they ask how this works and what happens if it does not work? So, they are more involved at least in terms of inquiring,” said the manager of the Migration and Local Development Project.

She stated that everyone should take part in the development of home communities. The local budgets are limited and a mayor’s office can need years to ensure public services of a high quality if it acts with the own forces only. That’s why, when becoming involved, those who are abroad and the donors and other partners help achieve results faster and this is for the benefit of everyone.