More than 300 young people from 16 Moldovan settlements are carrying out a campaign to inform the people about the population and dwelling census of 2014. The campaign “From Person to Person” is organized by the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM) in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics and UNFPA. It is planned that over 1 million people will be informed about the census.

CNTM secretary general Alex Petrov, in a news conference at IPN, said that through the agency of this campaign the Council aims to inform the general public and civil society about the goal of the census and the importance of taking part in this national statistical exercise. The campaign is also aimed at reducing the opposition degree of the population in the selected regions to the census.

Within the first stage of the campaign on April 14, there were carried out public events with the participation of representatives of the local public administration, members of NGOs from regions, young people and the local mass media. At the second stage, the over 300 young people – by 20 volunteers from every district – daily go from home to home to inform the people about the census. “We do not try to convince the people to take part in the census. We only inform the population about the importance of the census,” stated Alex Petrov. The campaign will last until May 11.

CNTM communication coordinator Natalia Screlea said information activities will be also organized in universities and in public places in Chisinau, where there are many people during the day. There will be also distributed brochures and placed posters.

National Bureau of Statistics deputy director general Inna Smalo said the campaign will be continued by census takers and the temporary personnel of the Bureau. “They will disseminate more comprehensive information, including who are the inspectors, the heads of constituencies, etc,” she stated.

Attending the news conference, UNFPA Representative Ian McFarlane said it is very important that the young people become involved in informing the population about such a major national exercise. This year’s census will be taken in accordance with the European standards and this is very good.

The CNTM also announced a contest for journalists. Those who want can send 3-4 materials centering on the census to the Council’s email address. The winners will go on a fact-finding visit to Europe, organized by the European Youth Forum.

The population and dwelling census of 2014 will be taken on May 12-25. The dwellings will be counted in Moldova for the first time.