Chisinau hosts first Volunteers Conference

“Volunteering is a movement that is designed to educate the people to be civically responsible and respect the traditional moral values. In Moldova, tens of thousands of persons do volunteer work every day. Now that the Volunteering Law was adopted, this movement will extend as the law deals with many of the problems confronting the volunteers,” secretary of the National NGO Council Antonita Fonari said in the first National Volunteers Conference held in Chisinau on April 20, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Until now, it was very hard to work as volunteer. When the labor inspectors visited an organization and identified five persons who did not have work contracts, they said it was a violation as volunteering was not regulated by law. Now the volunteers can sign special contracts, which specify how many hours they work,” said Antonita Fonari. According to her, many problems can be solved if the law is implemented. The volunteers will have work contracts, volunteer card or volunteer certificate with the help of which they can obtain concessions. Attending the event, Acting President Marian Lupu said he had the occasion to see what real volunteer work is in 2006, during the Volunteers Festival. “I had such an invitation for the first time and wanted to see what is volunteering like in Moldova. I saw young and older people who took part in charity and cleanup events, looked after children, and helped the elderly,” said Marian Lupu, adding that he then wanted to become a volunteer himself. Deputy Minister of Education Loretta Handrabura said volunteering is a fundamental component of civil society because it contributes to peace, freedom, and safely, which are the noblest aspirations of mankind. “This year, we should mobilize all and become involved in volunteer activities,” she stated. She also said that effort is now made to implement the Volunteering Law, which stimulates the active volunteers. They will benefit from university admission concessions, scholarships and other stimuli. The Volunteering Law was passed last May. The first National Volunteers Conference was held within the National Volunteer Week.