NGOs stage fair to recruit volunteers

More than 20 nongovernmental organizations took part in the NGO Fair mounted in the Great National Assembly Square on April 19. The nongovernmental organizations distributed brochures, photographs and posters to the visitors in order to attract more people who may become volunteers, Info-Prim Neo reports. The organizers of the fair said the NGOs have thus the possibility of making themselves known and of recruiting and informing the people. Academy for Educational Development program director Morana Smodlaka said that 80% of the Moldovan citizens do not know what an NGO is and what good they can do for the country. “The aim of the fair is to show how many great NGOs are here and how many great activities they implement,” she stated. The fair brought together NGOs working in different areas. Venera Chiriac, assistant of the project “Ludobus”, which is implemented by the Children's Friends Association, said that the project involves 49 volunteers who organize activities for children from boarding schools, hospitalized children and children affected by floods. “We promote the culture of game. We go to the institutions where the children do not have access to games, cannot take part in different animation activities and do not have day centers,” said Venera Chiriac. Cristina Balan, coordinator of the volunteering program of the Association “Youth for the Right to Lifer”, said that the fair helps the organization to promote its activities and to convince the people to do volunteering work. “We filled out a relatively high number of questionnaires for recruiting volunteers. We tell the people that if we want to live in a prosperous society, we must contribute to improving the situations,” she stated. Anastasia Serachiov, PR manager of the Center “Speranta”, said the NGO promotes social inclusion and equal opportunities for the persons with disabilities. “We came to the fair to recruit volunteers who would like to work for our organization,” said Anastasia Serachiov. The center carries out such activities as the Adolescents' Club and the Nonworking Days Club, where the volunteers can work as animators, teachers of painting, theater, dance and music. Coordinator of the Volunteers Program of the Community Center for Children and Youth Natalia Boichenco said they brought a mobile ramp that the volunteers use to show how wheelchair users can easier mount and descend the stairs. The Center also presented works on Easter made by disabled children. The NGO Fair is held as part of the National Volunteering Week themed “Join in with the volunteers”. It is one of the thematic activities organized by the Coalition for Law Promotion of and Volunteer Activities. The event forms part of the Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program, implemented by the Academy for Educational Development, with support from the United States Agency for International Development.