The Center CONTACT completed the project “We vote actively, we vote consciously” within which people from 12 settlements were motivated to take part in the local elections. The project was aimed at increasing awareness and civically educating specific groups of voters from 12 settlements of central districts and was implemented between May 25 and June 30, IPN reports.

The first group of activities included the organization and holding of thematic sittings for women with the right to vote where there were discussed the electoral platforms from the angle of women’s interests and rights. The 12 sittings involved 358 participants. The second group of activities was aimed at staging 36 meeting with persons with physical and mental disabilities at their place of residence. Within these activities, the people put forward a series of proposals for being included in the administration programs of the candidates for mayor. Most of the candidates for mayor and local and district councilors were invited to these meetings to find out voters’ wishes. The full list of requests was sent to all the election runners for being included in the local government program.

At the end, there was carried out the campaign “Door to door” within which volunteers from settlements visited almost 10,000 households and distributed informative materials to them with the aim of stimulating participation in elections.

In the project end-up conference, mayor of Ivancea village of Orhei district Oleg Gasper said this project turned out to be useful and encouraged communication between people and the local public administration. He noted that a large part of people’s demands can be found in his electoral program.

Iacob Pantea, mayor of Macaresti in Ungheni, said the exclusive method used by the facilitators-experts of the Center CONTACT to motivate the people to express their wishes will be continued during his tenure.

Mayor of Sarata Galbena village of Hancesti district Stefan Vlas said the project encouraged women and persons with disabilities, which are two vulnerable groups that have a say in the community development process.

The project was carried out by the Center CONTACT with the support of the UN Program “Women in Politics”, implemented by UN Women and UNDP, in partnership with East Europe Foundation and the Partnership for Development Center, with financing from the Government of Sweden.