The National Association of Young Historians of Moldova launched the project “Memory Expeditions” within which trips will be organized to places to which Moldovans were deported by the totalitarian Communist regime. The first expedition will start on October 18 and will involve 10 young historians.

In a news conference at IPN, project coordinator Sergiu Musteata, who is the Association’s head, said the project is aimed at educating the young generation and at finding out the totalitarian past. “The people must know these pages of our past. We want to transform this project into a national program,” he stated, adding that if this is done, the stability and durability of the project will be ensured, but they need the Government’s support.

The ten young people were selected at the faculties of history of the State University of Moldova, the Free International University of Moldova and the Teacher Training University “Ion Creanga”. They will have meetings with deportees and their families, historians from Karaganda and members of the community from Karaganda. One of the members of the expedition Sergiu Botulin, of the State University, said this expedition is a great opportunity for a young historian. “I want to find people open for communication and to build a bridge between that community and our community,” he stated.

Doctor of History Octavian Ticu said that by this project they want to find the homes and settlements of deported Moldovans who are alive. The expedition aims to find out the destinies and stories of the deported families and those who remained there. The project is also an exercise of historical reflection for those involved in it, both young people and recognized historians.

A documentary will be made at the end of the expedition, by this yearend. There will be issued publications about deported Bessarabians. The representative of “Teleradio-Moldova” Company Corina Cojocaru said the participants in the expedition will look for as many deportees as possible so as to bring home their stories. “We already have a personage. It is a Bessarabian man aged 90 who was deported to Kazakhstan,” said the journalist.

The project had a budget of €10,000 and is supported financially by the Department for Romanians Everywhere.

The next expedition will take place also in Kazakhstan and will begin on May 31. According to the census taken in Kazakhstan, there are about 20,000 Moldovans in this country at present.