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The Constantin Mimi Foundation started 2024 on a high note, receiving the Order of "Cultural Merit" in the rank of Knight, Category F - "Promotion of Culture," awarded by the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis. This honor is a great recognition of the foundation's achievements.
"I would like to sincerely thank the President of Romania for this distinction. It was a great honor to briefly act as his guide during the European Political Community Summit, which transformed Mimi Castle into the center of Europe. I had the opportunity to share the history of the village, my family, and the mission we pursue at the Constantin Mimi Foundation," stated Cristina Frolov, the foundation's president, during the official award ceremony in January.
Shortly after, the foundation's cultural contributions were reaffirmed by the public vote at the Wine Travel Awards. The International Classical Music Festival VinOpera was recognized as one of the five most beautiful enogastronomic events in the world. The festival, now in its seventh edition, took place at the beginning of autumn in an expanded format for the second time. Over three days, international and local musicians performed classical music concerts, and audiences thoroughly enjoyed each performance.
VinOpera could not exist without the partnerships we have, and the institutions that support us year after year include, in addition to the Castel Mimi Winery, the Ministry of Culture and the Romanian Cultural Institute, led by its president, Liviu Jicman, to whom we are deeply grateful.
Regarding VinOpera and other cultural projects carried out by the foundation, President Cristina Frolov held discussions with prominent cultural figures from both sides of the Prut River. During a joint visit to Mimi Castle, the President of the Romanian Academy, Academician Ioan-Aurel Pop, the director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Chișinău, Monica Babuc, and the President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Ion Tighineanu, reviewed rural development projects and ways in which the promotion of Romanian and European cultural values could positively transform the lives of rural communities.
With the goal of fostering economic and tourist development in the region and preserving its natural heritage, we initiated the creation of a tourist route connecting the villages of Bulboaca, Gura Bîcului, and Hîrbovăț. To this end, we signed a cooperation agreement between the Constantin Mimi Foundation and the local municipalities, defining the role of each party in creating the route. In this context, the initiative group led by the foundation held a meeting with the Minister of Culture, Sergiu Prodan. As a result, the National Tourism Office will begin developing a concept for this tourist route, providing valuable support for our efforts.
2024 was a productive year during which we exchanged best social practices with civil society organizations from Romania and Moldova. This included meetings on both sides of the Prut River and in Chișinău, where the Constantin Mimi Foundation organized the "Moldovan-Romanian Civil Society Development Forum." Over two days, 70 participants from both countries shared information and experiences.
We are also focused on supporting small business development in Moldova. We organized training sessions for 50 individuals – current or future entrepreneurs – who received valuable insights from experts on starting a business, market and product testing, and all aspects of business management, including risk assessment.
We are delighted to contribute to improving medical services in health centers in Anenii Noi District and expanding these efforts to Chișinău through our collaboration with the German foundation Freunde helfen Konvoi. This year, we facilitated the import of several batches of medical humanitarian aid, including equipment, furniture, and supplies. Most importantly, we brought in state-of-the-art diagnostic devices that enable more precise and easier health diagnoses for children and adults.
We are concluding the year with a Christmas Caravan, which we organized for the second time with our German partners. For nearly 1,000 children from Anenii Noi, Țînțăreni, Ciobanovca, Bulboaca, Hîrbovăț, Calfa, Telița, and Varnița, Santa Claus arrived early, bringing smiles and gifts.
We are proud of the Constantin Mimi Foundation's achievements and grateful to our partners for all the support provided. We look to the future with confidence and remain committed to our socio-cultural mission.
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