Visiting the Diaspora Relations Office were Dorina Baltag and Olga Bostan, members of the "Noroc Holland" foundation, representatives of the diaspora academic environment.

The purpose of the visit was to conduct an interview on the topic of collaboration between BRD and highly qualified migrants, especially those affiliated with the academic environment.

This interview is part of the European Union Program for Diaspora (EUDiF: European Union Global Diaspora Facility), through which assistance is provided to the Diaspora Relations Office (BRD) within the project "Piloting of diaspora mobilization schemes in the education and research sectors of Moldova" , with the involvement of three experts from the diaspora, Dorina Baltag, Olga Bostan and Mariana Plămădeala.

Also, aspects related to the next steps, the vision, the timeline and the promotion of the project were discussed.

The action aims to increase BRD's capacities in piloting a diaspora knowledge transfer system for education and research and will be carried out in the following stages:

- the study visit to the Republic of Moldova of experts from the diaspora to assess the needs of relevant institutions in the country and of key actors;

- developing a questionnaire for data collection, intended for the highly qualified diaspora, to identify the profiles, portfolios, academic diaspora and respectively to find out what knowledge transfer they could offer;

- carrying out focus groups with the actors involved: highly qualified diaspora, key specialists from the country and teaching staff from several universities in Moldova;

- the development of the road map, to assist BRD in piloting a collaboration hub between the academic diaspora and institutions in the field of education and research in the Republic of Moldova.

The DP4D action: "Piloting diaspora mobilization schemes in the Moldovan education and research sectors" is supported by the EUDiF Capacity Development Laboratory, which is implemented by ICMPD and financed by the European Union.

EUDiF is an EU-funded instrument that has been operating since 2019 and aims to strengthen collaboration between diaspora development organizations, countries of origin and the EU.

The 10th edition of the "Diaspora origini Reveniri/DOR" government program ended with a live show, during which the most active children and young people were announced, who participated in the shows made by the trainers, in the daily contests and in which , they expressed their emotions, love and longing for the Republic of Moldova, in comments and videos, sensitizing both the organizers and the followers on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dor.moldova.

Anticipating the final show of the Program, the participants also took part in the last contest of the edition, entitled: "My country with the words of DOR". And the comments were downright overwhelming. For example, Daniel Ipati from Great Britain wrote that the incomparable word "Longing" is very deep and cannot be translated into other languages. "For me, longing is everything related to the country where I was born, to my parental home, to the village where I grew up for a few years, to my grandparents and relatives! Although I have been living far from my country for many years, I feel something in my soul, which seems to ache when I think of those who stayed in Moldova, and I really want to see them again, to understand them, and I think this is Longing". wrote Daniel Ipati. And the Petrovschi sisters from Ireland, identify the DOR with invisible threads, which lead willy-nilly to that corner of Heaven - Moldova, from where the ancestors started. "It is the call to the place where the race is and where the spring, the glia, the wind, the rain - all are sisters and brothers."

Also on the last day of the Program, the DORules traveled with taste to Casa Olarului - Zaharia Triboi, the only craftsman in the Republic of Moldova who works in black ceramics, but also to Crama Tataru Wines - the place where good and quality wine goes hand in hand with the chosen dishes . And on musical chords, the guest of the trainers, the interpreter Denis Midone, shared with the participants his impressions about the Program, from the period in which he personally lived the experience of being a beneficiary of it.

Despite the fact that the edition was online and the participants did not have the opportunity to offer each other hugs and handshakes, still the goal of the Program was achieved. And that's because, from a geographical point of view, the DOR brought home young people from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Great Britain, France, Greece, Switzerland, the Russian Federation.

The DOR 2022 edition was a special one, full of emotions and memories. This year we marked 10 years of boundless DOR, DOR that fuels the love of participants from the diaspora towards Moldova. We thank the young people and their parents for the interest shown in the Program, for the affectionate connection with the country of origin. Gratitude and appreciation to trainers Irina Babuhina, Cornel Josan, Andrei Boaghe. Good thoughts, everyone!

Highlights regarding the organization of this year's Diaspora Days discussed with Nicolae Plushkis, President of the "Dacia" Cultural Society of Karaganda (Kazakhstan)

The event dedicated to the Diaspora Days, 2022 edition is getting closer, which means that the preparations are in full swing. Longing for the country, with new ideas and with the desire to get involved, in order to bring home talents from the association he represents, Nicolae Plushkis, president of the Cultural Society "Dacia" in Karaganda (Kazakhstan) visited the Diaspora Relations Office.
Nadejda Zubco, the head of the Office, thanked the guest for the interest shown, for the Diaspora Days, but especially for the prodigious activity, worthy of all appreciation, on the book she carries out in the host country. At the same time, Nadejda Zubco appreciated the presence of the members of the Cultural Society "Dacia" from Karaganda at the activity dedicated to the Universal Day of Ia, considering the fact that both the president of the association, Nicolae Plushkis, and his teammates are true promoters of folk costumes and cultural values ​​of the Republic of Moldova.
The leader of the "Dacia" Society from Karaganda met with the draft agenda for the Diaspora Days, to identify the possibilities for the association to be represented at the event by beautiful people with special skills who planned a vacation in the Republic of Moldova for the period mentioned. Nicolae Plushkis also mentioned the topics of interest to the diaspora in Kazakhstan and the suggestion that they be discussed at the Diaspora Days.
In this context, we remind you that every year, at the end of the third week of August, the Diaspora Days are organized in Chisinau, for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, established abroad. This time the event will take place in hybrid format.

The team of the Relations Office was honored by the visit of the painter Valeria Duca, currently established in Norway. The artist left Moldova at the age of 17, continuing her studies abroad. He started painting at the age of 12, recording success both nationally and internationally. Valeria Duca currently holds a Master of Arts degree from Saint Andrews University, the oldest and most continuously operational, in Scotland, the third oldest university in the United Kingdom and English-speaking countries after Oxford and Cambridge. Some of Valeria's paintings have imposing dimensions, and the most recent works represent the drama of Ukrainian refugees from the Republic of Moldova.

And because it was the artist's first meeting with the BRD team, Nadejda Zubco, the head of the Bureau gave her a presentation of the institution's activity, referring especially to the "Diaspora Engagement Hub / DEH" and "Diaspora Home Succeeds DAR 1+3" Programs, which aroused the curiosity and a real interest of the guest. At the same time, the head of BRD invited Valeria Duca to participate, between August 19-20, in the Diaspora Days, which will take place in hybrid format.

And Violina Donu, deputy head of BRD, referred to the eMoldovaTa.gov.md platform, suggesting the artist to register, in order to launch her own blog on the site created for the diaspora and about the diaspora.

We thank Valeria Duca for the visit and for the quality time spent together, we wish her much success and from now on, inspiration for creation and as many beautiful consumers as possible to appreciate her work and the talent she is endowed with.

The diaspora relations office recently organized information sessions on the development of the diaspora, migration and development (DMD) at the local level.

During the events, Nadejda Zubco, BRD chief, Andrei Chistol, Secretary of State, Ministry of Culture, Natalia Țurcanu, ANTRIM Executive Director, Violina Donu, BRD Deputy Chief and others informed the participants from the local public authorities about the development of local tourism, support mechanisms, offered by the state, reintegration of returned citizens from abroad, mechanisms for diaspora development, migration and local development and presented the results of the two editions of the Government Program "Diaspora Home Succeeds DAR 1 + 3" - Program local development with the involvement and support of the diaspora.

In the same vein, Nadejda Zubco expressed the openness and availability of the BRD team, to provide guidance and information to interested LPAs, both in the implementation of the BRD Programs and in how to develop the DMD domain at the local level.

A delegation of young people from the Republic of Moldova led by Ana Cudalb, president of the association „Struguraș" from the Russian Federation participated in the 7th edition of the Cultural-Educational Youth Forum „Дети Содружества", which took place recently on the shores of Lake Issik Kul in Kyrgyzstan.

The event brought together young people aged 14-18 from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova; Russia and Uzbekistan. The action aims to present to young people the culture and history of different countries, to make friends, to educate more qualities.

The young people presented the country in victories; they organized a martisor making workshop and the „Moldova Mea” Day of Moldova, and held the parade of the Moldovan folk costume. A small part of Moldova - hand-embroidered towels, pillows, tablecloths, napkins, carpets - delegates brought with them, traveling thousands of kilometers, to share the national spirit, beauty and originality of the country's culture.

During the educational program, the delegation from the Republic of Moldova presented a lesson about the state symbols of the country, as well as some details from the history and geography of Moldova, economic and cultural activity, traditions and customs, folk crafts. The young people also referred to historical personalities such as - Stephen the Great and Saint, Dimitrie Cantemir, but also to famous personalities in the field of cinema, theater, literature, music, such as Maria Biesu, Mihai Volontir, Eugen Doga, Nicolae Botgros and others.

In an incendiary choir of friendship, all those present at the forum were caught in the warm and comfortable atmosphere, united the young people from the participating countries.

The information was reported to us by Ana Cudalb, the head of the delegation from the Republic of Moldova.

Commission for the evaluation and selection of projects submitted for funding under the Diaspora Engagement Hub (DEH) program within the project "Strengthening the institutional framework of the Republic of Moldova in the field of migration and development" phase II, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by the State Chancellery selected the winning projects for the following sub-programs: "Program to support cultural and educational activities in the diaspora"; "Innovative diaspora projects"; and the "Diaspora Youth Sub-Program". Respectively, 12 project proposals were selected for funding, which met all the conditions, according to the implementing regulations for sub-programs. List of winning projects:

Program to support cultural and educational activities in the diaspora

1. Lidia Piaget - "Guguță in the Diaspora!";

2. Liuba Baran-Sîrbu - „Pici Voinici” for small readers;

3. Irina Chirca - "Where Moldovans play";

4. Elena Robu - "Promoting the image of the Republic of Moldova in France by participating in the Forum of Associations in Saint-Etienne";

5. Rodica Gherasim - Culture Days of the Republic of Moldova in Portugal with the title "Expensive country and beautiful";

6. Elena Dragalin - ,, MAC8, A small country with a big heart ”- A small country, but with a big heart;

7. Lilia Tusa - Intensive course of Romanian culture "Longing for the country, longing for the nation"

Innovative diaspora projects

1. Dana Muntean - „Mentor-Me JobAccelarator professional guidance program”;

2. Marta Iacob - "Youth Builder"

Subprogram for young people in the diaspora

1. Mihaela Buruiană - "Outdoor sports Home in Boghiceni";

2. Steluța Mazilu - "A healthy mind in a healthy body";

3. Nicu Știrbeț - „Diaspora Students Forum”

DEH is a thematic grant program for citizens of the Republic of Moldova abroad, implemented by the State Chancellery through the Diaspora Relations Office. The purpose of the program is to encourage and support Moldovans abroad to implement the ideas they have in the Republic of Moldova, thus capitalizing on the human capital of the diaspora.

Between August 19-20, the Diaspora Days will take place in Chisinau in hybrid format (with physical and online presence). Citizens of the Republic of Moldova who are established abroad are expected to participate in the event.

 We really want to have a beautiful reunion, to communicate and find out from the first sources, more details about the achievements of diaspora members, about the difficulties they face, but at the same time to try to identify solutions and plan activities of the authorities. central government to overcome them.

To this end, an agenda will be developed in which participants can find their priority areas of interest, therefore we encourage and invite diaspora members to come up with suggestions, proposals, ideas on the activities they would like to participate in and which we could we include them in the work agenda and carry them out during the two days of 19 and 20 August.

The address where we are waiting for the messages is brd@gov.md

Elena Robu, president of the AGER Association in Saint-Étienne, France and founder of the ceconsum.eu platform, visited the Diaspora Relations Office. The dialogue focused on the priority areas of the guest's activity, especially those related to the Republic of Moldova, as well as the collaboration with the Bureau, through the "Diaspora Engagement Hub" program.

Journalist Elena Robu shared with the BRD team aspects of her experience as a migrant, referring to the good practices and examples of social life in France that could be taken over by our country. And for this purpose, our fellow citizen aims to contribute directly, by creating a platform, which aims to inform the public about healthy eating and avoid the purchase of products containing harmful additives. Also, the president of AGER intends to create links between farmers in France and those in the Republic of Moldova, for an exchange of experience. Among the topics addressed were the charity actions aimed at our country, but also aspects related to the ways of introducing humanitarian aid in the country.

 Nadejda Zubco, head of the Diaspora Relations Office, thanked Elena Robu for participating in the activities carried out by BRD and for the interest shown in the DEH program. At the same time, the head of BRD expressed her admiration and appreciation for Elena's effort and initiative to get involved in the prosperity of her country of origin. At the same time, Nadejda Zubco reiterated that the institution she represents supports and encourages people with ideas from the diaspora, offering them informational support in their implementation. Respectively, Nadejda Zubco and Elena Robu agreed on organizing training sessions with representatives of local public authorities, during which they will be acquainted with the food system in France.

Vacanța de vară a început pentru un grup de 26 de copii din centrele de plasament din Republica Moldova cu bucurie mare pentru că au fericita ocazie să fie găzduiți într-o tabără de copii din Grecia, în apropierea orașului Volos.

În perioada 12-17 iunie, grupul de copii a fost cazat la tabăra Mitropoliei Dimitriados și Almyroy din Agio Lavrentio, regiunea Pilios, grație eforturilor conjugate ale Ambasadei Republicii Moldova de la Atena, cu suportul și implicarea activă a Președintelui grupului parlamentar de prietenie eleno-moldav, Konstantinos Maravegias, domnului Ioakim Baltsavias, arhimandritului Mitropoliei, Maximos Papaioannou, dar și fundației caritabile Open Gates.

Pe lângă acoperirea tuturor aspectelor logistice aferente călătoriei și sejurului în nordul Greciei, școlarii, cu vârste între 10-15 ani, au beneficiat de excursii la Muzeul Arheologic Athanasakeion și Site-ul Arhiologic Dimini, vizitarea legendarei corabiei ARGO din portul Volos, lecții de pictură și o excursie deosebită pe insula Skiathos.

Programul taberei dorește să aducă experiențe inedite, mișcare în natură și la mare, dezvoltarea aptitudinilor prin activități în echipă și individuale, sub supravegherea părintelui Kalinikos și a profesorilor din centrele de plasament din Moldova.

În perioada 17-21 iunie, programul a continuat  în orașul istoric de pe malul mării, Marathon, județul Attica, cu un program activ de vizitare a spațiilor arheologice din Atena, organizat de Ambasadă, unde datorită generozității Președintelui ONG-ului elen „Smile of the Child” domnul Constantinos Yannopoulos, care a acoperit cheltuielile aferente întreținerii, copiii au avut parte de noi experiențe inedite.

Pe lângă sesiunile de plajă, elevii au avut parte de excursii organizate de Ambasadă la Acropolis, plimbare prin piața Monastiraki, prin Piața Constituției, admirând clădirea Parlamentului elen, prin Grădina Națională, dar și o vizită la Stadionul Olimpic Panathenaic și muzeul acestuia.

Într-una din zile, grupul de copii a vizitat și sediul Ambasadei de la Atena și s-au familiarizat cu activitățile care se desfășoară în cadrul Misiunii Diplomatice într-o atmosferă caldă și familiară.

Ultima zi s-a încheiat cu vizita surpriză la grădina zoologică din Attica, unde copiii au avut frumoasa oportunitate de a petrece timpul educativ, văzând o mare varietate de animale, învățând în acest fel despre importanța naturii și regnului animal, dar și necesitatea de a cultiva dragostea și respectul pentru floră și faună.

Vedeți și alte detalii pe pagina facebook a Ambasadei Republicii Moldova în Grecia: https://www.facebook.com/MoldovainGreece

On June 22, took place the meeting of the representatives of the Diaspora Relations Bureau and Natalia Bejan, Executive Director, Startup Moldova Foundation. The visit took place in the context of the Diaspora Relations Bureau starting the activity of elaborating the concept of a governmental internship program for students and graduates of the diaspora. The purpose of the program is to capitalize on the potential of young people in the diaspora and stimulate the return to the Republic of Moldova.

The following topics were addressed: synergizing efforts to identify an effective mechanism for establishing the needs of the private sector in terms of providing internships for students or graduates originating from the Republic of Moldova, established abroad; carrying out activities for the involvement of mentors and co-founders of startups from the diaspora and the Republic of Moldova in common networks.

Reference was also made to the current activity of BRD, in this case, the elaboration and implementation of government programs (Diaspora Engagement Hub; Diaspora * Origins * Revenues / DOR; Diaspora Home Succeeds / DAR 1 + 3; Government closer to you; Support for Educational Centers Abroad).

A particular interest appeared to the opportunity to initiate an information and mobilization campaign for our citizens abroad who are ready to provide mentoring for startups in the Republic of Moldova, as well as those who founded a startup and are open to connect to the founders of startups network, originating from the Republic of Moldova.

Finally, the parties appreciated the possibility of establishing a collaboration framework meant to facilitate the interaction of the startup sector in the Republic of Moldova with the representatives of the diaspora.

Aurica Burduja Mujdanovic, co-president of the “Moldova AID” diaspora association in the USA, visited the Diaspora Relations Bureau.

The dialogue focused on support mechanisms and tools for the diaspora, including identifying ways to collaborate and involve the diaspora in actions to promote the country of origin.

Nadejda Zubco, head of BRD, made a retrospective of the economic and socio-cultural Programs for the Diaspora, implemented by the Bureau, namely the Diaspora Engagement Hub / DEH, in particular the subprogramme of support for cultural and educational activities for diaspora associations. Reference was also made to the DAR 1 + 3 Program which stimulates the diaspora's contribution to local development projects. It is worth mentioning that Ms. Burduja Mujdanovic's hometown was a beneficiary in one of the previous editions of the Program, as well as contributing to the fundraising process.

In turn, Aurica Burduja Mujdanovic expressed interest about the information provided, expressing her openness and willingness to apply to future editions of the DEH Program. She shared the experience of the association's activity, namely, the organization of consolidation events within the community. One such event is the Moldovan-American Convention, an event that creates a communication platform for our compatriots in North America and responds to their needs.

In the context of the discussions, other important topics were addressed: facilitating access to document processing services for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova established in the USA; the diaspora's contribution to job creation for Moldovan migrants abroad. At the same time, the effort made by the Moldovan authorities in achieving the goal of being closer to the members of the diaspora and capitalizing on its potential was mentioned.