As a part of the national week of voluntary work, on Thursday, 26th April 2007, a group of AVI volunteers went to the refugee charity center from Chisinau, Buiucani district, to do a work shop on Moldovan culture and cultural differences.

The volunteers running the workshop were: Cezar Cernei, Alina Secrieru, Carolina Secrieru and Daniel Nylin Nilsson.

Every Thursday in the charity center is dedicated to the presentation of national cultures. Often this will be the culture of the refugees home countries, but on this day AVI volunteers took on the task to present Moldovan culture.

First the volunteers visited the management of the center, and were informed about the center’s work and the situation of refugees in Moldova in general.

Thereafter volunteers and refugees began preparing the traditional Mamaliga, to be eaten with cheese and sour cream. Volunteers from the center also helped in preparing a chicken dish for the dinner.

While waiting for the food to get ready a work shop was held for the 15 refugees present to the meeting. The ambition was to create a discussion about Moldovan values and society, through asking the participants to answer to certain statements e.g. “I love Moldova!” or questions like – “Do you miss your home? Would you like to go back to your countries or create a future here, in Moldova? Is Moldovan society supporting the refugees? Is there racism phenomenon existing, to what extent?”. A positive response was to stand in one part of the room, a negative to stand in the other part. Summarizing their answers we could conclude that they don’t have much contact with local population, therefore not many opportunities to socialize, but they would like to have the chance to study and work here to earn their existence during their stay in Moldova and even though the level of racism and xenophobia is not high in our society and Moldovans are quite tolerant nation, they would be happy to return one day home, as the international saying: “Home is Home”. The movement in the room was not as big as predicted, but the discussion was lively and the ambition of the work shop was therefore reached.

The evening was closed with a common meal and free discussion about life in Moldova, or in general.

Conclusion: The ambition of the workshop was reached, and new contacts were established. AVI volunteers learned a lot, and hopefully also the participants in the workshop.