Location
Cotiujeni Mari, Soldanesti region, Moldova
Community Description
Cotiujeni Mari has a population of 3,650 people. Social problems in the village include high rates of unemployment and alcoholism. The local government estimates that over 50% of school-aged children have one or both parents working or living abroad. This leaves many children in vulnerable positions, often being raised by elderly grandparents or relatives.
Every family in the village participates in subsistence farming, and most families have another small source of income. Additionally, like many other rural Moldovan villages, Cotiujenii Mari is isolated from the world and the rest of the country. Government assistance to schools and organizations can take years and many necessities are left ignored for extended periods of time.
Cotiujenii has a lyceum with 365 children from grades 1-12.
Additionally, the village has the Pacurasii Day Center, which was started in 2003 with the financial assistance of international donors by a local non-governmental organization. The mission of the center is to better the lives of people in the community with special needs.
The center is open to children in grades 1-7, and employs one full-time teacher and two assistants. It operates through funding from The Ministry of Social Protection for Families and Children of the Soldanesti region.
Additionally, the center provides an alternative education for moderately to severely disabled children and affords after-school care, food, and educational assistance to vulnerable youth.
Nine disabled students go to the center five days a week and 19 children attend the center after their school day for assistance with homework, a hot meal, and to learn social skills in a loving environment. These children come from the poorest home situations in the village, the majority of them without parents.
Project Description
This project is to purchase and install a water pump to supply water for use by the Pacurasii Center from a recently-built on-site well.
This project became critical when, several weeks ago, the existing pump for the previously used water source, ceased to function, leaving the center without running water.
The center was built in a renovated building in 2003 and was equipped with electricity, gas heat, and running water. Two toilets, two hand-washing sinks, a shower, and a large sink for the kitchen were installed during this construction with the hope of providing children with sanitary conditions at the center.
The original well that was shared with the community failed to provide water of the quantity and quality needed by the center.
In the fall of 2009, a project called “The Gift of Water” was started, with the goals of improving water conditions, and providing education for the community. The objectives included constructing a new on-site well, purchasing an institutional-sized water pump, and completing a seminar with parents about the Gift of Water.
The parents and community members donated their time and expertise in the fall of 2009 to construct the new well. This project to purchase and install the water pump will make the well functional for the needs of the center.
In addition, a seminar will be given for the families to learn the importance of drinking clean water at home, using water for dental hygiene, and using water to wash bodies and hands to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Project Impact
28 children and 3 employees will be direct beneficiaries of this project. An additional 75 family members will benefit indirectly from this project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Judie Wurm
Comments
This project will guarantee the flow of water necessary for the children to use for washing and bathing, for hygienic purposes in the toilets, and for use in the kitchen.
The community and the center staff have already done a tremendous amount to keep the center operating cleanly and efficiently. By providing an on-site well, they have gone a long way toward meeting their objectives. With just a little help, in the form of a needed pump, there will be a significant impact on the well-being of the participants.
Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00
Donations Collected to Date
$500.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Judie Wurm of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Judie and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Moldova.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.