Moldova Citizen Participation Program (CPP)

Transparency Reunites Community

The old bus stop facing imminent
collapse.



The new bus stop- a source of pride for the
community.

Community builds confidence and respect through the construction of a bus stop

Fifty-six families live within a mile of the village of Negreshti and, while technically considered part of the village, these neighborhoods lack representation in the local public administration. When an initiative group formed to represent their neighborhoods’ interests, the group learned about the opportunity to participate in the USAID/IREX Citizen Participation Program (CPP). During the CPP facilitated community forum, the initiative group together with other interested citizens requested assistance from IREX to construct a new bus stop next to the highway which borders their neighborhoods and connects them with Chisinau.

When IREX and USAID approved the bus stop project for funding, the citizens’ joy mingled with concern and hesitation. While the community had put in countless hours developing an application and planning procurement, they hadn’t ever implemented a project of this magnitude in their community without government support. This concern quickly turned to optimism as, during the two open community meetings that followed, citizens developed the project’s design, assigned roles and established a work-plan. The community also developed a plan to ensure future maintenance of the area and, together with the local police force, agreed to collaborate on steps to calm traffic to make accessing the bus stop safer. While initially skeptical about the community initiative, the local government recognized the importance of getting involved when it witnessed the community members’ drive. The community was stunned when the Mayor of Negresti allocated $300 for the bus stop opening celebration. After the project was completed, community members commented on the changes the CPP process introduced in their communities: “Before the project, there were times when neighbors believed they were in opposition to one another. Now they inform and mobilize their fellow citizens. An incredible change has occurred in all of them,” said Mihail Mugureanu, a Negresti community member. Another community member stated, “the bus stop project will finally unite our neighborhoods with the main village of Negresti”.

Motivated leaders and the activism of a reunited community are paying dividends in the village of Negresti as their beautiful new bus stop catches the eyes of drivers and passers by from neighboring villages and towns. During the opening ceremony for the project a community member declared, “the bus stop is the image of the community. It speaks about the residents’ worthiness”. While everyone was ready to acknowledge that the bus stop was a significant accomplishment, it quickly became clear that these community members weren’t ready to disband - on the contrary, they were already talking about the next project…

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