Moldova Citizen Participation Program (CPP)

Renovated Auditorium Enhances Opportunity for Expression

CPP Dance Club performers rehearse for an
upcoming community event

Project enhances ties with larger community while putting youth in touch with their roots

Educating students about their culture and traditions has always been a key objective for Mindresti Secondary School teachers and parents. The school has sought to do this by involving students in extracurricular activities and giving students the opportunity to shape their school experience by creating a school “Senate” and a Youth Council, and introducing school radio programming and a school newspaper. However, efforts to support youth engaged in theater and dance yielded few results. With an inoperable heating system and seating in extremely poor condition, the school’s drama and dance clubs were forced to conduct their activities in school corridors or in the cafeteria. The USAID-financed IREX’s Citizen Participation Program responded to the community’s needs, helping over 650 students and teachers to renovate the auditorium, while at the same time developing closer links between their school, the local community and other schools from the region.

While the renovated auditorium has proven to be a real asset to school, the students’ association, together with teachers and parents had a larger vision. These community leaders saw an opportunity to use the project as a means for engaging the larger community and region. By reviving local performing traditions and by hosting plays, concerts and forums, the school was able to strengthen ties between the school and other groups in the surrounding area. With guidance from CPP, the school attracted overwhelming support from partners in the community. “It is a privilege for all of us to give a hand to the school”, said one of over 160 volunteers from Mindresti who, as a TV station technician, helped students install musical equipment. The local and regional government co-funded repair works and construction of the boiler house. “This Project taught us how to use the principles of competitiveness and democracy. Defying hardships, we learned and changed. Now we know what we are capable of”, remarked Angela Adam, school teacher and leader of the community initiative group in Mindresti.

Recently, the Mindresti school gathered over 200 schoolchildren from 15 schools for the Moldovan Winter Traditions competition, giving students from all over the region the chance to show off their talents and cultural knowledge. The event touched off a series of other traditional festivities and the school intends to continue to build on the momentum derived from the project’s success. According to Angela, “The feeling of camaraderie generated by the CPP project and the continuation of these cultural events will be an important part of the school experience and keep the community members united.” This is just one example of efforts Moldovan communities and CPP are making to keep youth rooted to their communities and to encourage youth to play a more active role in community life- important characteristics of healthy communities and flourishing civil society.

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