We made it: The Green Run

 

Saturday the 22nd of June was the day of the Green Run. The idea for this event was born at the beginning of the year with another volunteer, after a refreshing run through cold winter weather. "Wouldn’t it be nice to participate in a race of about 10 or 20 kilometers?" But after searching the internet we couldn’t find anything…. so ... we decided that we can organize it ourselves. We shared the idea with Leonid who wanted to join us and who and who gave shape to the event.

Ups and downs
The organization was not always smooth and several times it was almost put to a stop. First, the idea was to organize it in Horodiste, but for practical reasons the location moved to Orhei Vechi. In May, we explored a possible trail and personally I was immediately sold for the location and I regretted that I couldn’t participate myself. It is a fairly flat course with a few hills. It offers little shade, but a great view.


Location of the Green Run

In Orhei Vechi we had the cooperation of the former mayor and his wife. Together with several other women they took care of the catering of the event. Also a few young people from Trebujeni helped with the organization by building up and breaking down. We also had the cooperation of Mr. Lazari Povetska, head of the athletics departmet at the university. He came to the event with the three judges and a number of elite runners in Moldova and helped us with advice and enthusiasm.
Luckily we were not the only ones in Moldova who do like to run around in the nature and although the number of registrations came only in motion during the last week, there were almost 70 participants.

No volunteers in Moldova?
During a recording for the Moldovan television on volunteering they asked me why 'in Europe' volunteering is popular and not in Moldova. I couldn't give a real and after this event even less. This event was never possible without the help of all the volunteers: Moldovans, foreigners, the local young people and the jury.

Also, the participants both Moldovan and Foreigners, young and old...

thanks all of you, you made it!

Some pictures of the day...


Start of the 10 k

Running the 10 k

Running the 5 k

 

Podium 10 k (trainer Mr. Lazari, receving the price on behalf of Natalia Klipka)

Podium 500 m - boys

Finish kids run

Teamwork!



Europe Day 2013 Chisinau

Since 2011 they celebrate ‘European Day’ in Moldova. In contrast to other countries they celebrate it not on the 9^th of May. This is because the 9^th of May is Victory Day. On this day people celebrate the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union. However, next year the mayor of Chisinau said he will organize Europe Day on the 9^th of May.

Moldova versus Europe

The relation between Moldova and Europe is quite complicated. The current government wants to be part of the European Union. However, Moldova has also strong ties with Russia. Moreover people in Moldova also often speak about 'Europe' as if Moldova is not part of Europe. To understand the political situation better read this article of the Guardian.

For Europe Day there were organized a wide range of activities:

traditional food from various European countries
possibility to learn words from different European languages
concert in the evening with local and European artists
information point about exchange possibilities for students and professors.
European Film festival in Chisinau (19-22 May) and in Tiraspol (23-25 May)

Last but not least there was a European village in which Vent d’Est participated as well. Vent d’Est was part of the French stand and we served French crepes with home-made jam and bottles with home-made syrop.

It was an opportunity to let people taste syrop, to earn some money for the project of constructing an eco-pension. Even the president of Moldova tasted the products,

See here the report on Moldovan Television (in Romanian):
http://www.protv.md//stiri/social/ziua-europei-sarbatorita-cu-intarziere-la-chisinau-moldovenii.html