Secure and Sustainable Energy and Transport Moldova

Climate change training for rural population

• Climate change- common session

  During this joint session attended by participants from all groups, our expert Elena Tacu, explained climate change, why it is happening and how it affects the rural areas in Moldova, and the whole world. Elena also offered practical guidance on how the local population can confront these challenges and outlined steps for individuals to enhance and manage climate change resilience within their communities.

• Training about Energetic efficiency

  The training, led by Evgheni Camensic, provided villagers with practical insights into sustainable practices. Participants learned about various solar systems in Moldova, ranging from solar collectors for water heating to photovoltaic panels. Due to high demand, many villagers expressed interest in the topic.

• Training about Composting and Waste Management

  Populations from rural areas are interested in how to reduce waste, and composting was identified as 50% of the solution. We utilized the outdoors space to test and do practical exercise there. The trainer, Iulia Covaliova (for 3, 4 and 10,11 June) and Aurelia Bahnaru (on 17, 18 June), did a practical exercise and asked people to sort different types of garbage; a lot of myths about recycling were destroyed during the training.

• Training about Ecological Gardening and Water
  Collecting Systems

  Liliana Botnaru held this training and she focused on practical exercise. Participants had the opportunity to explore the garden in Rîșcova, gaining insights into pesticide-free fruit and vegetable cultivation practices. The focus was on the linkages between farming (gardening) and climate change in every local area. Participants identified how they can deal, and what they can do locally with their own resources.

• Individual consultations for rural house holdings

  In order to support the population to become more resilient to climate change, the Project offered individual consultations for those who participated during the 3 rounds of training in June. The plan was to consult 20 households from 3 regions and organize energetical audits in order to facilitate installation of solar panels, water collecting tanks, support thermal insulation projects and creation of composting points. By the end 12 beneficiaries were consulted by experts on the mentioned above topics,

Working with Local Public Authorities

Project proposed to help and support local authorities more strategically and develop 6 strategies for 6 villages. Usually mayors complain that they do not have resources or local budgets are very poor, but not many villages have well developed sustainable strategies.

16 villages applied for Sustainable Strategy development, 5 of them were selected and received support during the project.

Based on the scope of the Development strategies, the tasks in the 5 selected villages were:

1. Carried out environmental scanning visits to identify the existing situation in communities in the context
   of national and regional development policies.
2. Elaborated socio-economic development profiles of communities.
3. Discussed existing problems in different fields of activity with social actors.
4. Conducted Strategic Planning Workshops.
5. Developed Sustainable Development Strategy projects.
6. Conducted public hearings of draft strategies.
7. Promoted the approval of the Strategies within the local Councils.

The following villages were selected: Lingura, Cantemir disctrict; Puhăceni, Anenii Noi disctrict; Puțintei, Orhei disctrict; Ghelăuza, Strășeni disctrict și Donici, Orhei disctrict.

Bike events

As part of the project, Chisinau Bike Alliance in partnership with EcoVisio organized several community events, info sessions, bike rides and discussions, targeting urban communities of all ages that are or could be interested in more sustainable forms of transportation in Chisinau, Moldova. The main purpose was to build and consolidate the existing cycling community, but also expand it and make people become increasingly aware of the advantages of cycling as a sustainable and affordable means of urban transport. As an effect, the project activities had a positive impact on the reputation of cycling as a solution for urban mobility, promoting its clean and affordable aspect.

• In the month of May, on 26.05, we organized a get-together for cyclists and bike-curious people for a movie night and discussion after the monthly Critical Mass bike ride.
• On 29.05, together with the Technical University of Moldova we organized a discussion with the students of the Urbanism and Architecture Department about the impact of the transportation sector and how we can change the traditional patterns to more green and sustainable models.
• During the whole month of June, we provided information sessions for the trolleybus and bus drivers about the new traffic rules that allow cyclists to use the Bus lane.
• Between June 2nd and 3rd we also organized a bikepacking trip to check and give feedback on the freshly marked bike trails by EcoVisio, giving the opportunity for people in Chisinau to explore the region by bike.
• On June 10th we also participated in the Environmental Day event, where we had our own space for promoting and attracting people to learn more about alternative transportation.
• In July, we organized on 13.07 a discussion club about cyclotourism (bike tourism) as a feasible way of traveling, where we had 3 guests that shared about their long distance trips.
• On 22.07 we had a very unique event, where we brought bus and trolleybus drivers together with cyclists, to discuss, share and propose improvements to the shared traffic lanes.
• On July 23rd, we organized a one-day bike trip to explore new touristic bike trails around Chisinau. The goal was to show the inhabitants of Chisinau that there are accessible touristic locations that are accessible by bike.
• On the last Friday of July, 28th, after the usual Critical Mass ride, we organized another community event with a movie screening about the bike movements around the world, with food and drinks, for networking and consolidating the alternative transportation community.
• In September, during European Mobility Week, we organized a bike repair workshop, with the aim to empower cyclists to repair their bikes, learn the basic mechanics and ask a professional bike mechanic any questions.
• On 29.09, after the Critical Mass bike ride, we organized another community movie night where we watched the social documentary called “Why we cycle”, that showcased the stories of bike activists around the world and the stories of their cities’ transition.

MATERIALS CREARED DURING THE PROJECT

In September 2023, monitoring visits were organized in 9 villages that were involved in previous projects, the aim was to find out the impact of project, training and mini-grants in rural areas. 15 beneficiaries were visited, and they declared that training and investment was helpful for them, for example, the Harti family used less wood for winter with 50% after facade insulation, and the Lipcan family used less energy, but they didn't monitor the exact amount.

Contacts:

• Vica Diavor, project coordinator: vica.diavor@ecovisio.org

The project "Sustainable and safe energy and transport in Moldova", funded by the Heinrich Böll Foundation of Germany (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung) and implemented by Ecovisio