| Where: | Sixth Form trip to Moldova: July 2012 |
| When: | Tuesday afternoon |
| Who: | 3rd Year service activity |
| i/c: | AJJ |
Since 2000, Abingdon has been supporting the work of AGAPE, a charity working with young people in Moldova, the poorest country in Europe. There is an annual Sixth Form visit to Moldova to run a summer camp for disadvantaged Moldovan children, while Third Years can find out more about the project through the Service and Citizenship Scheme. The project represents an excellent chance to learn about a culture very different from our own – and to provide support and friendship to those in real need of it.
Moldova is a small country, one and a half times the size of Wales, which lies on the eastern border of Romania. Formerly a Soviet republic, it became independent in 1991 but since then has struggled politically and economically, being declared the poorest country in Europe in a recent set of statistics. With over half the adult population unemployed and an average monthly income of £20, it is not surprising that over a quarter of young Moldovans leave the country to work elsewhere. Many young women find themselves falling into the sex trade - Moldova is the people trafficking capital of Europe, while most children grow up with at least one of their parents away from home for much of the time, and many have to work rather than attend school.
Agape is a Christian NGO working with young people in Moldova. Its mission statement is "to serve the educational, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of those suffering the effects of poverty". In 2000 Abingdon School began working with Agape and, since then, has undertaken fundraising for their work on a regular basis. To date, over £48,000 has been sent. Much of this money has been used to support projects in the village of Ialoveni, especially providing equipment for Number 4 School and for the Agape Community Centre. The latter was opened in 2004 and now provides after school care and lifestyle education to the young people from the village.
Anybody who would like more information about the work of Agape or Abingdon School's link with Moldova is invited to get in touch with The Moldova Project coordinator, Mr Jenkins.