31 July 2023
After several years where the disruption caused to international travel by covid had meant it had not been possible to run the annual Moldova Project trip, it was great to be able to mark the 20th anniversary of Abingdon’s first visit to Moldova in 2003 with a visit this summer. Soon after the end of term a group of 10 sixth formers and 4 staff travelled to Moldova to work with our partner charity Agape to organise summer camps for Moldovan children.
The first half of the trip was spent running activities based at schools in Ialoveni and Zimbreni for about 150 children with the Abingdon pupils leading sessions that included English teaching, art and craft, and outdoor games. There was also time for a tour of the capital city Chisinau led by Mihai Clapaniuc (OA 2010) who is now working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moldova.
The group then made the journey to Lacu Rosu in Romania for a second activity camp with a smaller group of Moldovan children in the stunning scenery of the Carpathian Mountains. Here there were more intensive English lessons and lots of team challenges, including competitions to design banners and boardgames and an Apprentice-style shopping challenge. The final evening was taken up with Lacu Rosu’s Got Talent which saw a wide range of acting, singing and dance acts on display. The trip had a big impact on everyone involved on both the Abingdon and Moldovan side and all agreed that they had learned a great deal from the experience.