Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Moldova

Shared Successes of the Parish Social Ministry in Moldova

GivinG Hope to a World of need

Parish Social Ministry strives to assist parishioners and other interested community members to understand and act on Catholic Social Teaching by identifying, supporting and training leaders who organize people and activities around complementary ministries, including: community-based economic development projects that put into practice the Christian belief in the rights and responsibilities of persons to fully participate in decisions that affect the quality of everyday life; direct service to those in need; and, advocacy activities with local or national government actors that work to change government practices and legislation to reflect just and compassionate social policy impacting people in poverty.

ensure that the commitment to care for peoplewho in scriptural terms are the least among usis woven throughout the tapestry of parish life, she continues. Moreover, the program provides an opportunity for everyone to participate so that efforts to serve the community do not become the work of one or two people or even a small committee. Deepening understanding of Catholic Social Teaching is a core purpose of PSM as is providing parishioners with opportunities to act on that teaching by reaching out to the community, spurring community development and addressing broadly shared Joan Rosenhauer, executive vice president for needs, says Joan.
US Operations for Catholic Relief Services

Call to Conscience Call to aCtion

Besides inspiring a call both to conscience and to action, PSM equips parishioners with the practical skills and strategies required to carry out that call. During the training sessions she facilitated in Moldova, Joan encouraged parishes to tailor their respective PSM programs according to their unique needs and to pick out aspects of other PSM models that resonate most with them.

Parish social Ministry is strengthening the Catholic Church as well as communities in Moldova and that is likely to be the programs most compelling legacy, says Joan Rosenhauer, Catholic Relief Services executive vice president for US Operations.

free lunch A woman in Slobodarascov sits patiently prior to receiving a free lunchtime meal distributed by the villagers Parish Social Ministry group.

She says she was impressed with the wide representation of parishes and the level of commitment and interest demonstrated for the program in Moldova. Such enthusiasm is particularly important in the Eastern European country, where the challenges are If we are not doing social ministry then vast given the limited resources from which were not really fully being a parish or be- communities have to draw. ing Catholic. So, Parish Social Ministry will strengthen the Church. It will also allow the PSM is invigorating the spirit of volunChurch to play a role in strengthening the teerism in the Moldovan communities where communities where the parishes are reach- it has been put in place, she notes. The proing out, remarks Joan, who helped launch gram also has introduced a new approach the program in Moldova by providing a series to grassroots development that challenges the community to identify unmet needs, of training sessions in the country in 2009. brainstorm solutions and create synergy by Pope Benedict XVI has reaffirmed the three working together for the common good, obessential tasks of the Churchto preach serves Joan. the gospel; administer the sacraments; and, reach out and serve people in need, Joan In some communities, the parish is propoints out. Parish Social Ministry helps viding the initial momentum and the arena achieve the latter by integrating it into the for the entire community to come together, to look at what is needed and to organize life of the Church. development in what are, truly, community Parish Social Ministry (PSM) is designed to projects, she adds.
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New Development Model

nothinG chanGed in the lives of many of Moldovas rural villagers during 70 years of Soviet rule, says Otilia Sirbu, Caritas Moldova Director. The state was responsible for everything and everything was provided by the state medical services, kindergarten, school, university and after university you automatically were assigned a job for a minimum contract of five years and provided with a house so you were not even obligated to find work or a home. Individuals were not required to put any effort into planning their lives or futures, says Otilia. The prevailing assumption for successive generations of Moldovans was that the Soviet-led state would take care of citizens and, in exchange, they sacrificed autonomy in key spheres of their life. This resulted in a learned helplessness among some, which suppressed initiative, responsibility and assertiveness, creating widespread passivity and a general reluctance to take action. Consequently, most Moldovans have little experience with grassroots organizing and volunteerism and they do not have a great deal of confidence in the ability of people who arent authority figures to spearhead development efforts. They assume, instead, that the resources necessary to improve their quality of life must come from outside of the community. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Church and nongovernmental organizations began to fill the void, providing the services and material support that the state no longer could. Caritas Moldova is the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chisinaus primary agency for ad-

Parish Social Ministry introduces

Parishes in Moldova need a lot of advice, assistance, encouragement and nurturing of the spirit of volunteerism. (But) Parish Social Ministry is transforming mentalities.
Catholic Bishop of Chisinau, His Excellency, Anton Cosa

dressing the extreme vulnerability of people affected by poverty in all its forms. While the agency has succeeded in easing the suffering of many of Moldovas poor, Caritas Moldova has had difficulty mobilizing and motivating people to take action to improve their communities and to advance the human rights of the countrys most vulnerable. Instead, the perception among some was that the Church and Caritas were obliged to provide for them, observes Otilia. Rather than breaking the cycle of financial and cultural dependency, humanitarian assistance from the Catholic Church and foreign nongovernmental organizations only seemed to sustain it after the Soviet Union dissolved, says the Catholic Bishop of Chisinau, His Excellency, Anton Cosa. Priests from Moldovas 17 Catholic parishes realized that the support provided by Caritas and the Church had coddled people They forgot about how to help each other and get out from a problem. They expected someone to come and solve their problems when in fact the first step of any community project must start with the people, says Bishop Cosa. Parish Social Ministry, known in Moldova simply by its English language acronym PSM, introduces what is for many an unfamiliar approach to community development while supporting the emergence of a whole new generation of community leaders. By stressing that social responsibility is intrinsic to the Catholic identity, PSM encourages the laity in Catholic parishes as well as other interested community members to take initiative to improve their communities and equips them with the skills and expertise they need to do so.

CONCRETE STEPS FOR CHANGE At a series of workshops, Zhanna Harutyunyan from Caritas Armenia provided concrete examples about how PSM is transforming communities in other countries, which helped inspire parish communities in Moldova. It was easy for Zhanna to empathize with the nascent PSM groups she helped train in Moldova. She remembers being Catholic Bishop of Chisinau, His Excellency, Anton Cosa. confused and scared when she was first introduced to PSM, before helping to launch the program in the southern Caucasus. It was new and complex. But we successfully integrated the program, step by step, says Zhanna. Catholic Social Teaching provides the values that unite communities in trust, cooperation and responsibility for the common good, she continues, adding that she advises PSM groups to link your service with values and those values will help you succeed in your service. The success of PSM projects creates a virtuous cycle because as people feel the impact, they begin to believe in the power of the approach and it inspires them to join the effort, says Zhanna. Formerly, humanitarian aid tended to be distributed and improvement projects carried out without any involvement from the Moldovan communities that benefited from them, says Caritas Moldova Program Manager Irina Oriol. PSM inverts that development model by providing an opportunity for parish communities in Moldova to first identify and to then become the architects in solving their own problems. When you put your hand on something, you have an absolutely different feeling about it, says Irina. As the mentality of people changed, they became more confident in their own forces and abilities. They became convinced that they could improve their communities instead of waiting for someone to come help them.

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BRIGHT AND WARM Volunteers in Rascov replace the windows of the kindergarten with energy-efficient, thermal resistant polyvinyl windows that brightened up the classrooms and help retain heat during winter.

StrategieS for SucceSS

4Catholic

Parish Social Ministry is exceeding expectations...

The quantitative impact of the Parish Social Ministry program is exceeding expectations. The number of direct and indirect beneficiaries was projected to be 500 and 1,000, respectively, each year of the program. In fact, significantly more people benefited. In 2009, 2,490 Moldovans benefited directly and 3,080 indirectly from 10 projects carried out. In 2010, 1,113 Moldovans benefited directly and 3,000 indirectly from nine PSM projects. The number of beneficiaries was especially high in Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova, where very few international nongovernmental organizations carry out development projects. There were eight grant proposals approved for 2011.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Building on the successes of programs implemented in other Eastern European countries and the Caucuses, Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Moldova: Identify and mobilize leaders for Parish Social Ministry (PSM) groups in communities that are enthusiastic about carrying out the Churchs social mission. Nurture the formation of PSM groups and their ability to carry out PSM by raising awareness about its roots in Catholic Social Teaching; providing training in how to structure social ministry in the parish, engage the community and recruit volunteers; and, facilitating additional training and skills development opportunities on project management, fundraising, proposal writing, leadership, conflict resolution and other topics as needs, interest and accretion requires. Equip PSM groups with the skills and knowhow to develop their own priorities for PSM by convening the community to identify unmet needs, develop and coordinate community action plans, prioritize solutions and activate others in their parishes and communities to carry out PSM activities and to make financial, spiritual, and in-kind contributions. Encourage PSM groups to raise funds and leverage resources in their communities that match or exceed grants available for community improvement projects; assist in the selection, development, and execution of community improvement projects and other activities that implement Catholic Social Teaching. Engage pastors, parish priests and nuns, who encourage and support PSM activities by participating in solidarity in volunteer projects and publicly recognizing the accomplishments of PSM groups. Promote networking among PSM groups for best practices sharing, problem solving, community building, and spiritual development.

Relief Services and Caritas Mol- 4CRS and Caritas Moldova awarded up dova energized and strengthened efforts by to US$1,500 for community improvement Parish Social Ministry groups, made up of projects following an evaluation of proposthe laity in Catholic parishes and other in- als submitted as part of an annual grants terested community members, to carry out competition. PSM groups were required to the Churchs social mission and to take ini- demonstrate they could leverage resources tiative to improve their communities. from within their own communities to cover at least 50 percent of the total project cost. 4CRS and Caritas Moldova enlisted the support of experienced PSM trainers Joan 4CRS and Caritas Moldova encouraged PSM Rosenhauer from Catholic Relief Services groups to rely more heavily on community and/or other outside resources in planning and Zhanna Harutyunyan from Caritas Armenia, who channeled their wealth and carrying out future activities by making of knowledge and expertise about PSM successively smaller grants available over through inspirational workshops for PSM the course of the program. group members. 4CRS and Caritas Moldova encouraged 4In the seven target parish communities, priests to deliver sermons about Catholic Zhanna helped identify PSM group leaders, Social Teaching, specifically mentioning who were recruited from diverse sectors of Parish Social Ministry as an opportunity the community, including the mayoralty for the laity to live the social calling of their and local administration as well as edufaith. Priests also allowed PSM groups to cational and medical facilities. Zhanna make announcements and brief presentamotivated the new recruits by providing tions about their activities during masses, concrete examples demonstrating how PSM which provided yet another avenue of exis transforming the lives of people in Arposure to CST. An improved understanding menia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. She chalabout CST, coupled with opportunities to lenged the Moldovan PSM leaders to concarry it out, created a virtuous cycle, inspirsider how they could have a similar impact ing parishioners to participate in PSM acin their own communities. She stressed tivities beyond the life of the CRS program. the need to remain grounded in the shared A vast majority of Moldovans are Orthodox mission, to manage expectations and to Christians but CST and the notion that commit only to what could realistically be Christians have certain social responsibiliaccomplished. ties by virtue of being Christian is a notion that resonates even with PSM participants 4CRS and Caritas Moldova tailored the who are not Catholic. program to each parish communitys priorities and unique circumstances by train- 4CRS and Caritas Moldova celebrated the achievements of PSM groups at local ing PSM groups in participatory social events and an annual volunteer festival, research methods that were used to identify challenges, collectively, with the greater which provided a forum to network and share experiences. The program also was community. PSM groups also were taught promoted on the websites of Caritas Molhow to develop action plans and submit dova and the Diocese of Chisinau and local grant proposalssmall and largeto admedia. The Catholic Bishop of Chisinau, dress problems deemed most pressing.

His Excellency Anton Cosa, was very supportive of the program.

4CRS

and Caritas Moldova instilled confidence in PSM members to use their newly honed fundraising and proposal development skills to seek out and explore other sources for funding much-needed community improvements. The grants program succeeded in demonstrating that communities do not need large quantities of outside assistance or even broad-based community assistance to carry out Catholic Social Teaching. and Caritas Moldova aimed to institutionalize PSM groups so they become permanent fixtures in their communities, which continue to integrate Catholic Social Teaching into parish and community life and address pressing challenges through development projects long after CRS activities are completed. PSM groups were trained to carry out ongoing, systematic recruitment of PSM volunteers to help sustain activities beyond the life of the CRS project.

4CRS

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Thirst & Spirits

it is a life sourcethat is a truism but water also has been nourishing the spirits of residents of Rascov for three-anda-half centuries.

QUENCHING

parish partnership in

When the ambitious Moldavian Prince Vasile Lupu arranged the marriage of his daughter Ruxandra to Tymish, the eldest son of the equally ambitious Cossacks leader Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the die was cast. Within a year of being joined in holy matrimony in a Rascov church, Tymish died in battle, fighting alongside his fatherin-law. Legend has it Ruxandra was so distraught on hearing the news of her husbands untimely death, she wept bitter tears that spilled over and eventually flooded a community well that still exists today. Known as the Well of the Hospodars Wife, Pans Well or Pasca Kirnitsia, it represents the nucleus of the village and, to this day, a drink from the spring is thought to bring good luck. In fact, the Well of the Hospodars Wife is one of the few places where water is cause for celebration in Rascov. After a survey of the communitys 2,200 inhabitants found safe drinking water to be among the most pressing concerns, the Parish Social Ministry (PSM) group spearheaded repairs to portions of the water supply system.

community development
total cost: US$13,700

upgrading the water supply system and installing bore holes in rascov
CRS & Caritas: $4,110

local administration: $6,850 local Community: $2,740

back to the late 1960s, he explains, which means the quality of the water was poor. Whats more, some public institutions such as the health clinic were not hooked up to the community water supply and medical workers had to fetch water from wells. Early on, the PSM group recognized the impracticability of replacing the entire old and outdated infrastructure. The funds required far exceeded what was available. Instead, they remembered some prescient advice they received from Zhanna Harutyunyan during a training workshop to dissect intractable problems into several smaller, more achievable goals. CUTTING COSTS Visitors to Rascov in late summer 2009 would have been understandably mistaken
well of the hospodars wife an elderly rascov gentleman, who fought for the allies in world war ii, gathers with friends at the well.

Providing potable water to public institutions was a priority shared by local government authorities, including the mayor of Rascov, Alexandr Heistal. Rascovs water supply infrastructure dates

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new faucet svetlana ribacova, 47, used to have to hike 660 feet up a hill to fetch water from a neighborhood well. But now she simply has to turn on the faucet in her kitchen, which she purchased after her home was connected to the village water supply.

if they thought they had stumbled upon an elaborate archeological dig. They would have observed men and women using shovels, rakes, pikes, and practically every other imaginable tool capable of moving earth to hollow out long, narrow ditches along some of the villages busiest arteries. But instead of ancient artifacts, the excavation exposed the old steel pipes of the communitys dilapidated water supply system. To cut costs, the group devised a practical work plan that included inserting new durable, long-lasting polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping into the original metal pipes. The tab for materials such as cables, electrical meters and water pipes and labor for trenching and mounting quickly ran up. While developing this project, we did not know all of the details. We expected we would finish it very quickly and it would not exceed our projected costs, says

the contrary, says the mayor. Still, he is quick to point out that while the projects costs exceeded initial estimates, the work was completed right on schedule. We had tight deadlines because we had to be able to fire up the boilers, to supply heat and hot water, by Oct. 15. Togetherthe villagers, colleagues, associateswe worked on Sundays and holidays. We did everything we possibly could to be on time. Today, the water system supplies potable water to all of Rascovs public institutions, St. Kaatan Catholic Church, and 19 nearby private homes, which are located on a rocky hillside where it is expensive to dig fresh water wells. Each home that is hooked up to the water system is fitted with a meter that records the amount of water consumed for billing purposes. In this area of the town, there are rocks and stones everywhere, which is why water

work party Volunteers dig trenches to repair sections of pipe in rascovs community water system, top, and dig bore holes, above right.

Mayor Heistal. The local administration underestimated its portion of the costs for the project as well as the amount of work involved in repairing sections of pipe in the village waterline.

About 70 percent of the project costs were provided by the administration and funds collected from community members while CRS and Caritas Moldova covered 30 percent. Initially we thought it would be quite

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As a result of our collaboration we grew up. We also demonstrated our potential and how interested people are in improving the community. If challenges arise, we solve them collectively and peacefully.
Rascov Mayor Alexandr Heistal

the issue of water system reconstruction at the state level. The possibility exists to extend the waterline in the future and one day wed also like to add a pumping station to control water pressure levels. Since modern gas boilers wont work without water, the project ameliorated a longstanding heating system problem. Heat was restored to several public buildings. Pupils at the school had to bundle up in their coats and gloves during their classes to stay warm during the winter months before the heat was turned back on. Now, the boilers run faultlessly and I can tell you that our preschools, the school, the clinic, the cultural center, the administrations offices, and the church are connected to gas-powered heating system, says Mayor Heistal. The upgraded water system also improved fire safety at public institutions and village administrators had outdoor taps installed at the schools and public squares that citizens of Rascov are free to use. COLLECTIVE ACTION & SOLUTIONS Over a year and a half after the taps started to flow, Mayor Heistal reflected on what he enjoyed most about the project. It established unanimity. We had common goals and because there was no disagreements, we reached them, says the mayor. We found compromises and together solved problems for everyones benefit. I cannot say any one group dominated or took on more responsibility than the other. People were interested in doing the work even if they werent paid, he adds. The mayor says the administrations participation in the water supply improvement effort and other PSM projects helped the village mature. As a result of our collaboration we grew up. We also demonstrated our potential and how interested people are in improving the community. If challenges

About Rascov
Archeological remains suggest Rascov was inhabited as far back as 40,000 years ago, making it one of the most ancient settlements in all of Moldova, says Mayor Alexandr Heistal. Founded as a trading post in 1402 on the Nistru River, the village is flanked by towering limestone slopes on one side and the Nistru River on the other. Rascov National Park, a natural landscape preserve and ecologically protected area that has been dubbed the Pridnestrovian Alps, is located near the village of Rascov. Rascovs stunningly beautiful topography made it strategically important military outpost when it belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth. Two Jewish, one Catholic and three Orthodox Christian cemeteries attest to Rascovs rich religious traditions. The Catholic Church, St. Kaatan, was built in the 16th century with generous contributions from the Moldavian Prince Peter IV Rares, when Rascov was a part of the Polish Kingdom. Rascov was also home to the Rabbi Jacob Joseph of Polonne after he was exiled from Shargorod in 1748 for becoming a dedicated disciple of the Jewish mystical rabbi Baal Shem Tov, who is considered the founder of Hasidic Judaism.

she points out. Digging trenches to lay the water pipe was hard work. It was a very difficult task due to rocky terrain. In order to break out stony portions of land, we engaged workers. People and machines were working side by side. We were carrying out the stones. The road was blocked, recalls Valentina. is such a big problem for people. Thanks to the efforts of the PSM, the water is has been pumped directly to some of their houses. And this matters a good deal to them, says St. Kaatan parish priest, Father Ruslan Pogrebniy. TURNING ON THE TAPS & THE HEAT Pensioner Valentina is among those who are happy to have a reliable source of water. She had access to an outside tap prior to hooking up to the village waterline but the flow of water was erratic. During winter, one day we might have water, the next day we would not. In the summertime, the water usually only ran for two hours or so a day, she says. We are very grateful for water. In addition, it is not expensive at all. Ive paid 25 rubles (about US$2.50) for four months of water use, while the construction of a well requires significantly more resources. We paid a rather large sum of money to link up to the waterline, but it was worth it. We would have even paid more because water is the most important thing for everybody. Besides, a lot of the land around my home is not suitable for construction of wells, Artiomova Maria Semionovna, 76, is one of the oldest beneficiaries of the upgraded village water system. She could not be more pleased. The water is a life spring. It is impossible to live without water. I am disabled and cannot fetch water from the well, especially in winter, and I have nobody to help me, she says of the impact of the project on her life. When I was younger, I was busy doing a lot of things. Today as you can observe I hardly move, jokes Artiomova, who in spite of that claim managed to cook meals for the projects workers. She and other homeowners who benefitted from the water supply project agreed to share the cost of feeding the workers. Thank you for this water. I cannot thank you enough. Mayor Heistal continues to field inquires from homeowners and businesses that are eager to learn more about taping into the villages water supply. The water is no longer polluted. We disinfect the water. There is a person in charge of taking water samples and analyzing it, he says. Moreover, I managed to broach

arise, we solve them collectively and peacefully, he says. Since partnering with CRS and Caritas Moldova, the administration created a blog on its website to highlight its achievements and inform villagers about its activities. To be sure, the water improvement project tested the communitys endurance and forbearance, ...but the most important thing is that we achieved the goal. We solved a lot of village problems and we are satisfied with the result, says Mayor Heistal.

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Self-Reliance
if, as one learned euroPean statesman once suggested, Example is the school of mankind then pupils in Rascov are being schooled in the art of self-reliance. Students at Rascovs schools have benefitted from every one of the community improvement projects carried out by the communitys Parish Social Ministry (PSM) group. Alla Lopatina, a parent of children who attend school in Rascov and chair of the parent-teacher association, joined the PSM group because she was concerned about the lack of water and heat at the school. After the school was hooked up to the village water system in 2009, the heat was turned back on and students no longer had to bundle up in their winter coats, hats and gloves during lessons, allaying one of Allas foremost concerns. She and other members of the PSM group then turned their attention to fixing up the run-down kindergarten. Built over a century ago, the kindergarten, described by its director as old but robust, fell into disrepair after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

lessons in

parish partnership in community development

replacing windows at the kindergarten in rascov
total cost: US$4,606.55 CRS & Caritas: $1,206.55 local administration: $537 Regional administration: $2,113 local community: $696

and costing much more than was initially planned, which caused Alla a great deal of stress. At one point, she admits, she worried the building would have to be demolished. But with encouragement from the local administration, Caritas Moldova, Catholic Relief Services and the local priest, as well as a considerable discount from the company that manufactures the windows, Alla and the PSM group prevailed. They worked through their problems and managed to replace all of the 19 windows on the first floor of the kindergarten. The project was completed before the weather turned cold and officially unveiled to the community at the villages annual Oct. 14 celebration.

After the windows were installed, the PSM successfully secured a grant to repair the The PSM group first set to work replacing kindergartens hardwood floors, which were the windows on the first floor of the kinder- in such a deplorable state, they posed a gartens two-story building with energy-efsafety hazard for the children, says kinderficient, thermal resistant polyvinyl chloride garten director Nina Copacinscaia, who is windows that brightened up the rooms and also a member of the PSM group. helped retain heat during winter. The PSM group convinced the Transnistria Like most renovation projects in old faciliforestry department to provide the raw maties, the project wound up being more work terials for the new kindergarten floors.

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new windows & FLooRs Children play outside the Rascov kindergarten, where the PsM group spearheaded the replacement of the windows and repairs to the wood floor.

rePairinG infrastructure a van crosses the bridge repaired by the sloboda-rascov Parish social Ministry group, above. volunteer workers, right and below, reconstructed the bridge in 2010 after a flood swept away the old structure.

BUILDING
heavy rains in 2009 washed away a bridge in the center of Sloboda-Rascov that left in its wake rubble that posed a hazard to the safety of the communitys children.

The villages Parish Social Ministry (PSM) group restored the indispensable traffic and pedestrian artery, spearheading the reconstruction of the bridge the following year.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Moldova provided a US$1,500 grant and the PSM group managed to raise an additional US$9,429 to repair the bridge. It was one of the most ambitious and successful community improvement efforts ever carried out in the village, says PSM group leader Oxana Oleinic. Fearing it would be vandalized, the administration initially objected to erecting an engraved ceramic tile on the bridge to com-

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Bridges

memorate the project and honor contributions from CRS and Caritas Moldova. But the PSM group insisted and their faith in the community was confirmed. Two years later the plaque remains untouched, in pristine condition even though the bridge has become a popular place for children and youth in the village to relax and enjoy each others company.

Children and young people are always here on the bridge. It is a place where young people choose to gather because they dont have any other convenient place to meet, says Oxana. She notes, with an obvious tinge of pride, that what began as an effort to address a serious community infrastructure shortcoming has also filled a cultural and recreational void in the village.

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parish partnership in community development

rebuilding bridge in center of village
total cost: US$10,928.60 CRS & Caritas: $1,500 Community: $9,428.60

HOW CRS & CARITAS MOLDOVA AWARD PSM GRANTS

PSM groups had the option of requesting US$1,500 to implement one project proposal, or submitting multiple proposals that totaled up to US$1,500. No requested amount of funds was considered too small. Groups also could submit proposals for projects that exceeded US$1500, with the understanding that only the most attractive proposals would be chosen and only US$1,500 in total grant money would be available. A joint committee made up of representatives from CRS and Caritas Moldova reviewed grant proposals according to the following criteria:
4The

cleaning refuge from landfill

total cost: US$2,034.97
coMMunity cleanuP children carry away trash from a property that was used as a landfill.

CRS & Caritas: $739.07 Community: $1,295.90

approved psm projects: 2011: 8 2010: 9 2009: 10 total: 27

2009 direct beneficiaries: 2,490 indirect beneficiaries: 3,080 projected number: 500 direct, 1,000 indirect 2010 direct beneficiaries: 1,113 indirect beneficiaries: 3,000 projected number: 500 direct, 1,000 indirect

Prior to launching the PSM improvement projects, villagers tended not to care much about the natural environment. They discarded their trash carelessly and irresponsibly. The area around the bridge was very dirty because the rain washed rubbish here, says Oxana. The local administration wholeheartedly supported the efforts of the PSM group to clean up the environment, even having signs made that the PSM erected around the village warning of the 250-ruble (about US$24) fine for littering. REMOVING THE RUBBISH A quarter mile or so up the road from the bridge sits a green pasture hemmed by a short mesh wire fence, three steel electrical power poles, a high voltage power transformer, and the remains of a stone foundation of an abode long ago abandoned. Its difficult to imagine today, but this lush and pristine green space was once a festering heap of haphazardly discarded rotting food, plastic bags and other junk. For years, villagers dumped their rubbish on the vacant piece of land and grew immune to its unsightliness until one PSM group member suggested removing the blight. During heavy rains, streams of trash flood-

ed onto the property of Tatiana Ceaicovscaia, who was eager to have the garbage dump cleaned up because she was worried about the impact it was having on the health of village children who enjoyed playing near the mounds of garbage. Oxana admits that it was not easy convincing villagers not to dump their trash on land that felt as if it had been used as a landfill since the beginning of time. Looking back, she says the project was the groups first battle in its war against rubbish. A few times she wondered if it was realistic to expect villagers to change a long-standing habit. She credits Caritas Moldova Program Manager Irina Oriol with providing the moral support needed for the group not to give up. When it urgently needed it, the group also received some much-needed assistance from the village mayor, who agreed to cover the cost of a bulldozer for the project. Eventually, villagers in Sloboda-Rascov came to understand they would have to find another place to leave their rubbish, because it is important to keep the community free of litter, says Oxana. Three years after clearing out the rubbish, the land is still cleana clear victory in the war against trash.

extent to which the proposed activity would implement Catholic Social Teaching. projected number of direct beneficiaries per dollar requested. amount of the local community contribution (all proposals had to demonstrate that at least 50 percent of the project cost would be contributed by the local community in order to be eligible for a CRS grant). extent to which the local community contribution involved contributions from diverse members of the community, for example those from other faiths.

4The

4The

4The

4The

generative effect of the project or activity in terms of what other types of activities might be created indirectly or the potential for the proposed activity to be replicated in other parishes and communities.

Examples of large projects that are viewed favorably include: improving water supplies; providing heat, adequate insulation, and/or other improvements at local schools; creating a community recreational area for youth, such as a soccer field or gymnasium. Examples of smaller grant projects that received grants include: providing food baskets to home-bound elderly villagers who live alone; producing posters warning of the dangers associated with human trafficking; covering the costs of transportation to an administrative center to meet with local government officials to advocate for policies that would improve the lives of the poor.

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parish partnership in community development

installing gas heat at the church
total cost: US$4,506.60 CRS & Caritas: $1,496 Community: $3,010.60

replacing doors and windows in church

total cost: US$2,936.50 CRS & Caritas: $1,460.60 Community: $1,475.90

head StRong
sloBoda-rascov villaGers are a spiritually obstinate bunch. When the Soviet authorities ordered all churches in the community closed after World War II, the faithful continued to gather covertly to worship in their homes. Catholics publicly defied the Soviet regime in 1976 by constructing a church without the required permission. The authorities responded by arresting and imprisoning the spiritual insurgents and leveling the church with bulldozers. Still, the papal interdiction and ruthless repression did not break the spirit of the tight-knit Catholic community. A priest from Chisinau and nuns from Balti continued to travel to Sloboda-Rascov in secrecy to administer to the faithful. The Moldovan government finally yielded to the spiritual suppliants by officially recognizing the Catholic faithful in Sloboda-Rascov in 1988. The community donated funds and labor to build a second

Spiritually

tiGht-knit Parishioners Parishioners from st. Martas catholic church hold a work party to clean up the churchyard, top photo. Parish priest, father dmitrii Zelinschii, top and right, has taken an active role in Parish social Ministry activities.

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Father Dmitrii ... helped us understand more clearly what we were trying to do. He supported us in everything we did. Oxana Oleinic, Sloboda-Rascov PSM group

neighborhood were connected to the gas heating system in 2009 when the church was tied in, making it an expensive undertaking for the church. But after securing a PSM grant from CRS and Caritas Moldova and donations from the community, we managed to connect to the gas pipe, to buy a boiler and install radiators, says Father Dmitrii. Once the heat was installed, the parish focused on improving the churchs windows and wooden doors, which were warped allowing cold air to enter. A draft from the basement made it cold in the church. We replaced all of the windows with insulated ones and it became noticeably warmer in here, says Father Dmitrii, who points out each repair made to the church during a tour of St. Marta Church in May 2011. Volunteers, including youth and children, were active in carrying out the work in renovating the church. But Father Dmitrii also called on relatives and childhood friends to carry out some of the work that required trained specialists, who provided their services for half of their usual rate. Father Dmitrii played a very active role in all of the PSM activities and while clearly proud of the projects achievements, he prefers to downplay his contribution. Yes, I participated actively in all of the projects, he allows. But, you know, maybe its not my participation in the projects, but my presence together with all the participants that is important. I provide spiritual and technical support but it is the group that independently manifests the results. PSM group leader Oxana Oleinic quickly corrects him. Father Dmitrii is a member of our group. He helped us understand more clearly what we were trying to do. He supported us in everything we did. Every one of our Monday meetings begins with his words.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

Parish Social Ministry encourages participants to evaluate their community through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching and to draw from its rich trove of wisdom in building just societies and living lives of holiness. Catholic Social Teaching offers a vision of the world that emphasizes the paramount importance of human dignity, celebrates the interconnectedness of all humanity and provokes reflection on the questions: What would a just world look likeand how can we work towards achieving this world vision? The teaching provides a set of principles and values for action, calling on us to examine the situations in which we live and work and, in dialogue with others, to discern the options and commitments that are necessary to bring about urgently needed social, political and economic changes. Catholic Social Teaching is a call to conscience and a call to actioncalling for creative solutions to our most complex modern challenges and urging us not to lose sight of the world in which we want to live. Buttressing the Catholic Social Teaching are principles rooted in Hebrew and Christian Scriptures and the Churchs traditional philosophical and theological teachings. The teaching also draws on a rich trove of papal encyclicals, bishops letters and other official documents that explore the most pressing economic, political and social challenges in our ever-changing world. Since the publication of Pope Leo XIIIs encyclical On the Condition of Labor in 1891, which marked the beginning of a more structured articulation of Catholic Social Teaching, successive popes have enriched the Churchs body of social teaching. Most recently, Pope Benedict XVI remarked that the purpose of Catholic Social Teaching is simply to help purify reason and to contribute, here and now, to the acknowledgment and attainment of what is just. [The Church] has to play her part through rational argument and she has to reawaken the spiritual energy without which justicecannot prevail and prosper.

Catholic church that still stands today. In 1990, the bishop consecrated the church and it received the name, St. Marta. Two decades later, Sloboda-Rascovs tenacious parish community continues to demonstrate perseverance and solidarity, overcoming adversity to carry out several community improvement projects championed by the Parish Social Ministry (PSM) group. In fact, the PSM group managed to achieve 100 percent of the priorities identified in community surveys in 2009, says PSM group leader Oxana Oleinic. Improvements, completed in 2009 and 2010 with funding from Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Moldova, included the installation of gas heat to the church and the replacement of its doors and windows. Upgrading the system from wood to gas heat was a top priority for the parish since the church is full every Sunday for mass and serves as a popular community gathering spot during the week, says the mild-mannered parish priest, Father Dmitrii Zelinschii, known affectionately in the community simply as Father Dmitrii. Only two or three families in the churchs

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remodeling Mind Sets

the BiGGest challenGe one Parish Social Ministry (PSM) group member in Sloboda-Rascov confronted in launching the program in her community was overcoming her own skepticism and believing in the power of PSM to transform the community. To tell the truth, the first time I turned out for training about the PSM project, I wasnt interested in listening because I didnt believe in it. But when I saw what it could do for our village, what we could achieve when we worked together, my mind changed, says Tatiana Lihaciova. She was not alone. The atmosphere in the village has changed for the better. The mentality of peopleas far as their ability to independently solve problemshas been transformed, agrees Sloboda-Rascov parish priest, Father Dmitrii Zelinschii. As others in the community felt the impact of the projects on their own lives, their faith in the program soared. Villagers became more confident that the initiatives could improve community life. They were more trustful of PSM group leaders, who remained devoted to achieving their goals throughout the life of the project, observes Caritas Moldova Program Manager Irina Oriol. Villagers have seen what is possible and it has awakened their desire to pursue other improvements. Of course it was easier with support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS and Caritas Moldova provided financing, which was a great help, and CRS taught us how to solve our problems. But we wont stop now, vows Oxana Oleinic, Sloboda-Rascov

The atmosphere in the village has changed for the better. The mentality of peopleas far as their ability to independently solve problemshas been transformed. Father Dmitrii Zelinschii, Sloboda-Rascov parish priest

PSM leader. We have so many ideas about future improvements and we will realize them by our own forces. In fact, the PSM group has already begun addressing the needs of people in the community without assistance from CRS or Caritas Moldova. The PSM group launched in 2010 a lunch program for school children and computer classes for villagers and managed to mobilize the community support needed to repair the clinic, clean up the churchyard and cemetery and provide social assistance to the elderly. They applied for and received a grant from the Soros Foundation for a two-day workshop on human rights. In 2011, the PSM group began offering laundry services and lunchtime meals for the elderly. The PSM group has forged a tight, cooperative bond with the school, sponsoring repairs to its sports hall. It is now one of the best sport halls in the district, boasts Oxana. The village also secured US$10,000 in funding from the United Nations to build a new cultural center, which will address a lack of leisure activities for youththe No. 1 priority cited by villagers in PSM surveys, adds Oxana. The PSM program has had a similar transformative effect on Rascov. It has been a very beneficial experience for everybody. By contributing to the projects, villagers begin to recognize that they have the ability to change the community for the better and to recognize that maximum efforts produce unconditional success, says Father Ruslan Pogrebniy, the pastor of St. Kaatans parish in Rascov.

BridGe Plaque violeta cernei of catholic relief services (crs), left, and oxana oleinic of the sloboda-rascov Parish social Ministry (PsM) group discuss business next to a plaque on the bridge that was reconstructed to recognize those who contributed to the project, including crs. the slobodaRascov PSM group used grants from CRS and Caritas Moldova to purchase office equipment such as a telephone, digital camera, printer, laptop as well as internet access for one year. the purchases made carrying out PsM activities and mobilizing volunteer support easier. Grants also were used to launch computer training classes for children, youth and adults in the community and to purchase an alarm system for the schools computer science class.

Rascovs PSM group intervened on two different occasions to provide emergency social assistance when parents of two of the villages children were deemed unfit to care for them. They arranged to have a 12-yearold girl placed in a childrens center, where she has flourished, receiving good marks in all of her classes. Later, a 12-year-old boy was admitted to a cadet boarding school with the help of the village mayor. Initially, the boy was reluctant to remain at the school because he felt marginalized so the PSM group collected funds to purchase clothing and school sup-

plies for the boy and he agreed to remain in school. The group also raised funds for a boy who required surgery in Chisinau. Besides improving the ability of communities to address long-standing needs, the PSM program in Moldova provides participants with the opportunity to hone their managerial and professional skills. Alla Lopatina says she was promoted from parttime record keeper for the local administration to full-time passport registration officer in part due to her experience as PSM leader and her involvement in community improvement projects.

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collectinG cash rascov Parish social Ministry (PsM) group leader alla lopatina (far left in photo at left) and local coordinator ludmila Puscas (center) collect money for PsM community improvement projects such as supplying heat, to a community classroom (at right), where young people and children gather after school for lessons about christian values.

tirees gave money. We also called for the financial support of various organizations and people helped us, even those who do not live in our village made some contributions. Besides collecting the funds that each family made a commitment to contribute on their returned surveys, local institutions collected money for projects from their employees and the local administration encouraged businesses in the village to support the effort through cash and/or in-kind donations. Alla and Ludmila also raised funds on market day after the community nurse suggested they promote PSM projects at the weekly village gathering. We understood that we needed to spread the word about our plans to the greater public. We used a microphone to explain our plans. People gave money and we asked them to sign a paper recording the amount they gave, says Ludmila. Sloboda-Rascovs PSM group had a similar experience after villagers identified three main problems: the poor state of its roads;

lack of leisure activities for young people; and, disposal of rubbish. Though they were asked to, most of the survey respondents in Sloboda-Rascov did not suggest solutions to problems they listed. At the time, it was their opinion it is the duty of the administration to find solutions, says PSM leader Oxana Oleinic. So, the PSM group organized a focus group, which reviewed the completed questionnaires and brainstormed possible solutions. The discussion took place while candidates for the local administration were campaigning for election. We invited all of the candidates, the school principal and other active community members. Most of people drew the same conclusion as the PSM groupthat we had to do something ourselves to address the problems and not wait for help. When it came time to raise money to solve the identified problems, Oxana says, As a whole, people reacted very well because they understood that the money was being collected for them and for the village. There were only a few people that refused to make donations.

Survey Says...
the first steP in solving community problems is defining what the problems are. The Parish Social Ministry (PSM) groups in Sloboda-Rascov and Rascov did so by widely distributing surveys in their respective villages. At first, some were unwilling to donate money to the community improvement efforts. We had to explain in accessible language what the projects were about and help people understand their importance. We explained, for example, that as a result of one of the projects, the clinic would be The PSM group in Rascov had 30 volunsupplied with water and they, naturally, teers distribute about 300 questionnaires thought that was a necessary thing, says to survey the community on its most press- PSM group leader Alla Lopatina. ing concerns. Each family was asked to specify on their completed survey the cash Ludmila Puscas adds, Ultimately, only or in-kind contribution they were willing to a few people refused to grant any money. make to each project. People were rather responsible. Even re-

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grateful for the support artiomova Maria semionovna, 76, no longer has to hike up a steep hill to fetch water from a community well. thanks to upgrades to the community water supply system in rascov, carried out as part of the parish social Ministry program, she now has a tap in her backyard that provides her with a continuous flow of water.

Michael McKennett Head of Office Email: mmckennett@eme.crs.org Ludmila Ungureanu Program Manager Email: lungureanu@eme.crs.org

Writing and Graphic Design Alanna Jorde Cover Design Angela Robak

Catholic Relief Services staff members in Moldova include standing (left to right) Igor Fetiniuc, Svetlana Cires, Daniela Cuzicov, Adrian Catan, Violeta Cernei and Michael McKennett and seated (left to right) Angela Alexeiciuc, Ludmila Ungureanu and Mariana Romanciuc.

CRS Moldova Headquarters 106 Columna Street, 2nd Floor Chisinau, MD-2012 Republic of Moldova Tel. +373-22-226065 Fax +373-22-229542 Website: www.crs.org/moldova

CRS programs improve the lives of over 130 million people in more than 100 countries. In emergency response, agriculture, education, food security, health, HIV and AIDS, microfinance, peacebuilding, water/sanitation and policy change the scope of our work is global, with large-scale results.