september 2023 NEWSletter
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A team of volunteers travelled to Moldova in August 2023, to the villages of Sloveanca and Mindresti Noi in the Singerei district. Both schools were in need of indoor toilets, which the team tackled in just 10 days, with great results.
The team from England and Sweden, started the fortnight in the village of Sloveanca, where work had previously been started by Romeo and his guys, getting the floor tiles laid and walls skimmed. TEECH erected the stud wall, to split the room into girls and boys toilets, along with all the plumbing work, for the toilets, urinals and water boiler, bringing for the first time hot and cold running water for the children and teachers to be able to wash their hands and elevate their level of hygiene. A few volunteers working in the evening, were struck by caretaker Valerias reaction when coming into the school that evening and discovering the work TEECH were doing, and particularly discovering that hot water was coming from the taps. His amazement, running his hands under the water and stopping to show volunteers what he had discovered, not quite believing it, which really hit home to us all.
The team also installed new lighting, on sensors to allow for reduced energy consumption, and new hand driers. Thanks goes to all sponsors mentioned in our July newsletter along with BK Styr of Sweden for a lot of the electrical components.
Sloveanca also saw the installation of the septic tank, following the huge hole being dug by the local digger. TEECH lowered by hand the tank into the ground (after unloading it from the lorry by hand as shown above) and then with the help of a group of local ladies, back filled the hole. Speaking to the ladies who came along to help, most of their husbands were abroad working, which sadly is the reality for many Moldovan families, to earn enough monies to sustain themselves.
In the village of Mindresti Noi, the main work was indoors, this time in 2 rooms, meaning it was the toilets, sinks and cubicles to install, along with new lighting and the hand driers. The mayor arranged for the external pipework to be connected to the old outdoor toilet pit, rather than a septic tank being installed.
Along with the bathrooms, volunteers handed out clothing to the locals, plus food and many toys and bicycles. Aid continues to go to those in villages who are not only trying to look after themselves but also hosting Ukraine refugees, so all aid is being shared in the communities.
Please take a look at the pictures from the trip, which are split on the page by location, so two photos galleries to look through. But before you leave this page........
Also take a few moments to read Tove Stattin's account of her experience of the trip at the bottom of this page. Tove travelled to Moldova with her mother Susanne and sister Alice from Sweden.
The team from England and Sweden, started the fortnight in the village of Sloveanca, where work had previously been started by Romeo and his guys, getting the floor tiles laid and walls skimmed. TEECH erected the stud wall, to split the room into girls and boys toilets, along with all the plumbing work, for the toilets, urinals and water boiler, bringing for the first time hot and cold running water for the children and teachers to be able to wash their hands and elevate their level of hygiene. A few volunteers working in the evening, were struck by caretaker Valerias reaction when coming into the school that evening and discovering the work TEECH were doing, and particularly discovering that hot water was coming from the taps. His amazement, running his hands under the water and stopping to show volunteers what he had discovered, not quite believing it, which really hit home to us all.
The team also installed new lighting, on sensors to allow for reduced energy consumption, and new hand driers. Thanks goes to all sponsors mentioned in our July newsletter along with BK Styr of Sweden for a lot of the electrical components.
Sloveanca also saw the installation of the septic tank, following the huge hole being dug by the local digger. TEECH lowered by hand the tank into the ground (after unloading it from the lorry by hand as shown above) and then with the help of a group of local ladies, back filled the hole. Speaking to the ladies who came along to help, most of their husbands were abroad working, which sadly is the reality for many Moldovan families, to earn enough monies to sustain themselves.
In the village of Mindresti Noi, the main work was indoors, this time in 2 rooms, meaning it was the toilets, sinks and cubicles to install, along with new lighting and the hand driers. The mayor arranged for the external pipework to be connected to the old outdoor toilet pit, rather than a septic tank being installed.
Along with the bathrooms, volunteers handed out clothing to the locals, plus food and many toys and bicycles. Aid continues to go to those in villages who are not only trying to look after themselves but also hosting Ukraine refugees, so all aid is being shared in the communities.
Please take a look at the pictures from the trip, which are split on the page by location, so two photos galleries to look through. But before you leave this page........
Also take a few moments to read Tove Stattin's account of her experience of the trip at the bottom of this page. Tove travelled to Moldova with her mother Susanne and sister Alice from Sweden.
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A place where time has stopped by volunteer Tove Stattin, August 2023
In a red little fire truck packed with clothes, medical supplies, walkers, and hospital mattresses, we drive to Moldova from Sweden to make a difference. The journey takes four days and once in place, toilets with running water will be built at two schools and hundreds of boxes from the charities TEECH UK and TEECH Sweden will be distributed to those in need.
In the village of Sloveanca, during a home visit, we meet an elderly man with a friendly shy smile who does not have enough money to buy food. The gratitude for the food and clothes we bring is great and before we leave he goes and gets his accordion. Even though he hasn't played for two years, the melody is still in his fingers. As he plays, the mayor of the village sings along and the smile grows on his lips. While playing, the man looks to be at least 10 years younger than before.
We drive on the narrow uneven gravel roads that wind through the village and a little later we also meet an elderly lady sitting on a bed, with a colourful blanket as a bedspread. She crosses one leg, which is almost 10 centimeters shorter than the other, and says that it hurts today. But despite the pain, the joy shines in her eyes. Earlier today she managed to get out of the small house she lives in and has seen the sun for the first time in 1 year and 5 months thanks to the walker she received the day before. Her home is simple, small, and worn, but she still insists that we should bring a colourful tablecloth that she knitted herself before we leave. Another lady gave us pears and grapes from her garden during our visit. It feels strange to receive gifts from these people who have nothing, at the same time as their kindness is overwhelming and comes to your heart.
During a home visit in the village Mîndretşii Noi, we meet a man who sits in the shade outside a small simple house peeling fruit. He lights up when we arrive to shake his hand and leave a box of food and clothes. He excuses his somewhat weak handshake with a gentle smile, points to large scars on his arm, and explains that he was hit by a car several years ago. In the accident, he also lost one leg and is now confined to a wheelchair. Before the accident, he worked as a farmer and spent all day in the fields. The man shrugs his shoulders and says that what happens, happens, and that everything has a meaning. Since the accident, he can finally spend time with his wife and for the first time, he helps her with the cooking. Life really becomes what you make it and I am fascinated by the man's strength and attitude.
It's like time stopped here. In the villages, both street names and street numbers are missing, and we navigate our way to the poorest families with the greatest need of our support with help from the mayor who knows which families live where. The local health centres we visit, to leave medical supplies are small and simple. Here, patients' medical records are stored in physical booklets and the staff proudly shows off the only office equipped with a computer.
At a refugee centre outside Bălţi, Moldova's second-largest city, we meet children and adults who have fled the war in Ukraine. Here, families live in small, worn rooms, along long corridors. They tell us that the fridge they are sharing is broken and we promise to help them to arrange a new one. Together with the refugees, we unload the water, food, clothes, and bicycles that we have brought. Everyone helps out. Some of the children get help to learn to ride a bike and laughs and smiles quickly spread among the crowd. We make friends with a little girl after offering some sweets. She speaks in Ukrainian while we answer in Swedish. Even though we don't understand a word, we laugh and have fun together. It feels like everyone is one big family where everyone helps out and takes care of each other.
During our nine days on-site in Moldova, we are also building bathrooms at two schools. The new bathrooms are equipped with water toilets and the sinks are connected to a water heater to provide hot water in the taps. The bathrooms we are building replace the existing sheds that are outside in the schoolyard. The sheds consist of three booths each for boys and girls where each stall is provided with a hole in the floor. The idea is that you "do your thing" squatting over the hole and you can guess what it smells like on a sunny day with a temperature of 37°C.
After living at the schools for over a week, it feels very good to know that real toilets are waiting for the children after the summer holidays.
In a country where almost the entire working-age population moves abroad to work, development takes a long time and even though a lot has happened in the country in recent years, the need for help and support from elsewhere is still great. No one can change everything, but we can all do something. I would therefore like to conclude by thanking everyone who made the trip possible. Many thanks to all family, friends, colleagues, and companies who contributed with clothes, blankets, toys, and funding. Together we have made a difference.
In a red little fire truck packed with clothes, medical supplies, walkers, and hospital mattresses, we drive to Moldova from Sweden to make a difference. The journey takes four days and once in place, toilets with running water will be built at two schools and hundreds of boxes from the charities TEECH UK and TEECH Sweden will be distributed to those in need.
In the village of Sloveanca, during a home visit, we meet an elderly man with a friendly shy smile who does not have enough money to buy food. The gratitude for the food and clothes we bring is great and before we leave he goes and gets his accordion. Even though he hasn't played for two years, the melody is still in his fingers. As he plays, the mayor of the village sings along and the smile grows on his lips. While playing, the man looks to be at least 10 years younger than before.
We drive on the narrow uneven gravel roads that wind through the village and a little later we also meet an elderly lady sitting on a bed, with a colourful blanket as a bedspread. She crosses one leg, which is almost 10 centimeters shorter than the other, and says that it hurts today. But despite the pain, the joy shines in her eyes. Earlier today she managed to get out of the small house she lives in and has seen the sun for the first time in 1 year and 5 months thanks to the walker she received the day before. Her home is simple, small, and worn, but she still insists that we should bring a colourful tablecloth that she knitted herself before we leave. Another lady gave us pears and grapes from her garden during our visit. It feels strange to receive gifts from these people who have nothing, at the same time as their kindness is overwhelming and comes to your heart.
During a home visit in the village Mîndretşii Noi, we meet a man who sits in the shade outside a small simple house peeling fruit. He lights up when we arrive to shake his hand and leave a box of food and clothes. He excuses his somewhat weak handshake with a gentle smile, points to large scars on his arm, and explains that he was hit by a car several years ago. In the accident, he also lost one leg and is now confined to a wheelchair. Before the accident, he worked as a farmer and spent all day in the fields. The man shrugs his shoulders and says that what happens, happens, and that everything has a meaning. Since the accident, he can finally spend time with his wife and for the first time, he helps her with the cooking. Life really becomes what you make it and I am fascinated by the man's strength and attitude.
It's like time stopped here. In the villages, both street names and street numbers are missing, and we navigate our way to the poorest families with the greatest need of our support with help from the mayor who knows which families live where. The local health centres we visit, to leave medical supplies are small and simple. Here, patients' medical records are stored in physical booklets and the staff proudly shows off the only office equipped with a computer.
At a refugee centre outside Bălţi, Moldova's second-largest city, we meet children and adults who have fled the war in Ukraine. Here, families live in small, worn rooms, along long corridors. They tell us that the fridge they are sharing is broken and we promise to help them to arrange a new one. Together with the refugees, we unload the water, food, clothes, and bicycles that we have brought. Everyone helps out. Some of the children get help to learn to ride a bike and laughs and smiles quickly spread among the crowd. We make friends with a little girl after offering some sweets. She speaks in Ukrainian while we answer in Swedish. Even though we don't understand a word, we laugh and have fun together. It feels like everyone is one big family where everyone helps out and takes care of each other.
During our nine days on-site in Moldova, we are also building bathrooms at two schools. The new bathrooms are equipped with water toilets and the sinks are connected to a water heater to provide hot water in the taps. The bathrooms we are building replace the existing sheds that are outside in the schoolyard. The sheds consist of three booths each for boys and girls where each stall is provided with a hole in the floor. The idea is that you "do your thing" squatting over the hole and you can guess what it smells like on a sunny day with a temperature of 37°C.
After living at the schools for over a week, it feels very good to know that real toilets are waiting for the children after the summer holidays.
In a country where almost the entire working-age population moves abroad to work, development takes a long time and even though a lot has happened in the country in recent years, the need for help and support from elsewhere is still great. No one can change everything, but we can all do something. I would therefore like to conclude by thanking everyone who made the trip possible. Many thanks to all family, friends, colleagues, and companies who contributed with clothes, blankets, toys, and funding. Together we have made a difference.
Sisters, Tove & Alice
