Republic of Moldova
wortundtat in the poor house of Europe
The Republic of Moldova in the South East of Europe - situated between Rumania and the Ukraine - is also called the poor house of the continent. In 2010, the country, which has a population of ca. 3.56 million, generated a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about 4.7 billion Euros (Foreign Office). In the same period, Berlin’s residents –3.4 million – achieved about 95 billion Euros (Trade Cycle data Berlin). And: the 2010 GDP per capita in Moldavia was 75 Euro, whilst in Germany this value was at about 30,535 Euro (Federal Statistical Office).
The so-called Human Development Index (HDI*) provides more meaningful information about a country’s living conditions than the GDP. Based on the calculation of the United Nations, the Republic of Moldova ranks in position 111 of 187 countries. The next better positioned country in Europe is Macedonia in 78th position. Germany ranks in 9th place (as at: 2011). Here you find impressions of life, work and the people in the Republic of Moldova. In an interview with wortundtat conducted in August 2012, Carsten Wilms, the Permanent Representative of the German Embassy of the Republic of Moldova described his view of the country.
The autonomous region of Gagauziya with about 155,000 residents lies in the south of the Republic. It is divided into a large stretch of land and several enclaves, which are in part independent on the Republic of Moldova. One of the three towns of Gagauziya is Ceadîr Lunga with about 20,000 residents. According to unofficial estimates, about 45 percent of all people able to work in the region, which is characterized by agriculture, are without unemployment. The water network only supplies sanitary water. Drinking water comes from special wells. Electricity and natural gas are only available in irregular intervals. In cooperation with members of their congregation, Tamara und Vitaly Paunov had already begun years ago to provide help for the poorest of the poor in Ceadîr Lunga - as best as they could given the little funds available to them. The faith of the helpers is their motivation and source of energy - where they are met with openness by the needy, they tell of their faith.
The contact to wortundtat was established in 2006 and together they succeeded in founding the non-profit organisation Gloria. Using a former bank building, Gloria set up a medical-diaconal centre, where since 2007 the help for the people in the region has been organised. The work in the areas of Healthcare, Education und Social matters is still in its infancy. Heinrich Deichmann, chairman of the administrative board of DEICHMANN SE and son of the wortundtat founder Dr. Heinz-Horst Deichmann, devotes particular attention to this project. The married couple Marion and Dr. Gert Maichel intensively support the work in the town, acting as project coordinators.
* Apart from the Gross Domestic Product per head of a country, the HDI considers in particular also the life expectancy and the level of education of the population. It is calculated by the United Nations.