#sparkthewave

Day 65 - Project Highlight - Wave Week Moldova

[Top photo:  The entire team of delegates and staff courtesy of Wave Week Moldova]

On Sunday I finished my second year participating in Wave Week Moldova.  I'm very grateful that I had the pleasure to be a part of this summer school camp that teaches leadership and other skills to young Moldovans who want to lead volunteer projects.

Many of the delegates have not had the opportunity to work with an American before and seemed inspired that we would come to their country to be volunteers for two years.  What they didn't realize is that seeing these young Moldovans from every corner of the country with their optimism and desire to make changes inspires me and other volunteers in the work we do.

The delegates that attend are selected because they demonstrate that they want to make changes in their community but they often arrive unsure how to get started.  After Wave Week they have skills to be leaders and to plan their own volunteer projects.  One delegate, Nastea, told me that she learned "that if you really believe in what you say, it'll become true".  She has left Wave Week with new confidence and is already starting this team project that will make Moldova a better place.  She also has ideas for other future projects and is planning to donate some of her long hair to cancer charities.

[Nastea (center) stands with her team and they present their Wave Week project plan during our last session]

I also met delegates like Sergiu.  He told me he learned "to communicate openly with people, to create volunteer projects, and have met many great people"  He's returned to his city and is already meeting with his team to begin a project that will raise funds to donate to a center that helps people in need.

[Sergiu snapped this selfie of us early in the week]

I've also been inspired by delegates like Maria.  Each night I talked with Maria in small "color" group sessions.  She has just returned from the FLEX exchange student program in USA and is now preparing to lead volunteer projects in Moldova.  This very intelligent Moldovan is working with her team from across Moldova to raise funds to help people in need.  She's also making plans to participate in Diamond Challenge, another program I love, and share this opportunity with others at her school.  She's absolutely an inspiring person and I'm sure will do great things in the future.

[A selfie of me and Maria before one of our color group sessions]

Many of the delegates asked me why I became a volunteer.  While I was happy to tell them that it's because I believe in Peace Corps mission of spreading peace and friendship through volunteer service and cultural exchange, but, my inspiration for being a volunteer continues to be renewed when I meet Moldovans like these 3 and the other nearly 100 delegates at Wave Week.  I have no doubt that in two years of Wave Week, I've met the people that will make big positive changes in Moldova and around the world.