Diaspora MD, a crowdsourced map for a pro-active communication with the Moldovan communities abroad.

DIASPORA MD – was launched within the project “Remittances developing communities in Moldova” implemented by Hilfswerk Austria International in Moldova with the financial support of the European Union.  The map includes the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Moldova, associations of the Moldovan diaspora and financing opportunities for migrants who want to return home and open their own business here.

The community of Moldovan migrants is rather large, with their number amounting to about 1 million, according to unofficial statistics. Nevertheless, communication between the diaspora and Moldovan residents is rather reduced.  Taking this fact as a starting point, we decided to develop the map in order to make communication more efficient, to encourage the migrants to keep in touch with one another, to efficiently communicate with their native localities, to involve in the decision-making process and to invest their incomes in Moldova’s economy.

As the associate partner of the project, the INFONET Alliance elaborated the map on the basis of open data. It was worked out in less than 24 hours by 3 volunteers. The event was broadcast live on Privesc.EU on 19 March 2013. In the first 24 hours after the launch, the map was visited by over 200,000 web users.

Ion Balan is administrator of Stefanesti Community Center, Floresti district. Every dayhe is makes about 5 km round trip from home to work and back. No matter it is raining, it is windy, or it is astormoutside…kids are waiting him at the community center…His family owns a car, but Ion can not use it legally, although he is able to drive a vehicle since 2008…

Ion Balan is a person with physical disabilities. The diagnosis of the doctors is Infantile Cerebral Paralysis, Deep Left Hemiparesis, and Severe Locomotor Disorders, whichunfithimto get adriving license andsounds for him like acondemnation. Ion saysthat “my neurologist refused, explaining that sincemy diagnosis is «infantile cerebral paralysis» and mobility of the left handis lower than of the right hand, I have no rightto drive, for as much this disease is listed as neurological diseases. But I can drive and I can provet his both them as well as you!”
From his early childhood Ion has the dream to drive. Ion struggles for severalyears to be admitted toa driving school courses and get a driving license. “I want to be independent, to not depend onothers! I have a jobthat I like and I’m doing great. The problem ist hat my job is a few miles distance from home and it’s hard for me togett here. Because I spend all my salary to get to the job by taxi, my desire to become adriveris vital. The problem ist hat I cannot get the doctors’permission” says Ion with regret.
Intercession for an inclusive society – this videois made by Ion him self in response to message of doctors – “You can’t drive!” On 30 March 2007, Moldova signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. And Ion understands very well that the rules are made by people and for the people and when the rules become a barrier, they have to be changed – “I am a responsible person and I am in favor of inclusive society! But you? What about you? ”

Ion Balan este administrator la Centrul Comunitar Stefanesti din raionul Floresti. În fiecare zi parcurge tur-retur aproximativ 5 km de acasă la serviciu şi înapoi. Pe ploaie, pe vînt, pe vijelie… La centrul comunitar îl aşteaptă copiii… Familia sa deţine un autoturism special, dar Ion nu-l poate folosi legal, deşi ştie să conducă un vehicul încă din 2008…

Ion Balan este o persoană cu dizabilităţi locomotorii. Diagnoza medicilor este Paralizie Cerebrala Infantila, Hemipareza Profunda pe Stinga, Dereglari locomotorii severe, ceea ce-l declară inapt pentru a obţine un permis de conducere şi sună ca o condamnare. Ion spune că: “Neurologul mi-a refuzat, explicându-mi că, deoarece diagnosticul meu e «paralizie cerebrală infantilă» şi mobilitatea mâinii stângi e mai redusă decât a mâinii drepte, nu am dreptul să conduc, întrucât această boală este trecută în lista maladiilor neurologice. Dar eu pot conduce şi le pot demonstra acest lucru atât lor, cât şi dumneavoastră!”

Visul de a deveni şofer a fost un vis încă din copilărie. Ion luptă de mai mulţi ani pentru a fi admis la cursurile unei şcoli auto şi a obţine permis de conducere. ”Vreau să fiu independent, să nu depind de alţii! Am un serviciu care îmi place şi mă descurc de minune. Problema e că locul meu de muncă se află la câţiva kilometri de casă şi îmi vine greu să mă deplasez până acolo. Din motiv că îmi cheltuiesc tot salariul pe taxi pentru a mă deplasa, dorinţa de a deveni şofer devine o necesitate vitală. Problema e că nu pot obţine permisiunea medicilor”, spune Ion cu regret.

Demers pentru o societate incluziva – acest video este realizat chiar de Ion, ca un răspuns la mesajul medicilor – “Tu, nu poţi conduce!” La 30 martie 2007, Republica Moldova a semnat Convenţia ONU privind drepturile persoanelor cu dizabilităţi. Şi Ion înţelege foarte bine că regulile sunt făcute de oameni şi pentru oameni, dar şi că atunci cînd regulile devin o barieră, ele trebuie modificate – “Eu sunt o persoană responsabilă şi mă pronunţ pentru o societate incluzivă! Dar voi?! Dar tu?!”

On 20 and 21 of March in Telenesti and Orhei cities were organized two workshops about IT&C for local entrepreneurs.  During these workshops, the participants learned how to use computer science to promote their businesses. They were introduced in the topics of creating free and small websites, how to use Google drive and other tools which can be found for free on the internet. Andrei Gavrilita, the president of the Telenesti Youth District Council and Thomas Richman, peace corps volunteer were the trainers for these two workshops.
These workshops were organized in the projects “Remittances developing communities” implemented by “Hilfswerk-Austria” foundation and financed by European Union.

Andrei Gavriliţă este preşedintele Consiliului Raional al Tinerilor din Teleneşti. În 20 si 21 martie 2013 a fost invitat să modereze la Teleneşti şi Orhei atelierul practic “Tehnologii informaţionale şi de Comunicare pentru antreprenori”. Acest atelier a fost organizat în cadrul proiectului „Remitențele Dezvoltă Comunitățile în Moldova”, implementat de Hilfswerk Austria International prin reprezentanța Hilfswek Austria în Moldova, cu suportul financiar al Uniunii Europene.