Our pilot project is containing of two parts. Part one is renovation of damaged windows, doors and roofs to make the home insulated for the winter period. Second part is uniting the people of the village and build a foundation of caring and helping each other.
With this pilot we will test and adjust the best ways to help those in need by finding the best solutions during the renovations and monitoring how the help affects the people and the village after we finish the physical work.
One of the biggest challenges to improve lives in Moldova is keeping the home warm during the winter. From knowledge about human behavior, we know that the two main things to keep humans thrive are food and heat. Unfortunately, many people in Moldova have to choose between these two.
This is why we want to make sure that the houses are repaired, so the heat is not leaking out of windows with missing glass, a door that is half-rotten or holes in the roof where snow, rain and wind has free access to enter. A warm home will keep the bills down and they will be able to afford new clothes, more healthy food and important medicine.
A Warm Home
In this pilot we will find a village with maximum 200 inhabitants, to get a well diverse place to help, where elders and families with children are represented in about same numbers.
We will register all houses that contain problems and do an analyze of who is in most need of help in terms of how many households are affected by the damages, amount of people living there and if there are any life-threatening conditions.
Depending on the funding possibilities and how severe the damages of the houses are, we aim to find 2-4 families to help. Two families with children and two elders of 65+.
When then house is repaired, we want to make sure the chimney will get an inspection and repaired if having problems. Carbon monoxide poisoning, chimney fires and long-term exposure to creosote that leads to cancer, are unfortunately problems we see a lot when chimneys are not well maintained. We will therefore not leave a house before this area is 100% safe for the family.
A United Village
Part two of our pilot we will create, not only a location where people can meet and get closer connected, but also give an extra support to give them the possibilities to evolve into a better and more healthy life. With this we hope to battle the loneliness within those who live alone, build new friendships, bring back the feeling of self-worth, better hygiene and energy to help others and invest in their own future.
To manifest this, we will take an existing house that has been abandoned, make sure the legal framework is taken care off, so the house will belong to the village and then repair it to fit as a community house. If this is not possible, we will build one.
The house will contain of a main room where the villagers can gather on a daily basis. In a separate section of the house there will be a shower room with handicap facilities, so it can be accessible by elders and handicapped who are using a wheelchair. There will also be a room with two washing machines and dryers since many do not have these options in their own homes. Lastly there will be a handicap friendly toilet. The entire house and the access to it from the main road will be wheelchair accessible.
Beside using the house as a place to get showers and washing clothes, we hope many different groups of the community will start arrange gatherings like; knitting club, coffee club, homework assistance for the children, music or singing club and simple just a place to meet and talk with each other.
Since the house will be heated, then it will also save money of the individuals using the house, who only need to heat up there houses half of the day.
First activity in the house will be provided by us in form of a course by one of our specialists on how to maintain and use the community house, but also how they can maintain their own houses to prevent decay. During this course we will present a list off all the inhabitants of the village that will be hanging in the house for all to see. The list will inform what skills they have, so if any need help fixing a toilet, repair a crack in the wall, fixing a hole in their pants – then they know who to call. This will unite the people on a whole new level and bring back the urge to help each other again.
The house will be fitted with the most economical efficient heating system and the electricity will be provided mostly by solar panels. Rain water and grey water will be collected in an underground tank to be reused for the toilet. It is very important for us that nothing leaving the house will pollute the area or the ground water basin, that are used for consumption.
We aim to keep the house self-sufficient and as low cost as possible to not put an extra burden on the village and also as green and environmentally friendly as possible.
The outside of the house will have an area where children can play and an area where the adults can sit during the summer months.
The house will be maintained by the villagers themselves.