What's happening in 2009?

Many partner organisations will join the Age Demands Action delegation this year, uniting under the theme of realising older people's rights through improved access to social security and health.

Together, they will travel across Moldova engaging in a variety of activities such as poster drawing events for children.

They will also be presenting a substantial list of asks to the government, including:

• Approval and adoption of a national Strategy on Ageing
• Increasing the basic pension to reach the minimum annual subsistence requirement
• Increased access to benefits for a wider range of pensioners, including older carers and those caring for children left behind after their parents have migrated
• Expansion of the national medical insurance policy and widening the range of services and tests available to older people.

Delegation 2009

Below are just a few of the faces of the delegation working tirelessly this year to campaign on behalf of Moldovan older people across the country.

Valentina Micotina, 60, Inspiration, Comrat. Along with its primary objective of realising older people’s social and economic rights, Valentina's organisation also focuses on organising leisure activities for older people. Older people attend gatherings where they sing in the choir, do needlework, sewing and embroidery, and share their handicraft knowledge with children. Their work is often sold at exhibitions in the local town and even in the Moldovan capital, Chişinău.

Claudia Cirja, 55, Comunitate, Carabetovca village. Claudia's organisation promotes assistance for vulnerable people, and organises a series of activities together with the church and with children. They involve children in community activities to help older people in their household work, do their shopping and to congratulate them on national holidays.

Constantin Olteanu, 55, Artizana, Manta. Constantin's organisation's focal point is to assist morally and financially the older, handicapped and socially vulnerable people from the community, by training income generating skills through developing artisanal works such as basket weaving. He has also opened computer classes in the village.

Galina Cecalev, 61, Speranta, Lapusna. Galina's organisation deals mostly with promoting and realising the rights of older people, especially older women. Galina is headteacher of her local school, organising joint activities for children and older people.

Vera Ciobanu, 67, Pro-Democratia, Satul Nou. Vera is part of an organisation whose mission is to increase the capability of citizens to take an active part in social and democratic policies through awareness raising and inspiring the social activism of the local population. Each year, a group of older people organise cultural activities for the whole village.

Alexandra Tetiu, 63, Older People's Hope Northern Moldova, Trinca. Alexandra's organisation's activities focus mostly on organising medical assistance, homecare and palliative care for older people and those living with terminal illness. The aim of such activities is to give moral support and raise self-confidence amongst these groups.

The full list of delegates in Moldova is below:

Inspiration, Comrat
Valentina Micotina, 60 & Zinaida Mitico, 69

Organisation of Veterans of War and Work, Ialoveni
Valentina Carchelan, 70 & Tudor Tomsa, 77

Comunitate, Carabetovca, Basarabeasca
Chirtoca Maria, 72 & Claudia Cirja, 55

Artizana, Manta, Cahul
Constantin Olteanu, 54 & Roman Vasile, 73

Speranta, Lapusna, Hincesti
Galina Cecalev, 61 & Grigore Bucur, 66

Pro-Democratia, Satul Nou, Cimislia
Vera Ciobanu, 67 & Maria Sofronovici, 53

Older People’s Hope Northern Moldova, Trinca, Edinet
Lucia Crugleacovschi, 58 & Alexandra Tetiu, 63

Demnitate, Orhei
Eleonora Bogus, 69 & Larisa Dahnovici, 60

Second Breath, Balti
Ala Balaban, 58 & Pavel Palamarciuc, 65

Avante, Cazangic, Leova
Larisa Chirilenco, 58 & Claudia Zlati, 65

Kindness, Chisinau
Petru Tarhon

Age without sadness, Chetrosu, Anenii Noi
Valeriu Marciuc

National Association of Nursing, Chisinau
Elena Stempovschi

National Council of Veterans, Chisinau
Ala Mironic

What happened in 2008?

At a meeting between the Moldovan delegation and government officials, ministers announced the launch of a new programme to ensure financial support for the most vulnerable older people. Older people seeking assistance will have their income and support needs assessed by evaluating the situation of their immediate family.

Other exciting commitments were:

• To open more community centres and to improve the facilities at those already running
• To distribute medicines to local doctors in areas where there is no pharmacy, ensuring easier access to appropriate treatment for older persons
• A group of doctors will be trained abroad over three years to become specialists in geriatrics.