Diaspora Forum // “The Seven Wonders of Moldova” – project aiming to bring diaspora children closer to country of origin

Diaspora children need to develop an emotional connection with the Republic of Moldova and a sense of belonging to the culture and values of their country of origin. A book designed to help children discover Moldova through stories, games, and creativity is being prepared for launch by Snejana Teclia, a university lecturer, educator, and visual artist living in Norway. She spoke about this initiative, as well as about the needs of children growing up abroad, during the Diaspora Forum held in Chisinau.

The founder of the Romanian Language School “Căsuța Licuriciului” in Norway and president of the Art and Culture Association for Romanian-speaking Children explained that the project is conceived as an emotional bridge between children in the diaspora and the Republic of Moldova.

“The book is intended for children in the diaspora and is meant to spark curiosity, strengthen their emotional connection with Moldova, and awaken their desire for creativity, play, discovery, and observation,” said Snejana Teclia.

She emphasized that “The Seven Wonders of Moldova” is not a project created only for the diaspora, but together with the diaspora, which is why she invited Forum participants to contribute ideas about the places and symbols that should be included in the book.

According to Snejana Teclia, one of the greatest challenges for children in the diaspora is not only learning the Romanian language, but building an emotional relationship with their country of origin.

“When we talk about the child in the diaspora, the discussion often begins and ends with how to learn Romanian, what the children’s competencies are, how well they can read, speak, and write. But I believe the real challenge is more than that and concerns how the child identifies and the questions of belonging,” said Snejana Teclia.

With experience in the Norwegian educational system and in working with Moldovan families in the diaspora, Snejana Teclia believes that the connection with Moldova must be built through experiences that awaken children’s interest and curiosity.

“It is more than learning Romanian, just grammar, exercises, strictness, and routine. It is about creating an emotional connection with Moldova, about finding that ‘why’ in the child’s heart,” the educator stated.

Snejana Teclia also drew attention to the need to adapt educational materials for children in the diaspora, where Romanian language classes bring together children of different ages and varying levels of language proficiency.

The Diaspora Forum brought together in Chisinau over 500 Moldovans living abroad, as well as representatives of the authorities, the business community, and civil society, to discuss ways to strengthen ties between the diaspora and the Republic of Moldova, as well as its contribution to the country’s economic and social development.