Grandparents and grandchildren discover Europe together at contest

Dozens of teams made up of grandparents and grandchildren from across the country took part today in EU & My Grandparents competition, held in Stăuceni. The participants prepared throughout the summer and studied together the past and present of Europe, and during the competition they tested their knowledge in nine rounds dedicated to European history, the European Union, and the European path of the Republic of Moldova.

The idea for the contest belongs to Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov, who noted that the project aims to build bridges between generations and give grandparents and grandchildren the opportunity to learn from one another.

“We are trying, through this project, to build bridges of friendship, communication, and mutual learning between grandparents and grandchildren. Life is a continuous learning process, and it’s not only about what we learn from books, but also about what we learn from each other. We hope that grandparents will tell their grandchildren about Europe of the past, and that grandchildren will share what they expect from the Europe of the future. The idea for this event also comes from my own experience with my grandparents, from whom I learned how important it is, in this very busy life, to make time to spend moments together so that, many years from now, we can have beautiful memories,” said Cristina Gherasimov during the event.

Participants went through nine rounds in which they answered questions about the history of Europe, the European Union, and the European path of the Republic of Moldova. The grand prize of the competition is a trip to a European capital. 

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova Mate Csicsai praised the idea of the competition and stressed that participants had already gained much from the experience offered by the project.

“This is one of the most beautiful events I have attended in Moldova. I like the idea behind this contest, because it brings together two generations that can learn from one another. I believe that all participants have already won something important: new knowledge, beautiful memories, and time spent together with their grandchildren and grandparents,” said Mate Csicsai.

Among the participants was Nelia Vataman from the village of Cremenciug, Soroca district, who came to the competition with her four grandchildren. For the family, the contest was both an opportunity to discover Europe and to spend more time together.

“This year we are participating for the first time. I came with my four grandchildren, two of whom are part of the ‘Little Europeans’ team. We decided to take part in order to discover Europe, to learn more about the culture of this continent, and, of course, to spend more time with the grandchildren. The European Union is our common future, and the ‘EU & My Grandparents’ contest helps us learn through fun,” Nelia Vataman told MOLDPRES.

Nine-year-old Ilinca, a member of the “Little Europeans” team, also took part in the contest. For her, the competition was an opportunity to discover new things and spend time with her grandmother.

“I prepared for the contest. I like being here because I can learn new things about Europe and spend time with my grandmother. I have learned about several countries, their traditions, and I want to see how well I do in the rounds,” said Ilinca.

The contest was launched in 2025 at the initiative of the Office for European Integration, with the aim of bringing generations closer together and encouraging grandparents and grandchildren to discover European values, history, and culture side by side. The first edition brought together over 50 teams, each consisting of two grandparents and two grandchildren, and the competition was held in three regions of the country.

It is organized by the Office for European Integration, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Youth Agency. This year’s edition also benefited from the support of UNFPA Moldova and local authorities.

“We are trying, through this project, to build bridges of friendship, communication, and mutual learning between grandparents and grandchildren. Life is a continuous learning process, and it’s not only about what we learn from books, but also about what we learn from each other. We hope that grandparents will tell their grandchildren about Europe of the past, and that grandchildren will share what they expect from the Europe of the future. The idea for this event also comes from my own experience with my grandparents, from whom I learned how important it is, in this very busy life, to make time to spend moments together so that, many years from now, we can have beautiful memories,” said Gherasimov.