Moldova by Andrej Balco

'On the bank of Dniester'

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. Following the vision of better future, more than one million of its inhabitants, i.e. 25 per cent, have left the country. It is this hard-earn currency flowing to Moldova from different parts of the world which helps to keep the Moldavian economy afloat. On the other side, the outflow of the most productive part of its inhabitants results into great stagnation and consequent dying out of entire villages; Molovata is such an example.

Once a flourishing village, Molovata is in a big depression now. Some years ago, a lyceum, which used to educate students from time immemorial, must have been closed due to lack of students. From the once prospering cooperative, just a torso remained.

Apparently, would it be located somewhere else, in a country at a luckier place, and not on the edge of two geopolitical fault lines, everything would be different. It would be a village crowded with tourists. Thanks to a dam built-up just after the WWII, the broadest stream of Dniester in the entire Moldova is located here.

“That’s amazing,” my contemplation was interrupted by Dima, who came back from England after two years. “I just couldn’t leave it forever,” he added.

Those, who remained here, are living their everyday lives in connection with nature. Their rhythm of life is determined by seasons of the year. Ploughing, sowing, harvesting…

Andrej Balco