Trust Deputy Director travels with APPG Moldova to promote Fellowship Programme
From Monday 29th September to Friday 3rd October 2008, a delegation from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Moldova travelled to Moldova at the invitation of the Moldovan Parliament. Joanna Lamb travelled with the delegation on behalf of the Trust - her last visit in her capacity as Deputy Director.
In addition to Joanna, the delegation consisted of Trust Advisor Lord Dubs (Chair of the APPG Moldova), the Rt Hon Alun Michael MP and Emma MacLennan (former Trust Director and current Advisor to the APPG Moldova). Joanna accompanied the delegation in order to promote the work of the Trust and encourage talented young leaders to apply for the 2009 Fellowship Programme; and to visit Fellows in their work places in order to see first-hand the difference that they are making in Moldova.
Joanna Lamb (JSMT) and 2008 Fellow Vlada Lisenco speaking to prospective candidates in Tiraspol, Transnistria
During the visit, the delegation met with Mrs. Zinaida Greceanii, (Prime Minister of Moldova); Dr. Marian Lupu (Chairman of the Parliament); Mr. Grigore Petrenco (Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and European Integration); Mr. Vasile Sova (Minister of Reintegration); and Mrs. Mariana Durlesteanu (Minister of Finance and former Ambassador to the UK). The key aim of these meetings was to inform the All Party Parliamentary Group on issues of importance to Moldova – for example, future EU accession - and ways in which UK parliamentarians can assist.
Mrs. Mariana Zolotco, Counsellor of the Chairman of the Parliament, hosted a dinner for the delegation at the Cricova Wine Cellars where the delegation spent an enjoyable evening. In addition to individual meetings, the delegation also travelled to Soroca (on the northern border with Ukraine), met with representatives of the District Council and the Roma Community, and visited the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) office in Otaci. The EUBAM office seeks to train Moldovan and Ukrainian officials along their common border to decrease corruption, smuggling and trafficking.
During the visit, Joanna and Emma travelled to Tiraspol to meet 2008 Fellow Vlada Lisenco to learn more about her work and to encourage potential candidates from the Transnistrian region to apply for the programme. Joanna met Vlada at the OSCE field office where Vlada works as a Project Coordinator and National Legal Adviser. Since taking part in the 2008 Fellowship Programme, Vlada has set up a new information centre to provide information for young people about Europe, the EU and the opportunities available to them. Vlada is also trying to organise English language courses for NGO workers in the region. She is passionate about improving opportunities for young people in Transnistria and is also a Professor of Law at Tiraspol University.
Whilst in Tiraspol, Joanna and Vlada gave a presentation about the John Smith Fellowship Programme to twenty young people interested in the Programme (pictured above). Following the visit to Tiraspol, the full delegation travelled to Anenii Noi to meet 2000 Fellow Petru Lungu who is a local councillor. The delegation met for lunch with local councillors to discuss developments in Anenii Noi and the challenges they are facing in the run up to the elections.
The delegation in Anenii Noi with Petru Lungu (2000 Fellow)
In the Moldovan capital Chisinau, the Fellows organised their own presentation to potential candidates. In addition to a number of other Fellows, 2008 Fellow Cristina Malai and 2003 Fellow Vlad Plamadeala both spoke to the audience about their experiences as John Smith Fellows and how valuable the Programme has been to them.
2008 Fellow Cristina Malai and Ana Anghel (British Council) talk to potential candidates in Chisinau about the Fellowship Programme
Mr. Alexandru Olenic MP kindly hosted a dinner for Joanna and Emma with a number of John Smith Fellows (pictured below), and a reception was held in honour of the delegation by HMA John Beyer at his residence aimed at raising the profile of the John Smith Fellowships. Lord Dubs spoke on behalf of the delegation and enthusiastically urged new applicants to come forward for the 2009 Fellowships.
L-R Top: Vladimir Plamadeala (2003 Fellow), Emma MacLennan (APPG Moldova), Dorin Recean (CEO, Millennium Group), Iurie Brinister (2005 Fellow). Bottom: Vladimir Catan (2003 Fellow), Joanna Lamb (JSMT), Vitalie Iovita (2004 Fellow)
The John Smith Memorial Trust would like to thank the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, the UK Embassy in Chisinau – in particular Ambassador Beyer - and Emma MacLennan for their excellent organisation of this visit. We are extremely grateful to our John Smith Fellows too who arranged many meetings for Joanna during her stay so that she was able to effectively promote our Fellowship Programme.