Chisinau, Moldova—Working together with two affiliated organizations, UPF has been providing support to elderly and vulnerable families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspired by UPF co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s giving 300 million won (nearly $243,000) to the Red Cross in South Korea to fight COVID-19, the Moldovan chapters of UPF, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), and Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) decided to support as many families and elderly people as possible.
The COVID-19 pandemic brings not only health issues but also economic and social issues related to quarantine and isolation and emergency measures undertaken by governments. Especially in developing countries like Moldova, the economic and social effects for families and the elderly are difficult to overcome.
With support received from members of FFWPU but also from the Moldovan diaspora in the United Kingdom and the United States and some doctors from Moldova, we offered packages with food and hygienic products to more than 300 families in four districts in the Republic of Moldova.
But we didn’t stop there. After providing material support that is so needed by people with financial difficulties, we started a new project in collaboration with YSP-Moldova and based on an initiative from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Youth volunteers are now providing emotional support to the elderly by phone. This intergenerational project benefits both youth and the elderly. In this way the elderly do not feel alone in this difficult time and the youth receive good feelings and excitement through this activity.
We hope we have brought some light to the souls of people and that we could be part of the Circle of Light.