Moldovan PM says volunteering urges us by own example to offer, be better

Chisinau, 20 December /MOLDPRES/ – The merits of the volunteers and organisations that contributed to the development of volunteering in Moldova in 2018 were celebrated today in the Gala of Volunteering Laureates, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

Present at event, Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, thanked the volunteers for what they have been doing, noting that over 60,000 volunteers mobilised to help 270,000 persons in Moldova. "It is not enough to be empathetic. You have to act. And you act. The volunteering urges us by its own example, to give and to be better," said PM.

Pavel Filip also reviewed the actions of the Government to support volunteer NGOs. Thus, the law of 2 per cent was promulgated, whereby the state renounces 2 per cent of the income tax of individuals and offers them the possibility to transfer them to the budget of the chosen NGO. The National Council for Participation (CNP) was reinstated, having an essential role in consulting, monitoring, evaluating and implementing strategic planning documents. Also, the Premier has said that for 2019, there will be allocated MDL 10 million to the organisations that will examine the policies promoted by the government.

In context, Pavel Filip specified that the government has remained open to volunteer proposals and initiatives: "I should like to think that we as a Government have done something to make you able to do more," said the head of Government.

Finally, the PM offered diplomas of the Government to the most active volunteers and organisations. The Gala of Laureates in the Volunteering issue 2018 took place under title: Jos palaria în fata voluntarilor (Hat off in front of volunteers). The ceremony takes place at the project end, SNV 2018 – Hai in gasca voluntarilor! (SNV 2018 – Come to the group of volunteers!).