As much as this is an adventure around some of the most remote and beautiful parts of Europe, the rally is also a great opportunity to raise some big money to help people less fortunate than ourselves.

Moldova is THE poorest country in Europe, with a GNP of less than most African nations, Moldova is extremely poor, especially considering the significant wealth of its neighbouring countries.

Through this rally, we are aiming to raise 1 Million Moldovan Leu’s, equivalent to £48,000 for two excellent Moldovan charities, both of which are doing some incredible work with the poorest and most marginalised in Moldova.

More specific details of the charities are outlined below. If you want to support them in their incredible work then please click on the links below. EVERY donation is going directly to help the people of Moldova and any donation will be gratefully received.

Moldova Ministries

The work of Moldova Ministries started in 1992. The initial purpose was to deliver humanitarian aid to the most needy. A strong local team ensured that aid was not ‘siphoned off’. Over the years this team has been built up and changed from distribution of aid to the building up of individuals and communities. Moldova Ministries now work with numerous communities across the country through a network of churches to provide practical support to the poorest of Moldovan families.

The rise and fall of communism in the USSR devastated the economy and society of Moldova. Many people live in extreme poverty and homelessness, alcoholism, prostitution and crime are commonplace. This leads to children being left to fend for themselves as their parents travel to neighbouring countries to find work. A growing number of children are sold and trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, and in the most extreme cases for their organs where volunteer donors are in short supply.

Moldova Ministries’ philosophy is that no child is worthless. The ‘Hands and Heart’ project based in Chisinau provides a safe place for children away from abusive domestic situations and the dangers of life on the streets. Currently working out of a small flat in the capital, Moldova Ministries are providing support to over 100 children a year, a fraction of the children in need of care. The children’s work continues to fulfill a vital need and has expanded beyond the available facilities. More staff, space and resources are badly needed. As a result the team have embarked on a project to build a 14,000 square foot centre to provide food, shelter and counseling. A further £50,000 is required to complete this building project and through the Snowdodgers rally we aim to raise £24,000 to help them finish this much needed resource.

Donate now:

Moldova Ministries:

Children On The Edge

Children on the Edge exists to help the most marginalised and vulnerable children worldwide in particular those without parental care.

They strive to bring hope, life, colour and fun into these children’s lives, empowering them and giving them a voice and are committed to ensuring their fundamental needs are met and rights protected.

Thousands of Moldovan children grow up without the care of one or both of their parents. More than 14,000 children are institutions. In particular children with special needs are often institutionalised as few alternative care options exist. In thousands of families, one or both parents leave their children behind when they are forced to leave the country to work abroad because they cannot find jobs locally. Many of these children are left in the care of elderly parents who are often unable to care for and adequately protect them. Poor families have a difficult time paying for school and often do not see their children’s education translating into better jobs. Poverty is the primary cause of thousands of child victims of abuse, violence, trafficking and exploitation.

Children on the Edge’s focus in Moldova is children and young people affected by trafficking, children with special needs and vulnerable children in poor rural communities who are more at risk of exploitation and abuse due to poverty.

Children on the Edge, Moldova Projects Video:

Please support Children on the Edge to help them continue their work. Here is the kind of things your money will be achieving:

• £4 buys 2 weeks kinetotherapy sessions for one child so that they can improve their physical abilities.
• £12 buys the medicine for epilepsy for 1 child per month, so that they could be protected from accidents and other injures which can be caused by epilepsy.
• £19 buys the necessary food for a child for one month so that they wouldn’t suffer from malnutrition.
• £50 buys school supplies for 5 children for one school year.
• £157 pays for a support teacher’s salary for one month and change the life of one child (with severe disabilities) by offering them the possibility of going to school.
• £350 offers the accessibility for every child at one inclusive school by constructing a ramp.

Donate now:

Children on the Edge: