First Expedition to Bender

On the 9th of August, 2015, MEGA did the first expedition within the project „MEGA Game: Strengthening Environmental Governance in Moldova through Innovative E-learning and Collaboration Platform for Environmental Action”. A representative of MEGA joined the organization EcoVisio and a number of other environmental NGOs in a trip to the city of Bender in Transnistria to connect with the local organizations, learn about environmental and social cituation there, and network with each other in a fun way. The trip was done partially on bicycles kindly provided by EcoVisio, thus reducing the climate footprint from transportation of this initiative.

During the expedition we had networked with representatives of such NGOs as, Academia de Științe a Mediului, AEGEE Chisinau, Bukovinian Agency for Regional Development, Caroma Nord, EcoContact, Gutta-Club, Misc Lumea, Miscarea Ecologista din Moldova, EcoVisio, and others. We had discussed about their current and upcoming initiatives, talked about MEGA Game and how it can be used for environmental projects and governance. In Bender we met the leaders of the NGO Rodoliubec, who informed us about their activities, projects, and results, and then shared their contacts for further collaboration.

Besides the „official part” of the trip, we also visited the Bender Fortress, explored its history and „treasures”, learnt the story of Baron Munchauzen being in that place, and „rode” his cannonball. At the same time we managed to bike about 20 km and build up some strength while saving a good load of CO2 emissions. And for all that we are MEGA grateful to EcoVisio for making this expedition a valuable, interesting, fun, and environmentally friendly one!

This was the first expedition, but will not be the last one within our project. Stay tuned for more news of our exploration of environmental situation and community-based environmental governance in Moldova!

The project “MEGA Game: Strengthening Environmental Governance in Moldova through Innovative E-learning and Collaboration Platform for Environmental Action” is supported by the program “Strengthening Environmental Governance by Building the Capacity Of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)”, funded by the European Union, Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and delivered by the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP).