--- title: "Moldovans in the diaspora bring their children to the \"DOR\" camp" url: https://moldova1.md/p/82380/moldovans-in-the-diaspora-bring-their-children-to-the-dor-camp published: 2026-08-04T12:19:40Z language: en author: "Ana Cebotari" section: "Diaspora" source: moldova1.md --- # Moldovans in the diaspora bring their children to the "DOR" camp > The month of August, the period in which thousands of Moldovans from the diaspora return home to spend their holidays with their families, also brings the start of the 14th edition of the government program "DOR" - "Diaspora. Origins. Returns", intended for children and young people in the country and abroad, to promote and preserve national traditions and values. ![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/084ab542-0ddb-45c4-bd4f-73f2472e6371.jpg) The month of August, the period in which thousands of Moldovans from the diaspora return home to spend their holidays with their families, also brings the start of the 14th edition of the government program "DOR" - "Diaspora. Origins. Returns", intended for children and young people in the country and abroad, to promote and preserve national traditions and values. On Tuesday, August 4, the first series of this year’s program was launched, and 120 children and adolescents set off for the camp on the banks of the Nistru, where a week of activities, workshops and experiences dedicated to reconnecting with the Republic of Moldova awaits them. In total, 240 children and young people from the Republic of Moldova and the diaspora, coming from Romania, Italy, France, Germany, Norway, the United States of America and other countries, will participate in this edition. In a report made for the show “Zi de Zi” on Radio Moldova, journalist Natalia Mogîldea discovered that for many of the participants, the camp represents more than a vacation: some say it is an opportunity to discover the country of origin of their family and to make friends with other young people who share the same story. Elizabeth, aged 12, from Italy, is participating in the “DOR” camp for the second year in a row. *"I participated last year and I really enjoyed it. I want to participate again, it's really nice"*, says the teenager. Asked what she wants from this year's edition, she simply answers: *"New friends, to discover more about the Republic of Moldova. I know that Chisinau is the capital. I really like coming here"*. For Selena, born in Italy, participating in DOR is a way to get to know her origins better. *"This is the first year I'm participating. I want to learn more about the Republic of Moldova. In our house, Romanian is not spoken, Italian is more"*, confesses the teenager. The emotions are just as strong for grandparents who see their grandchildren who have come from abroad. A grandmother from Călărași says that every vacation spent together is a reason for joy. *“I only see them when I come home, on vacation. I would like them to come back, to live here... We are waiting for them to live with us. They are all abroad. I am left alone. I have six children, four live in Italy. All that remains is to wait for them at home, only with longing and hope that they will come,”* says the woman. And the participants from Romania say that the camp is an opportunity to stay in touch with their roots. Maria, from Bucharest, says that she wanted to participate on the recommendation of a friend. *“I miss living here. I found out about the camp from my friend and she told me how beautiful it is. I would like to do all the activities,”* she says. Her cousin, Nicoleta, born in Italy and settled in Romania, says that although she has never lived in the Republic of Moldova, she comes to her grandparents whenever she can. *“The customs and traditions of Moldova are familiar to us. We are very eager for the camp activities to begin,”* said the teenager. Mihaela, 15, who came from France, says she signed up for the program to discover more about her grandparents’ country. She hopes to go home with memories, new friends, and more knowledge about the Republic of Moldova, which she says she already knows a few things about. *“The Republic of Moldova is an agricultural country, it also makes a lot of wine, it has a variety of dishes... I like sarmale ( rolled rice cabbage) and polenta cooked by my grandmother. My grandparents are from Călărași and I come to visit them every summer,”* says Mihaela. For Damian, 12, from North Carolina, the camp is a chance to speak more Romanian. *“I know a little Romanian, because my mom and dad are from Chisinau. I have grandparents here,”* says the boy. His parents believe that the connection with the Republic of Moldova should be maintained regardless of distance. *“We want Damian to know more about the country, because it is part of our identity. We live outside Moldova, but we are still part of this people,”* says the boy’s father. The first series of the DOR Program takes place from August 4-10 and brings together 120 children. Starting on August 14, the second series will begin, in which another 120 young people from the diaspora will participate. During the camp, participants will participate in educational activities, creative workshops, and cultural programs designed to help them discover the traditions, language, and values ​​of the Republic of Moldova. *** The DOR program was launched in 2013 as an initiative that began as a summer camp for Moldovan teenagers in the diaspora. Over time, the number of participants has grown to include students from the Republic of Moldova. To date, over 1,100 children have participated in DOR summer camps.