Previous Editions and Impact

Click here to view a video from Wave Week Moldova 2009.

Spark the Wave's youth leadership principles were advanced over three decades as a youth training initiative, formerly known as the Leadership Development Center of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Wave Week USA was first organized in 2005.

In 2009, Spark the Wave brought its program to Moldova to further international friendship. Since then, Wave Week Moldova was organized twice: in 2009 and 2010 and is planning to continue the tradition in 2011.

Brief information for the 1st edition of Wave Week Moldova 2009:

• 6 days, day-time camp at a Lyceum from Chisinau for 30 teenagers from different high schools and lyceums in Chisinau. The common service project was organized at the Center of social rehabilitation for children "Casa Gavroche" from Chisinau. 2 Moldovan delegates were selected to participate at Wave Week USA 2010 in Philadelphia, on a full scholarship. The alumni of the camp organized 2 after-camp service projects. (see "Alumni Profiles" for details)

Brief information for the 2nd edition of Wave Week plus-- Moldova 2010:

• 10 days, residential camp) at Camp Andries for 43 teenagers from different high-schools from Chisinau, Balti and Tiraspol and 2 Staff-in-Training delegates. The common service project was organized for the High School from Ivancea. 1 Moldovan delegate was selected to attend Wave Week USA 2011 in Philadelphia, on a full scholarship. The alumni of the camp organized 7 after-camp service projects. (see "Alumni Profiles" for more details)

Participation in the Wave Week Moldova program adds real-world experience and depth to any further university application. Our alumni obtain inter-disciplinary skills that are essential in today's competitive setting and that are applicable to almost any future job or career. On a personal level, delegates cooperate and get in contact with other young leaders in the community.

Wave Week USA impressions

Victoria Seremet, winner of Wave Week USA 2010 Scholarship:
"I am so lucky I got the chance to spend 2 weeks in USA last summer. Not many teenagers in Moldova have the opportunity to visit cities like New York, Philadelphia, Washigton DC and at the same time meet people with great experiences. We spent over a week at the camp in Villanova University and I can say I learnt in a week more that I could have learnt in a year.It was an unforgettable experience and I will always be grateful to "Spark the Wave". I am proud to be now a staff member and have the chance to improve my own society."

Victoria Butu, winner of Wave Week USA 2010 Scholarship:
"Spark the Wave changed my life completely. It helped me become a good public-speaker, a flexible and well-determined leader, but above all a pro-active person. I interacted with hundreds of teens with different backgrounds and met true friends. Even if I was on the other side of the world, I felt like home. After camp, thanks to my great mentor, I had the possibility to visit Washington DC. I have to admit that I've never been in the Moldovan Government but I was in the U.S. Capitol and also saw the White House, the Washington Monument, and many other places of interest. I also visited New York City, Philadelphia. This was the most unforgettable summer of my life!"

Alina Gilca, winner of Wave Week USA 2011 Scholarship:
"Spark the Wave is one of the best projects I have participated at. I'm glad I won the scholarship and have big expectations from Wave Week USA. I am eager to discover a new culture, learn new things, and get to know new people. I will try to teach persons more about Moldova and represent my country well. I know for sure that the camp will contribute to my personal development and will bring unforgettable memories.

Wave Week Moldova Alumni Profiles

Wave Week Moldova alumni are supported and mentored by local and American staff in implementing all their ideas into practice. As a result, groups of teens do great things uniting their will and efforts for the betterment of the community.

• Cristi Brinca, Mihaela Popov, Marius Narolshi, Karina Rusanovschi (and 3 other alumni) joined in the effort of helping the students of the school in Obileni (region affected by floods in the Republic of Moldova), to continue their studies. They gathered over 4,000 items of school supplies that benefited about 200 children from the school.
• Anastasia Alistratova involved 10 other volunteers to organize a "Rainbow of emotions" for 80 children from the Boarding School for children with mental retardation from the village Glinoe in the Slobozia region, Republic of Moldova.
• Nicu Popovici (and one other alumna) organized the first blood drive by volunteers at the Transfusion Center in Balti, Republic of Moldova gathering 20 young donors and involving 30 other people to raise awareness on the issue.
• Alina Gilca, Victoria Capcelea (and 3 other STW alumni) collected school supplies & toys and organized interactive activities for 45 children from vulnerable families, who attend the kindergarten from the Lupa Rece village, Republic of Moldova.
• Novilė Straševičiūtė and Kristina Kvetkovkytė gave 11 talented young artists from Lithuania the opportunity to display their art works at the Center of Culture in Vievis, Lithuania, with the goal of refreshing the cultural life of the small town.
• Beatrice Suveica, Felicia Zlati (and 4 other STW alumni) collected funds & supplies that were donated to 15 children of the Temporary Placement Center "Aschiuta" in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, followed up by a common celebration.
• Janna Kiseeva, Daniel Marcu (and 4 other STW alumni) fundraised to donate school supplies and toys 24 children from the Center of social rehabilitation for children "Casa Gavroche" from Chisinau.
• Cristina Tarlev and Rima Grinco have donated time to organize interactive activities for "Draw a heart in me" at the Boarding school nr.2 in Chisinau.
• Victoria Butu, Victoria Seremet (and 5 other alumni) have collected goods and school supplies that were donated to about 100 children of the Orphanage from Hancesti.

Still not convinced?

Below are some reactions about Wave Week Moldova from our alumni.

- "I started thinking big and seeing the whole picture. When uniting we can accomplish brilliant ideas."
- "I learnt to be a true leader and to take better decisions. I am more active and striving to achieve more."
- "I became stronger and realized that I can do a lot."
- "I realized how many opportunities there are in my country to make myself useful and thus have a positive impact in the society I live in."
- "I got a lot of experience in time planning, organizing meetings and got acquainted with many people who can help me in the future, when I organize similar initiatives."
- "As a result of Wave Week Moldova, we contribute to the development of a new generation."
- "This was a new experience in social work and now I want to make more good things for those people who live worse."
- "I understood that donating time and patience is much more useful and precious than donating something material, even though material help is also welcome."
- "I think if people really want to help, they will always find ways how to do that."
- "I've understood that it is not difficult to make a change for those who expect a better life."
- "I realized that it is possible to do everything in the world and that improving a community is just a matter of time and one's desire to do it."