COD Training Survey and Event

As part of our training and preparation to work with libraries, mayor's offices and NGOs, we were given an assignment to do a community survey and an event in our PST village.  The eight of us in Milestii Mici chose to work together on both projects rather than divide into two groups with one doing the survey and one doing the event.  Although we are from every region of the US and range in age from 22 to 60 plus years, we have come together as a group sharing our experiences and enjoying each other's company.

The goal of our survey was to inquire and learn whether people in the village know and/or speak English; the interest, if any, in learning English; and the level of importance the people of the village place on English as a language.  The survey was designed to be short and to the point consisting of only 6 questions. The easier the survey was to complete the better we figured were our odds of people taking part. The questions were prepared in both Romanian and Russian which are the two predominant languages in the village.  Actually planning and preparing the survey was relatively easy.  Our main concern and challenge, or so we thought, was getting people to cooperate.

On Friday, July 17, we met and went out in teams of two to locations where we knew people would gather or pass.  We waited until six o'clock in the evening when people would be coming home from work or be out and about because the day was so hot, not a person was to be found moving around the village in the afternoon.  To our surprise and delight, when we approached people, explained who were were and what we were doing, and asked them to complete the survey, we received cooperation. In less than an hour, we had almost 70 surveys completed, and only 9 people declined to participate. We definitely felt good especially since our Romanian probably was not always correct or smooth. However, the people of the village affirmed us and our only regret was that we ran out of surveys! 

Of the 70 villagers who completed the survey,  39 were male and 31 were female.  As to English proficiency, 10 indicated they were fluent, 30 were medium, 19 know a little, and 10 have no English language knowledge.  Most interesting was that 66 out of 70 responded that they were interested in learning English.  With respect to their preferences for learning the language, 50 responded that they would participate in an English class, 16 favored an English club, and 11 would like a tutor.  In sum 64 people responded that English was either very important or a priority.

Without going into all the details including all the charts and graphs we prepared for our COD presentation, the demographics also revealed that age was a factor.  The respondents ranged in age from children grouped as below 17 years of age to adults over 60 years.  There were actually 6 age categories.  What we learned was that those under 36 years of age were the ones with English knowledge, an interest in learning and a willingness to do so. The importance of English spanned all age groups.

Admittedly the survey was limited in scope and participation.  We did not have a long time and it was an exercise for training.  However, the data supports our belief that there is interest in Milestii Mici for more English language learning opportunities and that perhaps assigning a PCV to the village would be welcomed by the community.

The day after our survey, Saturday, July 18, we held our community event which was a sharing of American and Moldovan culture and sport.  With permission from and the support of the Mayor, we held our event from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the field across from the school.  With equipment loaned from Peace Corps and others, we had baseballs, bats and gloves, American footballs,  a corn hole game (which we completed with children's socks filled with barley in the absence of real bean bags), and frisbees.  Of course there were soccer balls in abundance also!  Water was donated by a PCV's host brother and we PCVs chipped in to buy lots of biscuits (cookies).

Children appeared early for the event and readily got into the spirit.  Both girls and boys tried the various sports and were amazingly good at all of them!!  We appreciated that our COD PCV counterparts from Ialoveni came and joined in the clean up of the field before the games and played alongside the children and us.  Two of the PCVs spouses also attended as did another PCV.  With children,  young adults,  adults and PCVs, we had a turnout of about 70!!   

At our request the local folkloric group attended in traditional Moldovan costumes and performed several delightful songs.  Their performance ended with a huge group of locals and PCVs dancing the hora.  A good time was had by all as evidenced by the fact that people did not leave at 8:00 and it was well after 8:30 by the time we cleaned up and left the field.

The survey and event were highlights of our PST COD training.  We had fun and learned by doing. Yesterday we presented a summary and the results of both in our last PST COD training class.  We reflected on what we did well and where we need to improve.  We worked well together and supported each other.  We hopefully will also continue to be available to help each other in our individual assignments.  

The people of Milestii Mici have been wonderful and will be missed as we move on to our permanent sites.  We appreciate their kindness and support.  Below are some pictures from the event courtesy of Steve, and a link to one of the pieces performed by the folkloric group courtesy of Chris.  Enjoy!!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8zbato22qkxwqih/AADGXh0Kedk7VsKu5L0UkehAa?dl=0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utTDKqVVj0I