“Together we made it efficient” – a project that united the Nihoreni community and showed that change begins with involvement

On 21 July 2026, the village of Nihoreni, Rîșcani district, hosted the final campaign “Together we made it efficient”, marking the completion of the project “Increasing the energy efficiency of the residential care home for elderly people and people with disabilities ‘Andrei Colibaba’ in Nihoreni village, Rîșcani district”, implemented by the NGO “Association of Business Women from the Rural Sector of Rîșcani”, with financial support from the European Union within the project “Local Partnerships for Energy Efficiency in Social Services”, co-financed and implemented by Soros Moldova Foundation in partnership with Keystone Moldova Public Institution and the Moldova Social Innovation Fund NGO.

The event took place at the House of Culture in Nihoreni and brought together representatives of the European Union, Soros Moldova Foundation and partner organisations, representatives of the eight institutions involved in the project implementation, representatives of the Rîșcani District Council, Nihoreni Village Hall, public institutions and the local community.

From the very first moments, participants were welcomed into an authentic atmosphere created by the team of the House of Culture and the Public Library of Nihoreni, which prepared an exhibition dedicated to local traditions, history and values. The artistic programme, featuring traditional dances and thematic performances, offered guests a glimpse of a united community that preserves its identity and looks confidently towards the future.

During the event, the results achieved throughout the project implementation were presented, demonstrating that investments in energy efficiency and the development of social services generate real and sustainable changes. At the “Andrei Colibaba” Residential Care Centre for Elderly People and People with Disabilities, comprehensive energy efficiency measures were implemented, including the replacement of external windows and doors, thermal insulation of walls and the attic, as well as building protection works. These investments created a safer, more comfortable and energy-efficient environment for the centre’s 30 beneficiaries and improved working conditions for its 20 employees, reducing heat losses and ensuring increased thermal comfort throughout the year.

However, the project had a much broader impact on the community. Through information campaigns, educational activities and community mobilisation actions, more than 1,000 people were involved, while energy efficiency became a topic of shared interest and responsibility. At the same time, the social service was strengthened through the development of strategic and operational documents, professional training of staff and the initiation of the accreditation process according to national quality standards.

In his message addressed to the participants, the Mayor of Nihoreni village, Mr Igor Șoșu, highlighted the importance of cooperation between local authorities, development partners and the community:

“This project demonstrates that community development begins with investments in people and in the institutions that serve them. The results achieved in Nihoreni will remain an example of involvement and responsibility for the entire community and will continue to generate long-term benefits.”

In turn, Ms Natalia Guțu, Director of the NGO “Association of Business Women from the Rural Sector of Rîșcani”, emphasised that the project’s success was made possible through the cooperation of all stakeholders involved:

“This project has demonstrated that when public authorities, civil society organisations, development partners and community members join forces, change becomes possible. The results we present today prove that energy efficiency means more than savings – it means better social services, stronger communities and a future built together.”

An emotional moment of the event was the testimonies of the beneficiaries of the “Andrei Colibaba” Residential Care Centre for Elderly People and People with Disabilities, who spoke about the changes brought by the investments carried out within the project.

Maria Cebotari, a beneficiary of the Centre, said:

“Today we truly feel at home. It is warmer, brighter and much more comfortable. For us, these changes mean more peace of mind and greater care for people.”

In turn, Ion Rusu, a beneficiary of the Centre, emphasised:

“For some, these may be just renovation works, but for us they mean a better life. We feel that we have not been forgotten and that there are people who invest in our well-being.”

A special moment of the event was the launch and presentation of the “Guide of Good Practices on Energy Efficiency and Development of Social Services in the Nihoreni Community”, presented by Ms Aurelia Șoșu, Project Assistant. She highlighted the main results and achievements of the project, based on the information summarised in the guide, infographics and newsletters.

The event concluded with a study visit to the “Andrei Colibaba” Residential Care Centre for Elderly People, where participants had the opportunity to directly see the results of the investments carried out, the modern conditions created for beneficiaries and the transformations that turned this social service into an example of good practice in the field of energy efficiency and quality social services.

The final campaign “Together we made it efficient” demonstrated that sustainable changes are possible when the community, public authorities and development partners join efforts towards a common goal. The investments made within the project will continue to generate benefits for beneficiaries, the Nihoreni community and future generations, while the experience gained represents a model of good practice that can inspire other localities in the Republic of Moldova.

This article was developed within the project “Increasing the energy efficiency of the residential care home for elderly people and people with disabilities ‘Andrei Colibaba’ in Nihoreni village, Rîșcani district”, implemented by the NGO “Association of Business Women from the Rural Sector of Rîșcani”, with financial support from the European Union within the project “Local Partnerships for Energy Efficiency in Social Services”, co-financed and implemented by Soros Moldova Foundation in partnership with Keystone Moldova Public Institution and the Moldova Social Innovation Fund NGO.

The responsibility for the content of this article lies exclusively with the Association of Business Women from the Rural Sector and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and Soros Moldova Foundation.