环球英语 — 200：Moldova’s Missing Parents

　　Voice 1

Hello, I’m Marina Santee.

Voice 2

And I’m Ruby 1 Jones. Welcome to Spotlight 2. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1

Maria is fourteen [14] years old. She lives in a small village in Moldova, in Eastern Europe. Her sister is away studying in the capital city of Chisinau. Maria lives alone. She describes what her life is like:

Voice 3

“My father has been away for nine years. He lives in Greece. And my mother has been gone for one year. She was also in Greece. But she could not find a good job there. So she went to Italy. Our family has some land. We also own a cow, pigs and chickens. In the autumn there is a lot of work to do. I have to do this work myself – and then I need to complete my schoolwork too. In winter I have to light the fire. Sometimes my grandfather comes to help. And I try not to stay alone during the winter.”

Voice 2

Maria is not the only child in Moldova who lives without one, or both, of her parents. One in every nine children in the country shares the same situation – that is one hundred thousand [100,000] children! However it is not a situation that the children – or the parents – would wish for. Mihai is Maria’s father. He works 3 in a hotel in Greece. He can earn a lot of money. But he always sends this money back home to his family. He explains:

Voice 4

“Once, I earned eight hundred [800] euros in twenty [20] days. And I sent this money home straight away. The girls bought a computer with it. The money that I send usually goes on food and rent. My older daughter is a student. And she always needs money for her rent and for her books – for all the things a person needs.”

Voice 2

Maria’s father knows that the situation is not perfect. He wants to be with his family. But he needs to work – to provide money for their needs. Working in a foreign country seems to offer the only chance to do that. And he is very proud of the way that Maria takes care of everything:

Voice 4

“She milks the cow ... She feeds the chickens. She takes care of the house. She goes to school – she does everything.”

Voice 1

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. The average monthly 4 pay is one hundred and twenty [120] dollars – and that is only if someone is lucky enough to find a job. That is why many Moldovan parents migrate 5 – they go to live in another country. They feel that this gives them a better chance to find work. They can then support their families back home. The money that they send is called a remittance 6. And remittance money is an important part of Moldova’s economy 7. But it is not enough. The government is now looking to Europe for help. Moldova wants to join the European Union. As a member state, it would have the right to receive financial investment 8 and aid. This kind of help would improve people’s living situation. And the need for parents to search for work outside Moldova would decrease.

Voice 2

But is the answer that simple? At present, other European countries will not allow Moldova to join the European Union any time soon. These countries argue that the Moldovan government first needs to deal with some of its own serious political 9 problems. Only then will Moldova be able to present its case for membership 10 of the Union. But these issues 11 may take a long time to solve. And parents still need to find ways to support their families.

Voice 1

The money that parents send home does help improve their children’s lives. But in 2006, the United 12 Nations Children’s Fund 13 published a report on the subject. This UNICEF report described how missing 14 parents affect children’s development in other ways. Over time, the lack of parental 15 support affects a child’s emotions. They find it harder to relate to people. And when they see their parents, they treat them like strangers. Radu Danii is a UNICEF Project Officer for Child Rights. He says,

Voice 5

“The children suffer most. Many of them may have better playthings and clothes because their parents are working in another country. But material goods cannot replace parental support – this is key to the development of children.”

Voice 2

Children are also at risk from another danger. Moldova has the highest rate in Europe for the illegal 16 trading of people. Martin Wyss works for the International Organization of Migration 17. He believes that Moldova’s lonely children are at serious risk from people traders 18. These children do not have their parents to guide them. And so they are easy targets for people who may want to harm them. Martin Wyss says:

Voice 6

“We need to help those at risk before it is too late.”

Voice 2

Groups like UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration are working hard to provide this help. They help schools and churches to offer special classes for these children. The children learn new life skills. These include how to recognise people who are trying to trap 19 them – who promise a good job in another country. The children learn how to deal with such difficult situations.

Voice 1

The government of Moldova is also working with UNICEF to create a national system of community social workers. These workers can advise families about local support services that can offer help to them. They also provide training centres where parents can learn new skills. This may increase their chances of finding 20 a job locally – so they do not have to leave their children behind.

Voice 2

But change does not always happen quickly. And for many children living alone, the situation has not yet improved. This is true for Maria in her small village. Her parents are still working in another country. So she will continue to struggle alone – looking after the family’s house and animals – and doing her schoolwork. She says,

Voice 3

“I am alone. And anything may happen. You hear so many stories. I am afraid from time to time about what may happen at night. So I lock the door and fall asleep with my little toy animals.”