List of the Vegetarian Societies

Uniunea Vegetarienilor din Moldova - UVM (Moldavian Vegetarian Union), ,

vegan@uvem.org, www.uvem.org/


Other useful addresses

Neohumanist Ass. of Education, \"Rasarit\" Ion Creanga 31, MD- Straseni
+373 237 28003
v.kiseljak@gmx.net, www.neohumanist.org/


If there are no contact addresses available in this country, how about to be a condensation nucleus? -> webmaster

List of vegetarian and vegetarian friendly restaurants, hotels etc.

Brought to you by the EVU: EVU-restaurant-list

In Moldova there are no vegetarian restaurants, but most of the restaurants are vegetarian-friendly and willing to make something in a vegetarian way, one of them is:

Raj
(Indian restaurant)
Str. Ion Creanga 13/I
Chisinau
tel: +373 (0)22 742333

Vegetarianism in Moldavia

Vegetarianism was introduced in Moldova at the end of the eighties during the "Perestroika".
After the subdivision of the Soviet Union there appeared many religious sects which promoted vegetarianism.

"Uniunea Vegetarienilor din Moldova", the first official vegetarian organization was founded in 2002, with the aim to support the present vegetarians and to promote vegetarianism to others.

Sunrise / Rasarit Day care center for the senior citizens

Near to the capital Chisinau, vegetarianism is promoted by “Sunrise”, Assisted Living for the Elderly Citizens:

“Sunrise” is a project based in the town of Straseni, aiming to serve the most vulnerable category of population as elderly are and specifically those who are single (lonely), sick or physically disabled and cannot cater for themselves.

Since the end of December 2003 the center provides the most vulnerable a public kitchen and offers them and other elderly in need laundry and public bath services. The center also serves as a socialization place where the elderly meet each other, have possibility to watch TV, read newspaper, get a massage, check up from a doctor and participate in various activities. At the center often there are organized events to mark some significant dates, dance parties, poetry gathering.

The center seeks to involve into the project implementation the local community to the biggest possible extend so that the problems of the most vulnerable group of population become visible to wider community and start being addressed and dealt with. An important involvement of the state authorities is foreseen so that the project does not replace the governmental functions but rather stimulates it for gradual involvement.

Vegetarian diet offered at the Sunrise project is an attempt to promote Neohumanist philosophy. Neohumanism is extension of humanism and promotes love for all animate and inanimate beings and objects of this Universe; besides human beings it stands for the protection of the environment and cruelty on the animals and plants.
There was a suspicion how the vegetarian diet will be accepted by the elderly, but already after some months of running the center, vegetarian kitchen has proven a great success. Additionally this is a yogic diet that besides meat, fish and eggs excludes onions, garlic and mushrooms. Many elderly people who have digestion problems, gastritic illnesses or usually complain about the stomach pain are now happy and look forward to eat at the center. Often when they are served soy cutlets or chunks they think that they are given meat! Several times people said:” … you said that here only vegetarian food is served, but today we had meat!!”

In Moldova many people are forced to be ‘vegetarians’ because they do not have enough money to afford purchase of meat products. Usually not eating meat is linked for being poor.

Sunrise touches many people in community and abroad, visitors and the guests. Even maybe small but there is certainly an impact about making people aware about importance of vegetarianism. In general people have prejudice about the vegetarianism but most of the people who ate at the center have changed their minds about it. When the food is served, cooks try to arrange it in an esthetical way so that to some extend makes food even tastier.

Besides all the facilities that the center provides, the center became known for a place to drop the homeless dogs! So far through the center fifteen dogs and three cats have found their home and the number of street dogs has been fed. Some of the elderly and staff who know about the Neohumanist principles bring the left animals that they find on the way to the center or take them from the violent neighbours.
This became a spontaneous activity! Few dogs and a cat got also healed at the center, from rachitic, malnutrition and as most important lack of Love. Although sanitary department doesn’t allow animals at the center, we keep them since they need help and also they prove to be therapeutic for the elderly people.

The center is quite popular in the community and it is unique in Moldova