Three continents in three decades

There are no limits when you have motivation

Many of us dream to travel and see different countries, meet Hollywood stars and personalities who have the power to change things in the world! Victoria Vorosciuc is the Moldavian who managed to meet Auma Obama, the U.S.A. President Barack Obama's sister. She also worked with Hollywood stars, stage directors from New Zealand, Canada and the U.S.A, who made the Kenyan documentary "A Grandmother's Tribe", presented throughout the world as well as at the 2010 "Chronograph" Festival in Moldova. Last year the documentary was presented to the U.S. State Department.

"In 2001, I joined the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​and Literatures from Moldova State University.My dormitory was situated in front of a school - orphanage in Chisinau. One day, I heard through the open window a girl yelling and asking for help. She was ready to jump out the window. The next day we went to see whether the girl was resqued, then I started working with the administration of the orphanage. We organized many volunteer activities like teaching English and parties for children who had no relatives to go spent their holidays with", recalls Victoria geting back to her first volunteering experience.

Social cafe - "Jydepotten"

Being actively engaged in community work she demonstrated her leadership qualities, being selected to visit the U.S.A. through the "International Visitors' Leadership" exchange program (IVLP) in 2005 sponsored by the U.S State Department. "I was only 20 years old and was the youngest of the participants and one of the few girls. I was called "The Flower of Moldova". There I was introduced to Felix Masi, a young man from Kenya, Africa, a renowned photojournalist, who has made ​​several documentaries about the place he was born. He invited us/ the alumni of the IVLP, to visit him and watch the premiere of the documentary he was working on - "A Grandmother's Tribe", says the young lady with short curly hair that seems to take on all sides.

Shortly after returning from the American continent, another destination was waiting - Denmark. "It was a one year living experience through the European Voluntary Programme (EVS). I worked for a year in a social a cafe called "Jydepotten" located in Grindsted. The cafe was mostly visited by elderly people. They adored taking breakfast, lunch and reading newspapers at Jydepotten. Various workshops were organized at this place: art, carpentry, music etc. What I liked here was that everyone was treated equally. Even people in leadership positions could mop the floor", says Victoria.

Moldova – Mudoba

At the same time, with past experience of playing in a band of traditional music in the Republic of Moldova, she has promoted our traditional songs in Denmark. "We organized several music evenings at cafe Jydepotten for its beneficiaries. We formed a band with some young Burmese. After being invited to some private parties to sing, I appeared in newspapers in Denmark ", recalls Victoria.

Then came Africa. Because she lacked the amount of money needed to cover the cost of the trip, she accepted the invitation of the French TV ARTE to work as interpreter. The French journalists came to Moldova to make a documentary about human trafficking. "I learned the hardness of life in our villages. In a way this experience prepared me for Africa, I learned to interact more easily with people", she said.

"With the money earned I headed for Nairobi, capital of Kenya. I did not know much about this country, and my friends said I was going to a country where AIDS haunts. After several hours of flight and memories of a very freezing and snowy Moldova at the end of November, 2008, I arrived to the sunny and beautiful capital of Kenya, Nairobi. It's a country of paradoxes, where women bear the brunt of their family, but you will never see them sad. They do not know another life and enjoy the one they have", says Victoria.

"Mother, sell us your daughter!"

Meanwhile, Kenya is a dangerous country not only for natives but also for tourists. "I was walking through the village while my friends were filming the continuation of "A Grandmother's Tribe" documentary. My american friend Karen was asked by locals "Mom, can you sell us your daughter?", pointing at me. It happened on the border between Kenya and Uganda. When shooting in Mudoba village, I got into a hut made of clay to take pictures. On the floor I sow about 10 children eating some porridge. When they saw me, they started to cry. Only later I was told that I am the first white person they see. I was probabely the devil in their eyes", pointed Victoria laughing.

"We arrived to Kibera, one of the poorest neighborhoods of the Kenyan capital, to present documentary outdoors. The representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, who were also honored guests joined us for the event. We were warned to stay careful and just in case follow the command "We're leaving," so that all guests could get fast into the cars and leave in case of emergency. There were young children who wanted attention. I was excited and wanted to say goodbye to all the people I''ve met. At one point, I felt someone pulling me by the hand and leading me nervously into the car. If I lingered for a few more minutes,something bad would have happened" said Victoria.

Cronograf

She says that she met in Kenya the recently reelected U.S. President's, Barack Obama sister - Auma. "It was happening on the 1st of December, 2008. The day was dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic. We joined the event with Felix Masi. I did not know who she was. We had a very nice conversation; at some point, someone pulled me to one side and asked me if I knew she's was the sister of Barack Obama", recalls Victoria.

The documentary "A Grandmother's Tribe" has been shown in several countries, including Canada, Turkey, New Zealand. Last year it could be seen at the U.S. State Department. Victoria Vorosciuc was granted the permission to present the film in the Republic of Moldova, which was on big screen's festival "Chronograph" in 2010

This article has been written by Marina Lita - a well known journalist in Moldova. I express her the grattitude for having the patience and interest of listening to my story. The article has appeared today in Jurnal de Chisinau, one of the strongest newspapers in Moldova. Meet them http://ziar.jurnal.md/2013/03/26/trei-continente-in-trei-decenii/

Also, I am sending the greetings to all my friends who supported me in my adventures!

A Grandmother's Tribe Trailer http://tpiltd.com/content/grandmothers-tribe-1-x-52-minutes

Going Home - A Grandmother's Tribe PART 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgtT-3qec9U

Going Home - A Grandmother's Tribe PART 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoQZH-eYpi4