He turned his passion into a family business, thinking that he would be able to bring his children home. Victor Ciolacu created an agro-pension – a tourist attraction on the „Dor de codru” tourist route. People who visit the „Honey Mansion” can enjoy flowering orchards, the tranquillity of the forests, but also know the process of honey extraction. All this would have been impossible without the money worked abroad by the man's son, but also without the support of the PARE 1 + 1 program implemented by the Organization for the Development of the Small and Medium Enterprises Sector (ODIMM), with the support of the European Union (EU).
The Ciolacu family from Micleușeni village, Straseni district, experienced the pain of parting while one of its members was abroad. Victor Ciolacu and his wife worked abroad at different times of their lives.
„While we were working abroad and the children were small, I made a sketch and calculated what it would be like to move there, abroad, and I understood that it is not very reasonable, because there are extra expenses. Besides all this, a family member cannot work because he has to take the children to kindergarten, to school. It was important for us to have some money to start something here at home, to be able to work on the spot”, says the entrepreneur.
A business that would motivate children to return home
The children of the family chose to work and build their future abroad. Desiring with all his heart to see his sons at home, and the family - united, the man thought that a business created at home would motivate him to return to the Republic of Moldova. Thus, the Ciolacu family created an agro-pension near the orchard they own. The „honey mansion” hosts 100 bee families, a plum orchard and a honey tree nursery. Evodia or honey trees come from Asia and bloom in July-August. Their flowers are very rich in nectar. The guesthouse also has accommodation for four families. It is open all year round. In spring and summer, tourists can enjoy and enjoy the aroma of apples, plums, almonds, lindens and flowering acacias, and in winter they can enjoy the peace of the woods.
„Those who come to us are impressed”
„We introduce them to the hives, we tell them about bees, it's something new for them. And the kids are excited. When it's hot, I open the hive, introduce them to the queen, the drones, the worker bees, tell them about the honey extraction process”, says the man.
„Many are interested in seeing Moldova. We have to achieve beautiful things because no one will come to achieve something in our place”, says Victor Ciolacu.
The family's money was invested to create the business, including money earned by one of the sons abroad. This allowed them to access the PARE 1 + 1 program, implemented by ODIMM.
„Without this support, we could not have taken even the first step”
The program provides that beneficiaries, migrant workers or their first-degree relatives may receive grants for the creation of new enterprises and/or the development of existing ones. The grant is awarded based on the „1 + 1 Rule”, each leu invested in remittances will be supplemented by one leu from the Program.
Thus, Victor Ciolacu invested the money earned by his son in northern Italy, and within the program, he obtained a grant of 250,000 lei (11,53 euro). Within two years, within the various grants financed by the EU, business investments reached 2.4 million lei (110.694,47 euro).
„Our household has accessed grants worth approximately 900,000 lei (41.510,43 euro). It's a huge amount. Without this support, we would not have been able to take even the first step. All our partners give us support, guidance in implementing the idea and in promoting it”, mentions Victor Ciolacu.
The article was written by Corina Şeremt for Ziarul de Gardă.
Fotos: „Conacul Mierii” official facebook page
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