The 3rd edition of the BelEU Fest Festival took place on the shores of Lake Beleu in the village of Slobozia Mare, in the heart of the Lower Prutul Biosphere Reserve. It brought together local communities, tourists from all over the country, artists, and cultural and environmental experts, all with one goal: to celebrate the diversity and richness of the national heritage.
“It’s a festival that brings the world together, the neighboring villages. They came from Cahul, Chisinau, Romania, and Galati. It’s something fantastic for us here on the shores of Lake Beleu. We are happy for everyone who came, and we feel so wonderful. United in diversity – that is the message of our festival,” said Valentina Carastan, Mayor of Slobozia Mare.
The festival emphasized the importance of European values. The organizers carefully chose the “United in Diversity” motto. It represents the event’s spirit.
“All that we have as cultural heritage makes us even richer and more ready to unite with the great cultural heritage of the European Union. We are strong when we are united. As long as we try all sorts of topics that could divide the world in a country as small as we are, it doesn’t help us to be more prosperous or to live better. Once we are geographically a European country, we should be socially, economically, and politically part of the big European family,” said Liliana Palihovici, President of the “Institutum Virtutes Civilis.”
BelEU Fest was a meeting place for different cultures. Participants had the opportunity to discover traditions, music, and dances from different regions of Moldova. Visitors learned about embroidery, pottery, and other handicrafts at the Handicrafts Fair. Recognized craftsmen from the surrounding localities led the workshops.
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The organizers emphasized environmental protection and the importance of Lake Beleu in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. They set up 12 banners within the reserve, showcasing local projects developed with EU support and their positive impact on communities.
“The message of this festival is to be diverse, to embrace our authenticity, our traditional costumes, our way of life, our way of loving nature, our environment, our wonderful traditions, to love them, to embrace them, to share them with people all over Europe, because the European Union and Europe is about diversity, and we have something to show in the EU,” said Daniela Vidaicu, Executive Director, Soros Foundation Moldova.
Young people at the festival participated in a discussion moderated by actor and influencer Catalin Lungu. They explored sustainability, recycling, and environmental protection themes, focusing on successful European initiatives.
“There’s a lot of talk about how the EU is going to take away our values and us as an identity. It’s not true. We go to the European Union with our values, traditions, and who we are, being encouraged to promote the things we have inherited, the things we care about, and what shapes us. I think it is important to communicate in everything that happens to us. Now it’s important to communicate, and this kind of event communicates,” concluded influencer Catalin Lungu.
This festival edition brought thousands of people of all ages and created an atmosphere of joy and unity. The evening ended with a popular and modern music concert by well-known artists. Through exhibitions, debates, and educational activities, participants explored and better understood what it means to be part of a united Europe.
AO “Institutum Virtutes Civilis” and Slobozia Mare City Hall organize the BelEU Fest, funded by the Soros Foundation Moldova and co-financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Cahul District Council.