Frank Hickey decided to volunteer in Moldova because he saw the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a horrible human rights violation. After enrolling with United Planet, Frank set off toward Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.
When he arrived in Moldova, our country coordinator Dimitry picked him up. “Arriving in Moldova was great. Dimitry met up with me and told me important information about Chisinau,” Frank explains.
Despite visiting Moldova for the first time, he did not experience any culture shock. “I have lived and worked overseas since the age of 18, for a total of about five years. I enjoy unknown places. I spent a month in Guadalcanal (one of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific) and published a novel about it.”
Soon after he arrived in Moldova, Frank began his volunteer work at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Blue Dot Center. “I did translations for refugees wanting citizenship status in Moldova. With a lawyer and social worker, I did some translations in my fluent Spanish and basic Cantonese. Among other projects, I also took the initiative to seek out refugees and teach them English.”
At one point, he had eight students. “I did not ask questions about why they had come here but I listened to what they chose to tell me. Some of the stories and photos shocked me. They reminded me of the important work that United Planet is doing.”
One way Frank managed to connect with the refugees was through Futbol, which according to him “broke down some shyness barriers”. “I also sketched and painted with everyone, as the Art Director and I spoke in Italian.”
During his time in Moldova, Frank also wanted to improve his Russian language skills. “I took private Russian language lessons from my teacher Irina and did my homework faithfully. She encouraged and inspired me to learn more. At work, others remarked how my basic Russian had improved. As an exercise, I wrote work songs in Russian and English and shared them with everyone. These songs were written to help morale, and to tell the refugees and workers that the world remembers and approves of them. Some listeners enjoyed the songs. Will Hollywood discover me this way?”
Dance was also a big part of Frank’s volunteering journey. “I danced with both adults and children. In local clubs, I danced ballroom and gave dance lessons (for free). I found this a good way to learn about Moldova.”
Luckily, Frank had time outside of volunteering to socialize with the people of Chisinau as well. “I met and made friends with college professors who spoke French and English with me. We discussed local books and culture. I attended the opera, seeing ‘Macbeth.’ I went often to the local library and America House, a cultural branch of our Embassy, nearby. I appreciated the Moldovan folk singer in Central Park. I viewed the Military Museum and saw Moldova’s complex history.”
“Perhaps the most important thing that I learned at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees’ Blue Dot center was this: All day and all night, about 25 armed Moldovan Border Police guarded the center. They did this not to protect property but to protect the infants, children, men, and women who were struggling to stay alive as they asked for permanent residence in Moldova. To this day, I worry about them.”
“I would tell possible volunteers to not hesitate or overthink it, just volunteer and see how your worldview changes.”
During his time in Moldova, Frank wrote a song for all of the workers together at the Blue Dot Center, United Nations High Command for Refugees. The idea came to him while trudging through the rain, wind, and cold on a Tuesday.
Sung to the tune of ‘The Horse Soldiers’, an old US Army song and 1959 film theme with John Wayne and William Holden.
My sweet love, my sweet love,
I left you a letter just
A-sleeping in your cot,
You can always find me,
Volunteering at Blue Dot.
Dear love, please make our breakfast,
Tea or coffee in a cup.
We will need all our strength
When the children wake us up.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
