With EU support, for the first time ever – a classic music concert at a sheep yard

August 24, 2018

Photo: UNDP Moldova

The music of Bach and Mozart was played yesterday evening at the Sabia’s family sheep yard from Corten village, Taraclia district. The concert was performed by the Moldova’s National Youth Orchestra. An hour of live music, fresh cheese, and a pastoral sunset with 560 sheep, of which 61 of a French breed, imported for the first time to the Republic of Moldova thanks to a grant offered by the European Union. All these were enjoyed by the villagers from Corten and neighboring localities, who attended the performance.

The respective event is part of the “La La Play” musical tournament and was supported by the European Union under the “Support for Agriculture and Rural Development in ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia” (SARD) Programme, implemented by the UNDP. The organizers aim to promote small entrepreneurs from rural areas through this concert. The Sabia family is just an example that shows that rural area may be favorable for developing business, and the European Union supports the beneficial initiatives of people from the Republic of Moldova, regardless of the area they reside in.

Efimia Sabia, the owner of the sheep farm, is one of those 30 entrepreneurs from ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district that benefited from grants and technical assistance from the European Union through the SARD Programme for start-ups and business development. With the support of the grant of 20 thousand 350 Euro, the Sabia family succeeded to buy 61 sheep of a new breed for the Republic of Moldova - Ile de France. They also created 4 new jobs. “We are glad that European Union trusted our business idea and helped us to get specialized in producing meat so as to be able to provide the Moldovan consumers with qualitative products. The French breed Ile de France is one of the most known and valued breed of sheep in Europe for its meat. Our dream has come true and this makes us even more confident for developing the business further on and for conquering new sale markets,” mentioned Efimia Sabia.

“It was proved already that Mozart’s music has amazing effects on the human brain. How is this reflected in animals’ case? Well, it may be at another level, but it surely a positive impact. I will try to spoil a little bit our sheep with tape-recorded classical music. Who knows, maybe productivity will go up,” said Stepan Sabia.

The second edition of the “La La Play #drumdedor” musical tournament is organized during 13-25 August. A number of 16 young people perform 12 concerts in 12 picturesque localities from the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. The project tackles 12 important social issues by performing classical music in places where it has never sounded before.

“We were so much impressed with the Sabia family, who are growing nicely their child and their business here, at home. Although they work hard, they are so enthusiastic, hospitable, and full of life. Breeding sheep is one of the oldest vocation in Moldova, nevertheless there were left a few sheep owners in the country. That’s why we wanted to come here and promote small entrepreneurs from rural areas through the Sabia family’s example,” said Andriano Marian, the leader of Moldova’s National Youth Orchestra.

Supporting local entrepreneurial initiatives is one of the three main components of the SARD Programme. It also conducts activities for empowering community, refurbishing infrastructure sites and promoting inter-municipal cooperation in ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district.

Financed by the European Union with 6.5 million Euro and implemented by the UNDP, SARD Programme envisages to strengthen the collaboration between the central and local authorities, as well as between the regional organizations from ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district, aiming to foster the social and economic development of the region and of the Republic of Moldova, as a whole.

With EU support, for the first time ever – a classic music concert at a sheep yard