FERM 2025 | Angela ZAPOROJAN, Mayor of Colonița Village, a Suburb of Chișinău: ‘Transforming a Community Begins with Committed Leaders and People-Centered Projects’

REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Thematic Panel:

Regional and International Cooperation – Partnerships for Development

Speaker:

Angela Zaporojan – Mayor of Colonița Village, Chișinău

Topic of the Intervention:

“Peri-urban Communities in Transformation: Colonița – Strategic Partnerships and Sustainable Models of Local Development on the Outskirts of Chișinău”

During Panel 11 – Regional and International Cooperation – Partnerships for Development of the Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM) 2025, Angela Zaporojan, Mayor of Colonița, delivered a memorable speech on the transformation of peri-urban communities and the challenges of sustainable development in the immediate vicinity of a major urban center.

A Leader with a Calling: From Education to Local Administration

Angela Zaporojan exemplifies authentic leadership and community commitment. With a professional background in education as a physics teacher and high school principal, she began her administrative career 14 years ago in a context where no mayor of Colonița had been re-elected for a second term. Today, she is serving her fourth consecutive term – an achievement built through sustained effort, genuine engagement with the community, and a pragmatic vision for local development.

“Try to do it without money or with very little – that is what I have done for 14 years,” said Mayor Angela Zaporojan, highlighting the challenges faced by local authorities in small communities. In the absence of a substantial budget or a dedicated team of specialists, she managed to develop, attract funding for, and implement dozens of projects, overseeing every stage of the process – from documentation to execution. This solution-oriented and hands-on approach has become a model of best practices in local public administration.

Colonița – Balancing Tradition and Modernity

Located just 6–7 kilometers from the center of Chișinău, Colonița is more than just a suburb. It is a community with a strong identity rooted in history, spirituality, and local initiative, yet it has continuously evolved to meet the demands of contemporary society.

With a population exceeding 4,000 residents, Colonița harmoniously combines traditional values with modern, functional infrastructure. The locality benefits from complete water, sewage, natural gas, and public lighting networks — remarkable achievements even compared to many urban areas.

Colonița stands out with a consistent portfolio of completed projects that reflect the administration’s commitment to sustainable development and residents’ quality of life:

• Rehabilitation of kindergartens, with support from the Moldova Social Investment Fund and partners from Romania;
• Modernization of the local cultural and recreational center for cultural and leisure activities;
• Creation of a park on the site of a former ravine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment;
• Equipping the “Gheorghe Ghimpu” Theoretical High School with an Olympic swimming pool — the only one of its kind in rural Moldova;
• Restoration of historical monuments, including the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, an important symbol of local cultural heritage.

These achievements underscore Colonița’s transformation into a community that respects tradition while confidently looking to the future.

Challenges of Administrative Affiliation

Although Colonița benefits from proximity to Chișinău, its administrative status as a suburb brings both opportunities and significant constraints. On one hand, the locality has access to direct municipal investments; on the other hand, it is excluded from certain funds and programs available exclusively to autonomous rural communities.

“There are numerous projects for which we cannot apply precisely because of our administrative status.”

Nevertheless, the mayor has demonstrated a proactive approach, leveraging every opportunity, national or international, to mobilize resources and stimulate sustainable community development.

Education, Culture, and Health – Pillars of Sustainable Development

The Colonița administration has shown that strategic investments in education, culture, and health can generate profound structural and social changes. The theoretical high school stands as an example of modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art educational resources, while the public library, creative center, and community center serve as dynamic spaces that support community cohesion and identity.

In the health sector, through collaboration with the “European Village” program and the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA), projects have been implemented to modernize the local medical center and expand health services for Colonița residents, thereby strengthening access to quality care in a rural setting.

Strategic Vision for the Future

Medium- and long-term objectives include:

• Rehabilitation and energy efficiency improvements at the “Gheorghe Ghimpu” High School;
• Restoration of the church-monument, a symbol of local cultural heritage;
• Construction of a modern multifunctional community center;
• Rehabilitation of the Town Hall building to improve public services;
• Modernization of road infrastructure, an essential element for sustainable local development.

Angela Zaporojan emphasized with determination and humility:

“All these achievements have been possible thanks to deep commitment and the real needs of the community. My priority remains the well-being of the people, supported by a dedicated team with whom I work day by day.”

Colonița – A Model of Best Practices in Peri-Urban Community Development

The presentation delivered by Mayor Angela Zaporojan at FERM 2025 highlighted how a small community can become a benchmark for sustainable development and effective local governance. Through strategic vision, rigorous resource management, and active involvement in fund acquisition, Colonița has managed to overcome budgetary constraints and the complexities of its administrative status.

Located on the outskirts of Chișinău, Colonița today stands as a modern, well-connected locality that values local heritage and invests in infrastructure, education, culture, and public services. It is a concrete example of a community that has clearly defined its development directions and demonstrated that progress is possible through cohesion, responsible leadership, and efficient partnerships. This experience provides a replicable model for other localities in the Moldova region and beyond.