On August 5, 2015, the 5th annual international inter-ethnic summer camp “Sources of Tolerance - Moldova” ended its session with a colorful carnival. The camp opened on July 26.

The camp’s unique concept, which was developed by psychologists, teachers, and other experts, is based on immersion. Every day, the camp’s participants steep themselves in a new ethnic culture, often complete with an unfamiliar religion. This method does not only allow them to learn about the history and culture of different peoples, but also teaches empathy and forms a personal connection with these diverse cultures.

The participants and teachers of the project hailed from the Bulgarian, Gagauz, Greek, Jewish, Moldavian, Polish, Roman, Russian and Ukrainian communities; geographically, they came from different regions of Moldova, including the Gagauz autonomy and Transnistria, as well as Ukraine, Russia, and the Netherlands.

The “Sources of Tolerance” camp was organized by the Diversitate center for informal education, together with the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) and the KEDEM Jewish Cultural Center. The project took place with the financial support of the Kyiv EAJC office, Civil Rights Defenders, EAJC Vice President Mark Shabad, the Polish Embassy, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Alexander Kopansky, Garry Golanter, and the Jewish community of Moldova.

The summer camp took place at the Odiseu tourist center at Vadul-lui-Voda, near Chisinau.