“The Light of Friendship”: A Creative Workshop Bringing Together Refugees, Migrants, and Local Community Members in Cahul

On 31 October 2026, Cahul Community Center hosted the community event “The Light of Friendship: Handmade Candle-Making Workshop”, organized by the Regional Center for Community Development (CRDC), in partnership with Cahul Community Center and the General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), within the project “Local Mechanisms for the Inclusion and Protection of Migrants and Refugees in Cahul”.

The event brought together 21 participants, including refugees, migrants, and members of the host community, in a welcoming environment dedicated to creativity, dialogue, and strengthening connections between people with different backgrounds and life experiences.

The activity was based on a simple idea: sometimes, the most meaningful connections are built around small things created together. Candle-making became an opportunity to connect, exchange experiences, and get to know one another.

Creativity, Traditions, and Shared Stories

The workshop began with a welcoming and introductory session, followed by discussions about traditions and customs associated with light, warmth, and preparations for the colder season across different cultures and communities.

Participants had the opportunity to share personal memories and experiences, discovering both the similarities and the diversity of the traditions that shape their cultural identities.

During the practical part of the activity, each participant had the opportunity to create their own handmade candle. The creative process encouraged collaboration, mutual support, and informal communication, turning the workshop into a space for interaction beyond linguistic and cultural barriers.

A particularly meaningful moment was the session “Stories by Candlelight”, dedicated to dialogue and sharing experiences, where light became a symbol of warmth, hope, and solidarity.

At the end of the event, participants left not only with the candles they had created but also with the experience of a shared activity built around respect, creativity, and friendship.

Inclusion Begins with Shared Experiences

For CRDC, such activities represent an important component of the social inclusion process for refugees and migrants within the local community.

Beyond information, guidance, and support services, integration also involves creating meaningful opportunities for interaction, where people can meet, communicate, and build relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

Creative workshops provide an accessible setting for these connections, allowing people to participate actively regardless of their previous experience, language, or status within the community.

By organizing “The Light of Friendship”, CRDC continues to promote social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, and community participation, contributing to the development of an inclusive environment where refugees, migrants, and members of the host community can engage together.

We thank all participants for their openness, creativity, and the warm atmosphere we created together!

This project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union, contracted by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership Facility. The content is the sole responsibility of the Regional Center for Community Development (CRDC) and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.