Last week, 80 ethnic Romanians from historical communities in Southern Bessarabia, Ukraine, have arrived from their home in Galati, within a project funded by the Department for Romanians Abroad. The host with heart for the members of this project was the Cross-border Faculty of "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati.

As the name implies, the project"Romanian culture and feeling beyond the borders of the country" aims, as its main objective, to contribute to the preservation, development, and affirmation of the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic identity of ethnic Romanians in Ukraine and to the revitalization and preservation of traditions in Romanian communities abroad. At the same time, the purpose of the project was to create a pretext for celebration to compensate in the soul of the Romanian brothers the traumas caused by the war that changed and redefined their lives.

Along with the guests were the Rector of the "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Professor Puiu-Lucian Georgescu, PhD, Dean of the Cross-border Faculty, Professor Gina-Aurora Necula, PhD, and project responsible, Lecturer Alexandra-Monica Toma.

To make the involvement regarding the project unforgettable, the activities on the agenda combined Romanian culture and civilization courses with workshops and visits to cultural objectives in Galati (History Museum "Paul Paltanea", Museum Complex of Natural Sciences "Rasvan Angheluta" Galati, Village Museum). Equally memorable will remain the exchange of experience with the folk ensemble Doina Covurluiului from the Cultural Center "Dunarea de Jos", where, with the support of conductor, Ion Chiciuc, and choreographer, Ion Horujenco, the participants made an imaginary journey through authentic Romania and shared traditional songs and dances.

The target group of the project consists of folk ensembles from Odessa: Dor Basarabean, Ismail, artistic director Victor Popescu, Sergiu Andrieș; Opincuta, Orlovca, Reni, artistic director Nicolae Alexandrov; Doruleț, Reni, artistic director Mariana Carlig, whose visit to the "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati ended with a folk show GIFT of music and dance, which took place on October 29, 2023, at 11:30, at the "Fani Tardini" Dramatic Theatre of Galati.

The success of the project was guaranteed by the involvement of local authorities and institutions: Galati County Council, Galati City Hall, "Fani Tardini" Dramatic Theatre of Galati, but also by the support of Galtour Dunarea Galați.