环球英语 — 200：Moldova’s Missing Parents

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby¹ Jones. Welcome to Spotlight². This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Maria is fourteen [14] years old. She lives in a small village in Moldova, in Eastern Europe. Her sister is away studying in the capital city of Chisinau. Maria lives alone. She describes what her life is like:
Voice 3
“My father has been away for nine years. He lives in Greece. And my mother has been gone for one year. She was also in Greece. But she could not find a good job there. So she went to Italy. Our family has some land. We also own a cow, pigs and chickens. In the autumn there is a lot of work to do. I have to do this work myself – and then I need to complete my schoolwork too. In winter I have to light the fire. Sometimes my grandfather comes to help. And I try not to stay alone during the winter.”
Voice 2
Maria is not the only child in Moldova who lives without one, or both, of her parents. One in every nine children in the country shares the same situation – that is one hundred thousand [100,000] children! However it is not a situation that the children – or the parents – would wish for. Mihai is Maria’s father. He works³ in a hotel in Greece. He can earn a lot of money. But he always sends this money back home to his family. He explains:
Voice 4
“Once, I earned eight hundred [800] euros in twenty [20] days. And I sent this money home straight away. The girls bought a computer with it. The money that I send usually goes on food and rent. My older daughter is a student. And she always needs money for her rent and for her books – for all the things a person needs.”
Voice 2
Maria’s father knows that the situation is not perfect. He wants to be with his family. But he needs to work – to provide money for their needs. Working in a foreign country seems to offer the only chance to do that. And he is very proud of the way that Maria takes care of everything:
Voice 4
“She milks the cow ... She feeds the chickens. She takes care of the house. She goes to school – she does everything.”
Voice 1
Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. The average monthly⁴ pay is one hundred and twenty [120] dollars – and that is only if someone is lucky enough to find a job. That is why many Moldovan parents migrate⁵ – they go to live in another country. They feel that this gives them a better chance to find work. They can then support their families back home. The money that they send is called a remittance⁶. And remittance money is an important part of Moldova’s economy⁷. But it is not enough. The government is now looking to Europe for help. Moldova wants to join the European Union. As a member state, it would have the right to receive financial investment⁸ and aid. This kind of help would improve people’s living situation. And the need for parents to search for work outside Moldova would decrease.
Voice 2
But is the answer that simple? At present, other European countries will not allow Moldova to join the European Union any time soon. These countries argue that the Moldovan government first needs to deal with some of its own serious political⁹ problems. Only then will Moldova be able to present its case for membership¹⁰ of the Union. But these issues¹¹ may take a long time to solve. And parents still need to find ways to support their families.
Voice 1
The money that parents send home does help improve their children’s lives. But in 2006, the United¹² Nations Children’s Fund¹³ published a report on the subject. This UNICEF report described how missing¹⁴ parents affect children’s development in other ways. Over time, the lack of parental¹⁵ support affects a child’s emotions. They find it harder to relate to people. And when they see their parents, they treat them like strangers. Radu Danii is a UNICEF Project Officer for Child Rights. He says,
Voice 5
“The children suffer most. Many of them may have better playthings and clothes because their parents are working in another country. But material goods cannot replace parental support – this is key to the development of children.”
Voice 2
Children are also at risk from another danger. Moldova has the highest rate in Europe for the illegal¹⁶ trading of people. Martin Wyss works for the International Organization of Migration¹⁷. He believes that Moldova’s lonely children are at serious risk from people traders¹⁸. These children do not have their parents to guide them. And so they are easy targets for people who may want to harm them. Martin Wyss says:
Voice 6
“We need to help those at risk before it is too late.”
Voice 2
Groups like UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration are working hard to provide this help. They help schools and churches to offer special classes for these children. The children learn new life skills. These include how to recognise people who are trying to trap¹⁹ them – who promise a good job in another country. The children learn how to deal with such difficult situations.
Voice 1
The government of Moldova is also working with UNICEF to create a national system of community social workers. These workers can advise families about local support services that can offer help to them. They also provide training centres where parents can learn new skills. This may increase their chances of finding²⁰ a job locally – so they do not have to leave their children behind.
Voice 2
But change does not always happen quickly. And for many children living alone, the situation has not yet improved. This is true for Maria in her small village. Her parents are still working in another country. So she will continue to struggle alone – looking after the family’s house and animals – and doing her schoolwork. She says,
Voice 3
“I am alone. And anything may happen. You hear so many stories. I am afraid from time to time about what may happen at night. So I lock the door and fall asleep with my little toy animals.”
 

1 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

4 monthly   

adj.每月的，持续一个月的，每月发生的；adv.每月，按月； n.月刊；(复数）monthlies:月经

参考例句：

• The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
• The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元，包括水电费在内。

5 migrate   

vi.（候鸟等）迁徙，移居（国外），迁移

参考例句：

• Many birds migrate south for the winter.冬天时，许多鸟类迁徙南方。
• The rich people often migrate in winter to Florida.有钱的人常在冬季搬迁到佛罗里达州去。

6 remittance   

n.汇款，寄款，汇兑

参考例句：

• Your last month's salary will be paid by remittance.最后一个月的薪水将通过汇寄的方式付给你。
• A prompt remittance would be appreciated.速寄汇款不胜感激。

7 economy   

n.经济；节俭；秩序；机体

参考例句：

• We must do our best to develop the national economy.我们必须努力发展国民经济。
• The country's economy is not very healthy.国家的经济不很景气。

8 investment   

n.投资，投资额；(时间、精力等的)投入

参考例句：

• It took two years before I recouped my investment.我用了两年时间才收回投资。
• The success of the project pivots on investment from abroad.这个工程的成功主要依靠外来投资。

9 political   

adj.政治上的，政党的，政略性的，政治的

参考例句：

• He was forced to leave his homeland for political reasons.因为政治原因他被迫离开自己的祖国。
• In ideas those two political parties are worlds apart.那两个政党在思想上有巨大分歧。

10 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。

11 issues   

（水等的）流出( issue的名词复数 )； 出口； 放出； （特别重要或大众关注的）问题

参考例句：

• Let's start with the more easily addressable issues. 我们先从较容易处理的问题着手。
• Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics. 就业和征税是很重要的政治问题。

12 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

13 fund   

n.基金，资金，存款，财源，贮藏；vt.提供资金，积累

参考例句：

• They decided to set up a fund for this purpose.他们决定为此专立一项基金。
• This fund may not be drawn on without permission.这笔钱非经批准不得动用。

14 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

15 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

16 illegal   

adj.不合法的，非法的，犯法的

参考例句：

• I don't want to get mixed up with any illegal organization.我不想与任何非法组织有牵连。
• It's illegal for people under 17 to drive a car in Britain.在英国，不满17岁的人驾驶车辆是违法的。

17 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

18 traders   

n.商人( trader的名词复数 )；经商者；商船；（证券交易中不为他人作代理而自行交易的）交易人

参考例句：

• Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas. 在旅游区一定要谨防奸商。
• Many traders went under during the war. 战争时期，许多商人破产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 trap   

vt.使陷入困境，使受限制；设陷，坑害；n.陷阱，诡计；困境；活板门，存水弯；（双轮）轻便马车；vi.设圈套，设陷阱

参考例句：

• The hunter laid a trap for the tiger.猎人设置了陷阱捕捉老虎。
• Cheese is very good for luring a mouse into a trap.奶酪是引诱老鼠上钩的极好的东西。

20 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。