Almost 100.000 legal Moldovians live in Italy, plus an estimation of almost 500.000 living illegally. Around 70% of them are women, that move to another country in order to look for better opportunities for them and their family. The fathers are often absent, because they are divorced, busy to work in farms or alcoholics. The situation ends up with the older daughter taking over the mother’s rules, trying to give the best education to the little brothers and sisters, cooking, cleaning and living with grandparents, very close relative or neighbors.

The reasons of emigration are always economical. In the last two years Moldavians working and living in Italy sent back to Moldova 54 million of Euros and most of the money have been used to give better studying opportunities and better life to the kids, as well as to buy properties. The main occupations for women in Italy are always care taker of old people, housekeeper or employee in industries. In most cases the job contracts last for few months, not enough to make the proper documents to take minor kids with them.

Mothers are always in contact with the family by phone and often they send parcels with Italian goods to them.

This is a simple story of Moldavian families from two villages, Elizavetovka and Coscodeni located in the north of Moldova, with which we try to understand the phenomenon of migration and the reasons of it.