On the last evening of May, we had the opportunity to talk to Raisa Puscasu, a 35-year-old woman from Chisinau, who had the honor to interview President Maia Sandu for the 2024 Population and Housing Census. This is not only a special event, but also a proof of Raia's commitment and dedication to this important exercise for the country.
Raisa doesn't work in statistics, but her studies in mathematics and computer science make her comfortable with data collection. She agreed to become a numerator, as it is an activity that allows her to combine her passion for numbers with a desire to socialize and contribute to the good of the community. Raia enthusiastically tells us about her motivation to join this project as a mother on maternity leave.
"I knew about the census coming up this year and I really wanted to become a census enumerator. I remember as a child how the census takers used to come home and I used to imagine, I could somehow see myself in their role years from now," she says smiling. One of the things that makes her job easier and what impressed her in this round of the census is the use of tablets for data collection. "First of all, it takes a lot less time, you don't have to write everything down on paper like in previous censuses. It's much more advantageous, convenient, operational, and simple," she explains.
Raia is a census taker in the Buiucani sector of the capital, and her working day is full of challenges. "Sometimes I find people at home during the day, which I enjoy, but most of the time I find them in the evening after work, or on weekends," she says.
The enumerator starts her working day with optimism, but not infrequently she has had to face people's reticence.
"There are a lot of people who have fears, who are totally misinformed. We try to explain to them the purpose of the census, and most of the time we manage to reach a consensus to get them registered," she says. Despite the difficulties, she remains calm and determined. She is not discouraged even when she must return to the same address several times without success. "Some people just don't want to open the door. I hear footsteps up to the visor then silence... But still the number of receptive people is much higher. Just recently I had the honor sto meet and ,,count" President Maia Sandu, who was very open and receptive, she even offered me a coffee, it was a unique experience", she says proudly.
After a long day at work, Raia uses various strategies to keep her energy up. "There are easier days and harder days. If I meet negative people, it takes away my energy, but a good day makes up for a bad one and we move forward. I knew I would encounter difficulties, but I am a calm person, and I took this job being aware and realistic of the challenges I may encounter," she concludes.
Raia is an example of dedication and resilience. Her experience as a reviewer not only helps her to contribute to the collection of essential data for the country's development, but also gives her the opportunity to grow personally and professionally. With a positive attitude, Raia continues to make a difference in her community, demonstrating that everyone matters and can make a difference in the country. Raisa Pușcașu is one of more than four thousand census takers, temporary staff employed by the National Bureau of Statistics to conduct the 2024 census from 8 April to 7 July.
The Population and Housing Census takes place with the support of the project "Support to the National Bureau of Statistics in the conduct of the 2024 Population and Housing Census", funded by the European Union and co-funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The Population and Housing Census is carried out every 10 years and is the most important national statistical exercise that provides a complete demographic picture of the country. The data collected from the census will provide essential and quality information for the development of national and local public policies, both economic and social, necessary for the development of the Republic of Moldova.
