Davis & Elkins College is pleased to welcome to campus Mr. Dumitru Roibu, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) International Peacemaker from Moldova. Mr. Roibu is Executive President of YMCA Moldova. His history of YMCA community service includes roles such as World YMCA Youth Empowerment assistant and YMCA Change Agent (a global leadership program), and participation in YES (Youth Engagement in Sports) and TTT (Training The Trainers) seminars. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Dumitru Roibu has been involved in supporting Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. To date, helping more than 14,000 refugees, YMCA Moldova has created more than 320 Digital Educational Centers. In 2013, Dumitru founded a rural youth NGO (non-governmental organization) which supported cultural youth events, such as teaching folk dances. His NGO empower=ed more than 150 young people from the area to take part in Erasmus+, a European Union program for education, training, youth, and sport. For his exceptional civic service, Dumitru was awarded the Civic Merit Medal in 2018 by the President of the Republic of Moldova. Dumitru studied International Relations, has a master’s degree in Diplomatic Studies and is currently working on his PhD in Good Governance. He and his wife welcomed their first child in January 2024.
During his September 13-18 visit to D&E, Mr. Roibu will be visiting with several classes on multiple topics and discussing with students how his work intersects with their courses of studies. He will engage with classes such as the Freshman “College 101” course, as well as Comparative Religious Ethics, Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, Argumentation, and Violence & the Sacred. Additionally, he will tour the College’s Forestry Program site. On Sunday, September 15, he will participate in worship at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00am and the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church at 11:00am. Finally, at 4:00pm that afternoon, he will teach a Moldovan Folk Dance Workshop at The Arts Center at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Park Street. This is an intergenerational, free workshop for the community to learn and experience traditional Moldovan dance. Please bring the family!
The PCUSA International Peacemakers Program brings leaders from partner denominations and organizations from around the world each year to interpret issues of peace and justice. These visits inform participants, open hearts and minds, touch lives, establish relationships and inspire new ministries. By sharing stories of their work and witness, the peacemakers help us understand peace and justice concerns around the world and provide insights that can inspire us to greater faithfulness. Their visits broaden our sense of God’s inclusive family and help equip us to build a culture of peace and nonviolence for all God’s children. Since 1984, more than 350 International Peacemakers from 60 countries have been hosted through the Presbyterian Peacemaking program.
“Davis & Elkins College has participated in hosting several International Peacemakers over the past few years, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming Mr. Roibu to Elkins as his first stop in his five-week trip in the United States,” said Tina Vial, D&E’s coordinator of foundation and church relations. “We’re excited for the students studying a wide variety of disciplines to hear from his part of the world, and especially to welcome to the community to his dance workshop on Sunday! We hope you and your family can join us!”
