Oana Paun is a young yet remarkably dedicated Community Manager from Moldova 🇲🇩, working at Recycline, a local startup focused on plastic recycling and environmental awareness. From school tours to content creation and coordination with partners, Oana’s work reflects the true spirit of community: action, empathy, and consistency.

What struck me most about Oana’s story is how community building doesn’t always begin with a plan—it often grows from care. Her experience reminds us that real change happens when people stick with it, celebrate small wins, and keep showing up.

Oana joined The Community Media project as one of the Community Managers from 42 European countries who shared their stories with me. It was a pleasure to “visit” Moldova through her work and see how sustainability and youth-led community efforts can thrive even in resource-limited settings.

Catch the full story below!

Alla:* Hi Oana, so happy to meet you and share your story! ;) Please tell a bit about yourself!*

Oana: Hello! My name is Oana, and I’m currently the Community Manager at Recycline, a small but passionate startup based in Chișinău, Moldova, focused on recycling plastic and promoting sustainable design.

Alla: Tell a bit about your Community Management experience: how did you become a Community Manager? Are you a switcher from another domain, or were communities the only thing you always wanted to do?

Recycline project! Photo credit: Recycline LinkedIn

Oana: My journey into community management started quite organically. I first got involved with Recycline as a volunteer while in high school. I was passionate about environmental issues and wanted to contribute in any way I could. Over time, I became more involved in the team’s work, from helping with events to coordinating communication with partners and volunteers.

Even though community management wasn't something I specifically aimed for growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something connected to people, communication, and making a positive impact. I didn't follow a traditional path — I’m mostly self-taught, learning through hands-on experience, observation, and a lot of trial and error. Being part of a small team gave me the opportunity to grow naturally into the role, and I’ve come to really enjoy building connections, managing projects, and helping others feel involved and empowered.

Alla: Tell me more about the community you are working with?

Oana: I work with a growing community of people eager to become more aware of the waste they generate and actively looking for ways to reduce their negative impact on the environment. This includes individuals who are just starting their sustainability journey, as well as those already involved in eco-friendly practices, local initiatives, or educational projects. Through Recycline, we connect with students, educators, families, and small businesses who are open to learning, taking action, and inspiring others to make conscious choices.

Alla: Sounds interesting! What was the latest awesome achievement of your community that you helped to gain?

Oana: One of the most exciting achievements our community recently celebrated was reaching the milestone of over 1 ton of plastic saved from landfills. For a small team like ours, it’s a huge accomplishment and a testament to the collective effort of everyone involved, from volunteers and students to families and partners.

Oana Paun. Photo credit: Oana's LinkedIn.

We also just launched the continuation of our project “Cultivating Responsible Waste Habits”, which focuses on educating young people about the importance of waste reduction and recycling.

Alla: What are your core responsibilities as a Community Manager? What does your day-to-day look like in terms of work tasks?