#13. Oana Paun. The story about youth, sustainability & community. Moldova 🇲🇩
- Alla Zhdan / Алла Ждань
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
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?
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.
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?
Oana: As a Community Manager at Recycline, my responsibilities are quite diverse — and honestly, my day-to-day can be a bit chaotic, especially since I’m still a full-time university student. My schedule often depends on my classes, so I’ve learned to be flexible and prioritise based on what’s most urgent or impactful.
Most days, I’m either offering tours for school groups who visit our atelier to learn about plastic recycling, or I’m the one visiting schools to deliver informal educational sessions about waste and sustainability. I also handle a lot of the communication with partners, local organisations, and individuals who collect plastic and bring it to us. Whether it’s coordinating drop-offs, responding to questions on social media, or helping organise events, I’m always working to keep the connection strong between Recycline and our growing community.
Alla: What interesting things can you tell me about communities in your country? What are the specifics and peculiarities?
Oana: What I find truly special about communities in Moldova is the level of empathy people have for the problem we’re trying to solve. Even if resources are limited, many individuals genuinely care about the environment and want to do their part, especially when they understand the impact their actions can have.
One thing that stands out is how much our community grows through word of mouth and personal recommendations. When someone has a positive experience with us — whether it’s a school tour, a clean-up event, or simply donating plastic — they tend to tell their friends, colleagues, or family, and that’s how our network keeps expanding.
Another important aspect is that things really start working well when at least one person in a group is truly dedicated. Whether it’s in a school, an office, or even a household, one motivated person can make a big difference in how consistent and impactful the whole group becomes. That kind of grassroots leadership is what keeps our mission alive and growing.
Alla: What soft and hard skills are important for a Community Manager, in your opinion?
Oana: As a Community Manager, soft skills are just as important—if not more important—than hard skills, especially when working directly with people from different backgrounds, ages, and motivation levels.
Soft skills:
Patience
positive thinking
energy
creativity
empathy
problem-solving
organizational skills
adaptability
conflict resolution
communication
Top 3 soft skills: Patience, energy, problem-solving.
Hard skills:
Verbal and written communication
social media management
basic graphic design (e.g. Canva)
public speaking
event planning
data tracking
photography
content creation
Top 3 hard skills: Communication, social media management, and project coordination tools.
Alla: Are you a part of a team of Community Managers, or do you work with the community alone?
Oana: I work with the community mostly independently, as we are a small team. However, I do collaborate closely with my colleagues when needed, especially for organising events, coordinating logistics, or planning communication strategies.
Alla: Do you collaborate with other Communities (companies) in your domain? If yes, how do you build collaboration? Are you supporting each other in sharing the events and activities you do within your communities (info partnership)? Or do you co-organize something together? Any other ways to cooperate?
Oana: Yes, collaboration takes different forms depending on the context and shared goals. Sometimes we support each other through information partnerships — by sharing each other's events, campaigns, or educational content within our communities. Other times, we co-organise activities, like clean-up events, workshops, or collection drives.
We also collaborate by exchanging resources or know-how, for example, connecting schools or local groups to recycling partners, or helping each other with logistics or promotional materials. Building these partnerships usually starts with an open conversation, shared values, and a clear purpose. Trust and flexibility are key to making cooperation work smoothly.
Alla: What do you like the most in your work?
Oana: What I love most about my work is seeing small efforts grow into something meaningful over time. One example that always lifts my mood, especially on tough days, is our ongoing campaign in schools to help students build new habits around sorting waste and collecting plastic.
When we first started, we collected around 40 kg in 6 months, which felt modest, but we didn’t give up. We kept informing, visiting, encouraging, and celebrating even the smallest wins. And now, in the campaign’s third year, we’re reaching close to 200 kg in the same time frame.
It’s still not perfect, and there are always challenges, but the consistency and the belief in the process keep us going. The fact that students remember us, ask questions, or even start initiatives of their own — that’s what makes it all worth it. Moments like these remind me that impact takes time, but it’s always growing, often in quiet ways.
Alla: And the last question, which is new one in my list is... What is your favorite place in the country where you live that helps you to recharge batteries and get your inspiration? I mean the location.
Oana: To be honest, one of my favorite places is actually our atelier. It’s now located in the city center, on the beautiful 31 August Street in Chișinău, and there’s just something special about the space — it’s creative, meaningful, and filled with stories. It inspires me every day.
But when I really need to recharge and take a proper break, I go to nature. One of my favorite spots is a forest near Monastery Căpriana. There’s a “izvor” (spring) there and some peaceful hiking trails. It’s quiet, grounding, and helps me return full of energy, ready for everything — from community events to answering lots of questions and meeting new people.
Alla: Such an awesome recommendation, dear Oana! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, insights, and being so cool!
I'm so proud and happy to have met two great Community people from Moldova online. Oana and Ecaterina both shared their stories with me. One story you just read and it is so cool that I could talk to someone interested in eco-friendly initiatives, as it was a big part of my philosophy when I was working at Innocode and even organised the zero-waste month (read about it here). And another one is about tech, which is a topic close to me, as I had been driving IT and tech communities for so long. And I love them.
I will share the second Moldova's story soon, and it will be a great podcast packed with insights. I'm so looking forward to it! Hope you too! ;)
Learn more about my Community Managers' Strories project to gather insights from Community people from 42 European countries here.
Do you have a story, and I haven't "visited" your country yet?
Drop me a line on LinkedIn!
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