Moldova is said to be the poorest country in Europe. Forty percent of the people live below the poverty line. Meanwhile, more than one-third of the adult working population has left the country. According to official estimates, at least 690,000 of the 4.3 million Moldovans are living and working abroad—mostly in EU countries and in Russia—although the actual number varies according to different sources and probably exceeds one million. That makes Moldova one of Europe’s leading countries in labor migration.

The remittances that the migrant workers send home are a major factor in preventing the economy from collapsing. Yet labor migration has many downsides, including a “brain drain,” in which Moldova’s most active and educated people search for better economic opportunities abroad. Although many wind up working as unskilled laborers for low pay, this work still brings more than what they could earn at home. Migration also contributes to the disintegration of families and has torn the social fabric of Moldovan society. Whether in cities or the country, there is hardly a family in which at least one parent is not working abroad. In many cases, the children remain in Moldova and live with relatives, acquaintances, or even on their own. They often don’t see their parents for months, or years.

For this project, I photographed parents who had left Moldova without work permits to work in Italy, the most popular destination country. I also visited the children who were left behind in Moldova. Some of these children live in good homes, but others are often neglected and have no guardians. It is common for parents not to see their children for several years, as the parents often remain in Italy for long periods to obtain permits. Instead, they communicate through phone calls and parcels. At least once a month, minibuses transport money, sweets, and gifts—one of the few ways for parents to show their love.