The Department for Community Development of the Ruhama Foundation provides activities for the development of poor communities, especially Roma, in 35 towns and villages in Bihor County: Alesd, Batar, Balnaca (Suncuius commune), Bogei (Tauteu commune), Beznea (Bratca commune), Cefa, Chet (Marghita town), Ciumeghiu, Cubulcut (Sacueni town), Curtuiseni, Diosig, Dobresti, Finis, Gepis (Lazareni commune), Gepiu, Girisu de Cris, Ineu, Lugasu de Jos, Ortiteag (Magesti commune), Osorhei, Popesti, Rieni, Salonta, Sacueni, Sinicolau Roman, Sannicolaul de Munte, Santelec (Hidiselul de Sus commune), Silindru (Simian commune), Tamasda (Avram Iancu commune), Tarcea, Tileagd, Tinca, Tetchea, Vadu Crisului, Vasad (Curtuiseni commune). 

                                                                                                             

The department’s fields of activity are:

In 2007 the approach for the organization’s assistance on the local level was improved. If until 2007 the organization’s team got directly involved in solving problems at a local level and assisting social cases, since 2007 the Ruhama Foundation provides assistance and encourages the local actors to conceive, initiate and implement local actions for the development of their own communities. In the first semester of 2007 we started supporting the disadvantaged Roma communities to come together in local initiative groups so that within the group the problems and needs of the communities as well as solutions to them could be identified. The group members are trained and assisted in establishing a long term collaboration with the local institutions and authorities. The local support groups were created at the local level through the aggregate collaboration with local authorities, the Roma community and various other local institutions: school, church, police, etc. The local support groups have an initial objective of starting and implementing programs for reducing the school drop out rate and increasing school attendance as well as school performances of Roma children.