15 Local Initiative Groups have been constituted In Bihor County.
Together with the town hall, the local school and other institutions from local level, the Local Initiative Groups constituted of members of disadvantaged communities succeeded to initiate actions pursuing to solve priority problems that have not been approached throughout the time but it affect directly or indirectly the whole community. One of these issues is the poor shape or lack of infrastructure which is causing most of the times a low level of school participation of affected children (lack of sidewalks, roads, water, electricity).
The mentality of some parents who are not fully aware of the importance of education, the lack of identity and civil status papers, the very low level of income as result of the limited access to labor market for disadvantaged population are other problems faces by Roma. “By working to solve various needs of the community, the Local Initiative Groups succeeded to generate positive changes at level of perception and attitude of authorities and local community towards Roma and they started to appreciate and capitalize the Roma people involvement in the process of local development, often supporting the Groups’ initiatives”, stated Mr. Marian Daragiu, chairman of Ruhama Foundation.
The Local Initiative Group is a non-formal structure constituted of active people from the Roma community, willing to contribute to the process of local development and social inclusion. The main objective of the Local Initiative Group is to support the school and the Roma community in activities pursuing to improve the educational process by mobilizing, informing and counselling parents and children of school age from disadvantaged communities; to increase quality of life by attracting funds for infrastructure; to involve in programs meant to provide identity papers.
Throughout the year 2007, Ruhama Foundation supported 15 disadvantaged communities from Bihor County in their process of constituting and organizing the Local Initiative Groups. In Bihor County, Local Initiative Groups have been constituted in: Cubulcut, Sacuieni, Tarcea, Vasad, Santelec, Ortiteag, Balnaca, Beznea, Salonta, Tamasda, Tinca, Sanicolau de Munte, Gepiu, Alesd, Diosig. For instance, the Local Initiative Group from Tamasda succeeded to remove barriers to education for Roma children by building a sidewalk of 1500 meters that ensures access to school for children even on bad weather. In Gepiu the Group succeeded to connect eight poor households to the electric network by attracting external funds. Each Group solved the need of preschool preparation for Roma children who never attended public kindergarten by organizing a Summer Kindergarten in August and by involving a Roma facilitator and a young Roma educational assistant from the community.
source: Realitatea Bihoreana
