Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

We are seeking to improve general living conditions for a small Roma community in Izvoarele, a small village in Voinesti, Romania. There are 200 families living in the community which has settled over the course of 100 years. The population totals 536 people, 166 of whom are elderly and 190 are children. Those of working age are mostly unskilled and the majority are unemployed. Up until 1989, work was available in a nearby mining institution but since its closure, jobs are scarce. There is great need for the basic necessities of life – food, heating, warm clothing, beds and bedding. The mayor-ship has been able to provide good drinking water from the hills via a public standpoint. There are many large families of 10 or more who live in very small houses, mostly without electricity as they cannot afford to pay the bills.

A small building houses a kindergarten where 50% of the attending children will have had nothing to eat before they arrive. The older children attend a nearby school but school abandonment is high. We would like to help this Roma population to integrate into the wider community and so increase their life outcomes by facilitating improved housing conditions and education whilst helping to meet their most basic needs.

What is your project and how will it help?

We would like to be able to furnish and equip a primary school in the wider community for those moving on from the Kindergarten. Our aim is to make the space as interesting and conducive to learning as possible in the hope that early school abandonment can be minimized.

How can other people partner with you on your project?

Other people can partner with us in helping to provide the resources we need.

Please detail the resources that you need.

Curtains or blinds for 8 windows 3 sq m each

- 60 chairs
- 60 desks/tables or (30 doubles)
- 4 TV sets with video or DVD; educational videos/dvd:s, eg. discovery, science, history, geographic
- 20 PC’s and monitors
- Footballs, basketballs with basketball nets
- Any other sports equipment